Despite their name, they are not the mythical firebirds. Phoenixes are a docile chicken breed. They are lightweight, standard size chickens. The roosters will grow very long tails and saddle feathers (those right above the tails). Their tails can get up to 36 inches (3 feet) long; they get so long that they drag on the ground. Phoenixes are a threatened breed, meaning they are not very common. We named our pair Joker and Harley Quinn. Joker is a gentleman. He looks out for Harley, but he is gentle enough that he is in the same pen as our mama chickens, babies, and quail. Yet, despite all the little ones all around him, he doesn't mind them and he hasn't been aggressive towards anyone. They are both very quiet, too. We haven't heard Joker crow at all, even though he is an adult. In this picture, you can see Harley and Joker side-by-side. Eating with them are a chick and a quail. You can see part of mama in the back. She wouldn't let Joker and Harley near her babies if she thought they would harm them. "Ooh, look at the fluff on her!" Joker must have been thinking while looking at Mama. Here, you can see the difference in the colors on Joker and Harley. Joker will get more silver on him in the next few months, but he won't get much bigger. They are Silver Duckwing Phoenix chickens. Harley has silver on her neck, with pencil-thin black lines. The quail aren't always amused by the chickens, especially Joker. Phoenixes are show birds. If they're going to be in shows, the roosters need to be kept off the ground, or kept in extremely clean pens in order to keep their tails clean and in good shape. Dirt will actually wear away their tail and saddle feathers.
1 Comment
Lorinda Johnson
5/8/2016 04:20:07 am
Just checking out more of your bird information :) I love these... Joker and Harley -- The Phoenixes. My grandma always had chickens and always had to be careful of snakes getting in their coop. :O Very scary as a young person and would scare her too I think :)
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Just two brothers
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