Frizzle (chicken plumage)
A frizzle refers to a plumage pattern in domesticated chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) characterized by feathers that curl outwards, rather than lying flat as in most chickens. The frizzle type is not a separate breed, but a variety within breeds. Though all breeds of chickens may be frizzled; it is most commonly seen in breeds such as the Cochin, Pekin, and Polish.[1] Chickens with this pattern are sometimes referred to as frizzles. The gene which causes the frizzles' peculiar feathering is an incomplete dominant trait.[1]
Common Breeds
[edit]Almost all breeds can be frizzled, but the most common are listed below:[2]
- Cochin
- Polish
- Silkie (Commonly referred to as "Sizzle")
- Plymouth Rock
- Buff Orpington
Bantam Breeds:
Genetics
[edit]Research suggests that the frizzled phenotype comes from a mutation within the keratin gene KRT75. A deletion that removed part of exon 5 and intron 5 ameliorated the splice site. This caused a 69 base pair deletion of the KRT75 gene.[3]
Uses
[edit]As a result of its unusual look, frizzles are primarily used as exhibition birds, and are included in most English language poultry standards.
There is a pure breed of chicken with this feature, known as the Frizzle breed.[4]
See also
[edit]- Frizzle (chicken breed), a specific breed with this feature
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens". Damerow, Gail (1995). Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens. 210 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247: Storey Publishing. pp. 2, 175. ISBN 978-1-58017-325-4.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Benton, Toni (2021-07-27). "Frizzle Chickens - A Guide to the Fun Chicken Breed". Somerzby. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ Ng, Chen Siang; Wu, Ping; Foley, John; Foley, Anne; McDonald, Merry-Lynn; Juan, Wen-Tau; Huang, Chih-Jen; Lai, Yu-Ting; Lo, Wen-Sui; Chen, Chih-Feng; Leal, Suzanne M.; Zhang, Huanmin; Widelitz, Randall B.; Patel, Pragna I.; Li, Wen-Hsiung (2012). "The chicken frizzle feather is due to an α-keratin (KRT75) mutation that causes a defective rachis". PLOS Genetics. 8 (7): e1002748. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1002748. ISSN 1553-7404. PMC 3400578. PMID 22829773.
- ^ The Frizzle Society of Great Britain
- Graham, Chris (2006). Choosing and Keeping Chickens. London: Octopus Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7537-1552-9.
- Heinricks, Christine (2007). How To Raise Chickens. St Paul, MN: Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-2828-6.
External links
[edit]
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