Ruffling feathers with funky chickens

The days of showing off to neighbours with your wine or vintage-car collection are over – the new trend is keeping exotic chickens in your garden, writes Sarah Moore

880-toys-Polish-Frizzle

BBH0E7
(Image credit: Credit: Keith J Smith. / Alamy Stock Photo)

The days of showing off to neighbours with your wine or vintage-car collection are over the new trend is keeping exotic chickens in your garden, writes Sarah Moore.

Some breeds are easier on the eyes than others. "With their extravagant plumage and quirky traits, breeds such as Sebright, Burmese Bantam and Poland Frizzle (pictured, above) are in demand, with some sought-after breeds fetching extraordinary sums," says Cally Law inThe Times. They can fetch from 40 to hundreds of pounds per bird.

880-toys-Ayam-Cemani

826778906
(Image credit: This content is subject to copyright.)

The ultra-rare Indonesian Ayam Cemani (above), a bird whose feathers, beak, tongue, eyes, bones and flesh are all black, is the "Lamborghini of rare chickens", says William Cash in The Times. And it's not just the chicken itself that is in demand. "We have seen people selling eggs of the extremely rare Ayam Cemani for more than £1,000," the Rare Poultry Society told The Times last year.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up

The Poultry Club of Great Britain "strongly recommends" that prospective chicken owners choose a pure breed that has been bred by a reputable breeder. See PoultryClub.org for advice. Just be prepared to pay the rarest breeds can cost hundreds of pounds, although dedicated breeders often give eggs away to conserve breeds, says the Rare Poultry Society.

880-toys-White-Silkie

108489891
(Image credit: Eric Isselée)

"Hipster hen" breeds, such as Silkies (above), are favoured by families for their "cute appearance", says Lydia Willgress in The Daily Telegraph. You can see stock for sale on RarePoultrySociety.com. Or if you have a soft spot for your common-or-garden hen, you might consider getting in touch with the British Hen Welfare Trust, a charity that re-homes "ex-bats", or former battery hens (BHWT.org.uk).

880-toys-White-Crested-Black-Polish

"At least a decade before dog breeders first strutted their purebreds in show rings, poultry aficionados flaunted their beautiful birds," says Lauren Hansen on TheWeek.com. Enthusiastic chicken fanciers wishing to show birds such as the White-Crested Black Polish (above) and eggs can see a list of upcoming events on RarePoultrySociety.com.

Sarah is MoneyWeek's investment editor. She graduated from the University of Southampton with a BA in English and History, before going on to complete a graduate diploma in law at the College of Law in Guildford. She joined MoneyWeek in 2014 and writes on funds, personal finance, pensions and property.