I think my hubby brought home a Frazzle...???

[BeccaLeigh]

So my sweet hubby knows I'm a sucker for needy chickens, so he thought he'd surprise me by bringing home two 6 month old frizzle hens that a local kid wanted to rehome. Surprise me he did, because when comparing these two girls, one of them looks like my other frizzle chickens, but the smaller one has narrow, brittle, curly feathers. She's almost totally bald on her head, and is noticeably smaller than the other. They're both super sweet and inseparable, so I plan on keeping them, but I'm curious if anyone has any experience with frazzles or advice to offer?? Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I had a couple of frazzle roosters, one we culled young because of what I read on them and I figured they wouldn't survive our Wisconsin winters, I couldn't bring myself to cull the other one. He lived fine during his first winter, always on the outskirts, his first summer he started losing feathers and by summers end he was nearly bald, red from the sun and I started calling him that creepy looking thing. He eventually molted his remaining feathers and grew the rest back. He passed that winter from unknown causes.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I've had one frazzle, a Cochin bantam. She did fine during the winter (in VA) and would cuddle up with her coop mates. She did tend to start looking rough a few months after her molt, but she was so sweet I didn't care. She also had a hard time hatching eggs when she went broody. She did fine with the incubation part, but the chicks would always seem to dry at hatch time and required help to get out of the egg.
One upside to frazzles, if you breed her to a smooth roo, she'll produce 100% frizzled chicks

 

[BeccaLeigh]

I've had one frazzle, a Cochin bantam. She did fine during the winter (in VA) and would cuddle up with her coop mates. She did tend to start looking rough a few months after her molt, but she was so sweet I didn't care. She also had a hard time hatching eggs when she went broody. She did fine with the incubation part, but the chicks would always seem to dry at hatch time and required help to get out of the egg.
One upside to frazzles, if you breed her to a smooth roo, she'll produce 100% frizzled chicks

I wish the rest of my flock would treat her a little better, but I've got her and her sister separated for now. I've got a mixed flock of mostly standard size hens that are bossy bullies sometimes, and I'm afraid they'll pick at her and pull all her feathers out.she acts like a lap chicken as it is, so my son's and I are spoiling her. Downside to the breeding part is that my only roo is a frizzle cochin bantam, so I don't think I'll chance that.
She just looks so raggity and frail...did you ever have to give yours extra vitamins/supplements?

 

[BeccaLeigh]

I had a couple of frazzle roosters, one we culled young because of what I read on them and I figured they wouldn't survive our Wisconsin winters, I couldn't bring myself to cull the other one. He lived fine during his first winter, always on the outskirts, his first summer he started losing feathers and by summers end he was nearly bald, red from the sun and I started calling him that creepy looking thing. He eventually molted his remaining feathers and grew the rest back. He passed that winter from unknown causes.

Yes,I can tell she's gonna be extra work for sure. My oldest son is 10, and he's offered to help pick up the slack lol. I really didn't plan on having to keep a chicken created in the house at night, but I'll see how it goes.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I wish the rest of my flock would treat her a little better, but I've got her and her sister separated for now. I've got a mixed flock of mostly standard size hens that are bossy bullies sometimes, and I'm afraid they'll pick at her and pull all her feathers out.she acts like a lap chicken as it is, so my son's and I are spoiling her. Downside to the breeding part is that my only roo is a frizzle cochin bantam, so I don't think I'll chance that.
She just looks so raggity and frail...did you ever have to give yours extra vitamins/supplements?

Yea, definitely don't want to breed her to a frizzle, that would be

Nope, I never gave her any supplements. Just a good balanced feed and plenty of fresh, clean water. Other than helping her hatch her eggs, I didn't do anything special for her

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You might want to keep them separated from the large breeds, Cochin bantam are tender souls and can't compete with them, especially the frizzle and frazzles.

 

[BeccaLeigh]

You might want to keep them separated from the large breeds, Cochin bantam are tender souls and can't compete with them, especially the frizzle and frazzles.

I believe I will keep them separate. trying to talk my husband into building another smaller coop just for my bantams since I have 6 total, with 3 frizzle 2 smooth, and 1 frazzle. Maybe they'll be a little happier.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I believe I will keep them separate. trying to talk my husband into building another smaller coop just for my bantams since I have 6 total, with 3 frizzle 2 smooth, and 1 frazzle. Maybe they'll be a little happier.

Mine are, they can get away from the rough stuff and aren't always at the bottom, and I don't worry about them.