Let's see your PHOENIX CHICKENS! :D

[onagadori]

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Yes they require certain maintenance. They need good dry bedding in the pens. They also need periodic bathes. lol. My roosters love it. They stand on the side of the sink and I bathe them and then blow dry. They are extremely gentle. Pheonix come from a Japanese Breed called Onagadori. The more percentage onagadori blood, the better tempermate. A wild bird won't grow a nice long tail because they are fractious. The more they are handled, the better results. Most lines of phoenix are friendly, with the exception of a few hatchery lines that have been crossed with leghorns, or games to create more vigor. These birds don't usually grow much of a tail. Longtails are passive. They don't fight alot, and are quick to give up and run. I have never had a phoenix that would hurt a person!!!!!. I keep mine in a heated insulated barn and have been known to keep them in the house. They have a room in the barn that was our old office and I keep a heater going and shavings down. They have an exercise pen since I try to keep more with the Japanese method of rearing my roosters for non molting traits. They love snacks!!! especially fruit. Glad to see someone interested in the breed.

 

[The Turken Lady]

Here's some of my bantam phoenix chicks

They were hatched around Halloween,along with some random misfits. (I couldn't help myself!) **PIC HEAVY** -

Yeah,they were on the bed.

 

[Tbird84]

Beautiful birds! I'm pretty excited myself. I am getting a trio of Goldens tomorrow. Trading some RIR hens. She wants layers. Works for me. She said one of the hens has placed in show. She has two trios and I get to pick which I want. So, besides the high roosts and bathing, what else do I need to know about them? Can't seem to find much helpful info on the net

Also, I didn't realized that there were other colors besides silver, golden, and BB Red. Do any of you have picks of these other colors?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

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I've got 11 colors in bantam right now, though outside the notmal 4 they are very rare. I need to get some new ones taken of them all, once I do, I'll get them posted here or on my website for ya.
I never bathe any of mine, that's a new one on me. Dont think they'd take it too well.
Mainly keep them in a bigger pen, preferrably fully roofed to keep them dry and keep the pen from getting muddy when it rains. Over crowded pens and tails getting stepped on are the second biggest breaker of feathers. Aside from feather care, they are no different than any other chicken in requirements

 

[flightfeather21]

These are so cool. I want a phoenix chicken now lol.

 

[Tbird84]

Okay. I just had read somewhere about bathing them. I don't think even my other chickens would let me do that. We had a trio of Silvers when I was a kid, but don't remember too much about them. I don't think his tail got more than 3ft at any given time.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yep,I saw Onagadori post that.
Never hear dof bathing them outside of that post. I have however heard of using mineral oil on their tail feathers for optimum condition. Obviously on good ones with super tails, they can reach back that far to preen and clean them, so many "picky" keepers take a rag and a dab of mineral oil once a week or so and rub it into them for them. Really helps on the non molting lines that get the 6-10 foot tails in standard size.

 

[onagadori]

The only ones you really have to worry about bathing are the whites. If they drag thier tail in something (aka. poop!) then they can't reach the ends to clean them, so there you have it. And white birds can stain. This is really only for birds that are being conditioned for show or nonmolting. Most people who show any bird are familiar with the idea of bathing them. Not really necessary except for looks.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

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I got ya now, was wondering about all that. I knew of the feather conditioning with various oils to help the non molters, but was unsure of the batheing. That makes sense though

 

[Tbird84]

makes sense using the oil. I got them home this evening. She said that the Cock and one of the hens had been shown by the previous owner, but not by them. They have had about 3 hatches already, so are proven. Only thing is, this particular male is supposedly testy. Kinda odd if he had been shown before. Aren't they supposed to be able to be handled for show? Is this a common thing or just an individual thing? I will try to get pics up tomorrow or the next.