Sultan

I have a rooster and an hen currently and had a previous hen who passed after getting sick as a chick. They are so sweet and kind, I handled them very little and chicks and they’re the most loving birds I own. My rooster is now way passed maturity and hardly crows, he’s very quiet when he does. They are dumber than rocks and quite honestly, I don’t mind. They have no mind to tear through my garden beds and never think to create the craters my other birds do.
I say bad first time birds due to their susceptibility to sickness, when they get sick, it’s hard to bring them back. They're also incredibly fragile feathers.
Overall I adore this breed and if you plan on getting a few I promise they’re very worth it.

My first Sultans were a complete surprise to me.

Well, not a complete surprise. They looked like Sultans, white with crest, muffs, vulture hocks, five toes, and feathered legs and feet. I had heard that the boys were about 6 pounds, the girls were about 4 pounds, and that was true of my two pairs. I had also heard that they laid a medium-to-large size egg, and that was true of my two hens.

But then, all of the rest of what I heard was shattered.

"Non-setters"--oh, so not true! The very first time I left eggs in overnight, that was enough to set one of the hens to...setting. I removed one pair of Sultans from the cage and gave them alternate housing, and that second hen continued to lay in her new cage. I left one roo with the first hen. After 25 days, I candled the eggs under the first hen. All were fertile, but all had died part-way through the hatching period, probably due to a couple of our Missouri early-March rain-and-freeze cycles. I took five Crevecoeur chicks who had hatched a few days earlier in my incubator and tucked them under the Sultan hen that night, removing her other eggs. The Sultan hen started talking to the Crevecoeur chicks immediately, and they responded. In the morning, I stood anxiously by the cage as dawn broke, and discovered that the Sultan roo was already coaxing the Crevecoeur chicks to food and water. The Crevecoeur chicks were fully adopted and raised by both Sultan rooster and hen. This pair of Sultans raised these chicks, and went on to raise another brood of four of their own in the same year. When I left eggs for the other Sultan pair, they quickly brooded and raised their own family.

Not good foragers...? I submit a YouTube video of the first Sultan hen in question with four chicks plowing up the barnyard in search of stuff I probably don't even want to know about (though I did recognize some mealworms and earthworms:
In foraging ability, I would rate Sultans more in the "rototiller" than in the "non-garden-damaging" category.

Since then, I am on my fifth generation of Sultans. The roos are great fathers, the hens are wonderful brooders (given the right housing, which I didn't give them the first time around) and mothers. It has been disconcerting to see how the Sultans sometimes will start a family in the late fall, yet they are good parents, and have not lost a chick yet, despite the cold.

Their laying pattern is typical of setters, about 8-12 days of laying, two weeks or so of not laying, then repeat, if they are not setting. This continues all year long, if you collect the eggs. If you forget to collect the eggs, then it's off to the brooding/hatching phase!

My Sultans typically talk to one another almost constantly. I listen in to these musical conversations as I work in the yard. Sometimes, if I am close to or actually in their coop, my Sultans talk to me. The roosters and hens have never shown any indication of ill will toward me or any other human I have in tow. But we are careful not to get between them and their mates or chicks.

I have to say, Sultans are a rare breed, and the individuals I have may not be typical of the breed. However, you will want to note that, as a rare breed, individual Sultans that anyone has may not be typical of the breed. Also, chickens are flock animals, and if you only have one, and you (as far as they can tell) are the only other member of their flock, then they may not behave in a breed-typical way.

In my experience, Sultans are a great bird for anyone who wants to raise their own birds, and have eggs, too! We haven't eaten any of ours, although I understand that they are good eating. For us, it doesn't make sense to eat them because we can sell them at a much higher price than it costs for us to buy a chicken dinner. But we do eat some of the eggs.

I got my Sultan rooster as a chick, on accident, thinking he was a Polish hen. Much to my surprise, soon after his feathers really started coming in, I realized what HE was. I wasn't thrilled about ending up with a Rooster, but he is certainly a charmer! Of my 7 hand raised chickens, he is by far the most loving bird I have had. He is the first to run up to the door when I come out to visit and he LOVES to be held and loved on. I can cradle him in my arms and carry him around while he sleeps. He does great with the hens and has never shown anyone any aggression.

The only "con" is that since he is white, and his feet are feathered, he looks filthy all the time. But, that being said, he is VERY tolerant of me wiping him down from time to time to clean him up. He enjoys his occasional foot washes !

Overall, if you are looking for a PET, this breed has won me over. I don't think they would disappoint.

I have owned and raised a few Sultans over the years. They are a lovely lap chicken and are a good choice for those with children. As is expected with such a breed, they're rather lacking in brains and need substantial protection from predators. I have found they are rather prone to disease, but that can be managed with careful breeder selection and management practises. Overall, I'd certainly recommend them for anyone looking for pets.

Edit: urban dwellers might also think of choosing these birds. They don't range much at all and have zero inclination to escape from fences.

We have absolutely fell in love with this spectacular breed. If you're into feathered feet and feathering in general I don't think there is anything a chicken can have that the Sultan doesn't have. The Horns the males have as also very special and add to their regal look when they stand with their head and tails pointing straight up so magnificently! Very slow when it comes to egg production but we're into the look, not the eggs or meat. A must have.

An awful breed for free-ranging but a life of containment works well for them. I had one that simply wandered off into the woods in the middle of the afternoon, I found her a little later and she say very confused. This breed also likes to roost a lot. My sultan, Paola flew up into a 10 foot tree and wouldn't come down. Containment is best if you want to keep them safe.

We bought 5 "4-H reject" chickens at the co-op last spring, 3 buff brahma bantams, 1 white-crested Polish and 1 Sultan hen. We got a story on this hen from the previous owner - she tended to take walks on her own, including a couple over-nighters, was thought gone & likely dead more than once, roosted higher than the other chickens. She had her head feathers all pecked out by the others. A couple toes became frost-bitten. She was the lone Sultan in the coop of mixed breeds and definitely lowest on their pecking order, which was probably why she went it alone those times. We named this hen Mavis, because a friend bought me a pillow decorated with a white chicken and the name Mavis on it.

One warm, sunny summer day while the 5 chickens were free-ranging in the back yard, I came outside to find white feathers all over the place and no sign of Mavis. I thought the worst... looked high & low and found her in her basket, which is the highest one in the coop. Mavis likes to be high & watching over things. She was untouchable, terrified - apparently a bird of prey had tried to pick her off, but she fought for her life & escaped with a few less feathers, but no apparent injuries.

Long story short, we lost the other 4 chickens to predators, and Mavis lived in a dog kennel in our second garage for the rest of the summer until we were able to buy her some Sultan companions. We learned how smart she is - she knew her routine, enjoyed playing "keep away" but would "kennel up" when she knew it was time. She is now not only tame, but loving and funny. Our other 2 Sultans, Cupcake and Creampuff, are also wonderful, affectionate, gentle, funny and they all love to talk.

If you're interested in having a relationship with your chickens and enjoying delicious fresh eggs, consider getting Sultans!

We are going to attempt hatching eggs this spring - Sultans are not broody, so apparently the best way to get chicks is to either buy them, get a broody hen of another breed or use an incubator (we're going the incubator route and have joined the Easter Hatch-a-long on BYC!)

My sultans were very fun to have!
The roosters were aggressive (could just be bad genetics) and got butchered in the end, but my hen is the sweetest chicken I have ever had, and she's pretty smart, too!

Very different from most chickens I've had, and can really start a conversation. I'm picky about what breeds of birds I want, but sultans are definitely a breed that will be staying in my flock.

Also, my hen lays nearly everyday, which is really surprising and impressive even if her eggs are small.

I love my Sultan! Her name is Cleopatra and she's sooo pretty, sweet, loveable, and she loves kisses! I, personally, think she's pretty and I love the foot feathers. Nothing bad about this breed, that's for sure! It looks like a silkie with real feathers and white meat. I just can't think of anything bad! They are also easy to tell from male and female by head puffs. I recommend this breed for ALL chicken lovers!

Here is my beloved Cleopatra!:

She likes laps and doesn't really like to be held in the air.


I love her hairdo!


She's scared of the phone so it is hard to get a good picture of her, but she's sweet when I don't have a phone!

My sultan flock are certainly stars of the yard. They play well with others but they can be flighty.

I have a sultan rooster who is the funniest, craziest, most stupid and also aggressive chicken i have ever come across. i think he may have some kind of brain issue which is why he id very clumsy, crazy and so aggressive to people, but he is so loving and kind to his hens and looks after every one of them. we have also hatched 3 sultan chicks, 2 roos and 1 hen, who are also very kind and loving. would definitely request a sultan!

I just bought 4 baby chicks at the feed store I was told they were all Silkies, however I think two of them are Sultans. They are growing very quickly and have long feathers already at only 4 weeks old. Also they do not have the black skin like the silkies. I think one is going to be a roo because he is getting a bright comb already and the other one is not. Does anyone know if I can breed them if they are related. I don't know for sure they are related but I bought them at the same time at the feed store so there is a great possibility. I just love how they are growing up so quickly.

updated: 8/17 I am now breeding them I love them so much! I have never met a sweeter bird in my life. Mine are laying about 4-5 eggs per week. never had a lick of disease ( I hatched mine and vaccinated for Markes) They are the best bird around for children and teaching. so loveable and tame.

We have several of these that we bought and we have more that we have raised. I love hatching them out then watching them grow to adulthood. They hatch well and do well in the area of Mississippi we live in. We keep a light on them in the winter. We spend a lot of time watching them interact with each other. Cheap entertainment.

I only have one of these, her name is Fraggle, and she is a very sweet little bird. With other chickens, she is towards the bottom of the pecking order and quite timid. However, she comes right up to people and pecks their shoes to be picked up and petted. Very personable little birds that make great pets, but the downside is that the egg amounts are low and the eggs are small. I also have to give her a bath more often because the white shows dirt; and she requires pretty frequent haircuts in order to see because of all the head fluff. Still, great little birds - and they run REALLY funny. Mine does this galloping thing. Always good for a laugh!

I have had these birds for over some 10 years and they are such gentle darlings. Origin Turkey and were bought into England in January1854 by Miss Elizabeth Watts of Hampstead. They have never been numerous, but have a dedicated following.

Type: Body rather long and very deep, breast deep and prominent. Back short and straight. Wings large, long and carried low. Tail long, broad and carried open. Sickles very long and fine. Hangers numerous, long and fine. Coverts abundant and lengthy.
Head: Head medium size, beak short and curved. Eye bright, comb very small, consisting of two spikes only, almost hidden by crest. Face covered with thick muffling. Nostrils horny and large, rising above the curved line of the beak. Crest large, globular and compact. Ear lobes small and round. Beard very full, joining with the whiskers. Wattes very small to be hardly perceptible.
Neck: Moderately short, slightly arched and carried well back.
Legs and feet: Thighs sort, furnished with heavy vulture hocks to cover the joints. Shanks Short and well covered inside and out with feathers. Toes, five in number and of moderate length, completely covered with feather.
Plumage: Long, very abundant and fairly soft. Snow-white throughout

The Sultans that I had were very nice birds, They were a little timid with the other breeds but were friendly with humans. I would definitly like to have more of them.