Fancy, Exotic, & Rare Chickens

When referring to chicken breeds, the term “fancy” can denote a range of qualities. Some chickens are fancy for their ornamental or decorative features, like unique plumage patterns, feather colors, crests, or other distinctive physical attributes. Others are valued for being exotic, originating from various geographical locations.

Chickens with distinctive characteristics not commonly found in mainstream breeds can also be considered exotic. These rare breeds may have historical significance, unique genetic traits, or limited population sizes that are at risk of extinction.

List of Chickens Considered Fancy or Exotic…

…for their Appearance

Known for their distinctive looks, these chickens can be recognized easily from their appearances. For instance, the Onagadori from Japan features tail feathers that can grow up to 27 feet long, whereas the Turkish breed Naked Neck is notable for its bare neck, lending it an unusual appearance.

• Ameraucana
• Jersey Giant
• Australorp
• Frizzle
• Barnevelder
• Ancona
• Cochin
• Erminette
• Faverolles
• Modern Game
• Hamburg
• Naked Neck
• Onagadori
• Australian Game
• Silkie
• Appenzeller Spitzhauben
• Houdan
• Orloff
• Svarthöna
• Phoenix
• Polish
• Sebright
• White-faced Black Spanish
• Sultan 
• Sumatra
• Serama
• Wyandotte
• Yokohama

…for their Eggs

These breeds are celebrated for their eggs, which can exhibit a variety of colors. A notable example is the Easter Egger, where two individual chickens can lay differently colored eggs.

• Araucana
• Easter Egger 
• Cream Legbar
• Blue Andalusian
• Marans
• Olive Egger

…for their Rarity

When a breed is limited to a specific area or its numbers are decreasing, it is deemed rare. For instance, the Ayam Cemani, hailing from Java, Indonesia, is so rare and valuable it can fetch prices up to $6,000 outside its country.

• Ayam Cemani
• Belgian D’Uccle
• Derbyshire Redcap
• Burmese Bantam
• Crèvecœur
• Dorking
• Rosecomb
• Sicilian Buttercup
• Campine
• Kadaknath
• Hedemora
• Dong Tao
• Holland
• La Fleche
• Vorwerk