Phoenix

The Phoenix is one of the long-tailed and ancient fowl breeds of Japan. They are known for the tail growth on the males which, although not as long as the Onagadori, have been known at times to reach a number of metres in length. The hackles and tail feathers of the male of the breed do not go through the annual moult experienced by other chickens. In some cases they moult less frequently and in some cases the bird can hold the tail feathers for life enabling them to grow to great lengths.

The silver variety of the Phoenix breed was accepted into the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection in 1965, and the gold in 1983. Black-breasted red was recognised in 2018. The Phoenix was first accepted in the Australian Poultry Standard in 2012, with any colour standardised in Old English Game accepted.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

THE COCK

The Phoenix is an alert breed with a pheasant like appearance. It carries itself as a proud gamefowl.

Body: Moderate in size, tapering to the tail.

Back: Medium length, flat, slightly downwards slopping.

Breast: Full and broad and somewhat prominent.

Wings: The large wings are tucked and carried against the body almost horizontally.

Tail: Large tail with long ribbon-like sickles. Primary tail carried horizontally and covered by sickles and plentiful long coverts. Main tail feathers strong and moderately wide, being well-spread. Sickles medium width, extremely long. where they grow up to two metres or more in length. Lesser sickles - medium width, the further they flow up the tail the longer they become. The tail and saddle feathers should at least touch the ground and in many cases will be much longer.

Comb: Medium sized, single, fine textured, upright, firm with 4-6 serrations

Lobes: Medium, oval.

Thighs — Short, round and muscular.

Legs — Strong, clean boned, close scaled, having a good bend or angle at the hock.

Feet — Toes four, long, and straight. Hind toe of good length and strength, extending backwards.

Spurs — Hard, fine, set low on the leg.

THE HEN

The general characteristics are similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences.

COLOUR

Colours: Mainly Black Red, Blue Red and Gold Duckwing but any plumage following Old English Game is acceptable.

Eyes: Red to brown.

Ear Lobes: White.

Comb: Red

Face: Red

Wattles: Red

Beak: Horn

Legs: Slate. In White and Spangled White or Yellow is permissable.

WEIGHTS

Weights: Male 1.36 – 2.04 kg, Female 1.13 – 1.81 kg.

Bantam: Male 790-850g, Female 740-790g

SCALE OF POINTS

Scale of Points: Tail – 30 Neck and Saddle Hackle – 20 Type and Carriage – 20 Head – 10 Colour – 10 Legs and feet – 5 Condition – 5

(Ref: https://www.facebook.com/groups/exhibitionpoultryaustralia/permalink/1153586404759485/)

SOURCES

• Wikipedia page extracted on 7 March 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_chicken

• R. Tadano, M. Nishibori, M. Tsudzuki (2009). Genetic structure and differentiation of the Japanese extremely long-tailed chicken breed (Onagadori), associated with plumage colour variation: suggestions for its management and conservation. Animal Genetics 40 (6): 989–992.

• http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/PDF%20Forms/APA%20Recognized%20Breeds%20and%20Varieties%20Sept2012.pdf APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012]. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.

• Australian poultry standards 2011 VPFA Victoria.

• Carol Ekarius (2007). Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. |p. 143–44.

• Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.

• Phoenix Chicken. The Livestock Conservancy. Accessed August 2014.

• Rare Breeds Trust of Australia https://rarebreedstrust.com.au/public/pages/poultry

• Exhibition Poultry Australia (BYP) Breed of the Week. https://www.facebook.com/groups/exhibitionpoultryaustralia/permalink/1153586404759485

Image Sources

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tab15_H%C3%BChner_(Gefl%C3%BCgel-Album,_Jean_Bungartz,_1885).jpg

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phoenix_rooster_and_hen.jpg

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zwerg-Phoenix.jpg

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Timbre_DDR_-_Coq_E.jpg

Kramer, R. (1926). Kramers Taschenbuch der Rassegeflügelzucht. 3. Aufl. Würzburg: H. Stürtz.