In your common backyard chicken owner, the status of a breed is simply not that necessary. You need wholesome chickens that may lay a number of eggs or develop up sturdy and plump to make a great desk hen. That’s it.
However for these true aficionados or keepers who’ve very particular functions and intentions for his or her flock, generally solely the best and rarest chickens will do. And meaning you’ll should pay for them.
Whether or not it’s chickens with completely distinctive attributes, incredible egg-laying capabilities, immense dimension or jaw-dropping coloration, some chickens can price you an arm and a leg, whether or not you need mature adults or simply chicks.
Under you can see 14 of the most costly rooster breeds on the planet.
1. Brahma
- Eggs: $5
- Chicks, unsexed: $10
- Adults: $50+
The Brahma is an American breed that was previously imported from China, and for a very long time was one of many principal meat birds raised in the US.
The Brahma’s most noteworthy attribute is its usually immense dimension, with the typical weight for males being round 12 kilos however birds weighing practically 20 kilos are removed from exceptional.
Enticing, muscular and reliable winter layers, the Brahma is an efficient selection for each meat and egg manufacturing.
Regardless of their dimension, they usually have an excellent, agreeable temperament if they’re raised by individuals and interacted with often.
However know that they’re used to getting their approach with different, smaller chickens so be cautious if together with them in a blended flock.
Relating to eggs, each Brahma will be trusted to put large, easy brown eggs for a number of years, that means that the precise internet manufacturing is greater than the considerably modest numbers would counsel as a result of their eggs are so massive.
However these large birds are pretty expensive among the many extra frequent naturalized breeds with adults from good strains normally going for round $50, maybe extra and even eggs commanding a small premium.
Nonetheless, when you love large birds and you can not lie, the Brahma is among the extra reasonably priced monster chickens available on the market.
2. Sussex
- Eggs: $8 to $10
- Chicks, unsexed: $30
- Adults: $55 to $75
Some of the quintessential and exquisite of the normal English breeds, the Sussex rooster is likewise highly regarded in the US, each as a present hen, and as one in every of purely sensible function since they’re good dual-use chickens.
Sussex hens will lay upwards of 180 tan or off-white coloured eggs yearly, and more often than not they are going to lay reliably all winter lengthy, that means they’re an amazing egg producer when you reside in a chilly local weather.
If you wish to harvest your chickens for his or her meat, they’re identified each for his or her high quality and likewise their dimension; the Sussex is a big breed.
And for individuals who merely have come down with a case of rooster fancy, the Sussex is among the most photogenic and personable chickens on the market.
The speckled Sussex specifically has been the topic of loads of work and images classes. These attractiveness are backed up by a pleasant temperament, and an inclination to bond with their human keepers.
As a devoted pet or companion breed, the Sussex is tough to beat.
However this comes at a value: fashionable issues are likely to turn out to be costly, and mature Sussex chickens will run you wherever from $55 to $75 {dollars} from a great breeder, and even child chicks generally is a little expensive at wherever from $25 to $35 every.
3. Orust
- Eggs: $11 to $15
- Chicks, unsexed: $25 to $30
- Adults: $70 to $80
A Swedish breed that’s virtually unknown in America and nonetheless fairly uncommon in all places else, these chickens are identified for his or her vivid, geometric black and white patterns on their feathers.
The Orust is a legacy breed that was pushed to the brink of a complete extinction, and whilst just lately as 2012 there was just a few hundred left on the planet.
Right now, because of a burst of curiosity in rescuing these breeds from extinction by rooster house owners world wide, it’s thought that there have been a number of thousand right here and there, although the bulk are nonetheless in Sweden.
Not a lot is thought about them in any other case, however if you need the privilege of proudly owning one of many single rarest chickens on the planet it’s potential so long as yow will discover them.
Younger hens normally go for about $70 or extra, and chicks retail wherever from $25 to $30.
4. Silkie
- Eggs: $8 to $12
- Chicks, unsexed: $15 to $20
- Adults: $50 to $100
The Silkie is a well known and fashionable breed of rooster, however one that’s nonetheless fairly expensive in comparison with most different, extra frequent domestics.
With adults of fine lineage costing wherever from $50 to nicely over $100, these chickens are an funding that you simply shouldn’t make calmly, however they’re one that almost all keepers are completely happy to make.
That’s because of their glorious mixture of docile, pleasant temperament, general good well being and, after all, these wonderful, fluffy feathers which might be simply irresistible!
Silkies are additionally truthful layers, with a median hen producing round 100 eggs yearly or a bit of bit extra, however they’re glorious moms and extremely liable to going broody.
In actual fact, they’re so liable to broodiness that silkies will hardly ever produce eggs at their most capability as a result of they’re intent on hatching each clutch that they lay and elevating these chicks.
However, intelligent keepers exploit the friendliness of Silkies and their glorious parenting qualities to make use of them as surrogate moms to naturally hatch and lift the eggs of different breeds.
On this approach, Silkies are nicely value the fee as a result of you’ll be able to rely upon them to broaden the dimensions of your flock naturally – so long as you’ll be able to pay, after all!
5. Orpington
- Eggs: $8 to $12
- Chicks, unsexed: $15 to $20
- Adults: $75 to $150
Amongst rooster keepers there are few breeds as beloved for temperament and likewise attractiveness because the Orpington.
As soon as raised in England as a “superlayer” hen able to laying greater than 300 eggs per yr, the wonderful attractiveness and plump, fluffy plumage of those chickens quickly led to them being chosen for seems alone.
The result’s an immensely lovely, and extremely pleasant, personable rooster, however one which now not has that unimaginable laying capability.
Even so, Orpingtons are nonetheless spectacular layers, with most hens topping out at round 200 eggs per yr.
Accessible in quite a lot of colours, and coming in an excellent friendlier Bantam selection, the Orpington is a real present hen, and a favourite of the devoted rooster fancier.
Though hardly uncommon, Orpingtons that come from good strains, particularly those who have confirmed profitable on the present circuit, will be very spendy. Wholesome, younger adults begin round $75 and may simply clear $150.
6. Olandsk Dwarf
- Eggs: $15+, when obtainable
- Chicks, unsexed: $90+
- Adults: N/A
One other extremely uncommon breed of rooster hailing from Sweden, the Olandsk Dwarf breed is notable for having come again from the very precipice of extinction, with at one level just a few dozen people nonetheless alive.
Right now, although they’ve bounced again, they’re nonetheless in a precarious place with their complete inhabitants numbers estimated to be wherever from a number of hundred to a few thousand.
A real bantam breed that resulted from pure choice, these chickens are extremely pleasant with individuals as a result of for a lot of generations they by no means needed to reside in worry of people.
They’re extremely agreeable with individuals and chickens alike, making them a wonderful selection for blended flocks and first-time house owners.
However their unimaginable rarity has resulted in an enormous price ticket for these valuable birds: Adults are, as a rule, completely unavailable and chicks simply price upwards of $90.
It’s a privilege to personal one, however you’ll should carry your checkbook!
7. Bresse Gauloise
- Eggs: $10+
- Chicks, unsexed: $50+
- Adults: $150 to $175
The Bresse Gauloise, referred to as the “true” Bresse hailing from France, is one other amazingly uncommon and costly rooster.
Raised primarily for his or her delicate, scrumptious, succulent meat, these birds are raised in a tiny area of France beneath extremely strict controls relating to their lineage, sale and exportation.
That is one other breed that was lengthy thought extinct by the flip of the twentieth century, and it was solely because of the fixed efforts of devoted breeders who had a number of surviving people that the road was first stabilized after which resuscitated.
Though they’re usually reared for his or her superbly marbled meat, these chickens are nonetheless good layers of huge eggs, and barely if ever turn out to be broody making them good producers.
Valuable few of them are exported in any respect, and accordingly you’ll hardly ever if ever discover one that isn’t a domesticated, or American, Bresse selection. Count on to spend at the very least $150 on a verified grownup, and $50 or extra for a chick.
8. Svarthona
- Eggs: $15 to $20
- Chicks, unsexed: $100 to $110
- Adults: $200+
The Svarthona, additionally referred to as the Swedish Black, is a singular jet-black to charcoal grey rooster that’s thought to have descended from the Ayam Cemani or Kadaknath breeds we are going to find out about later.
Not like these two breeds, the Swedish Black is just not actually all black: they’ve black feathers with purple or greenish iridescent mottling, black pores and skin and charcoal grey or ash-colored legs, beaks, combs and wattles.
This sinister look outcomes from a specific genetic mutation relating to the pigmentation of the rooster’s tissues.
Except for this putting and considerably ominous coloration, these birds are extremely cold-adaptable and are glorious winter layers.
They’re thought of culturally necessary to the nation of Sweden, and even there these birds are uncommon. Accordingly, eggs, chicks and adults are very costly.
In order for you one in every of these marvelous birds you’ll have to shell out greater than $100 for a chick, and if you’re lucky sufficient to seek out an grownup on the market count on to pay over $200.
9. Deathlayer
- Eggs: $15 to $20
- Chicks, unsexed: $110+
- Adults: $200+
The Deathlayer is, with out query, the rooster with probably the most metallic title that has or will ever reside.
However, maybe surprisingly, the demise layer doesn’t look or behave like its title suggests, and neither does it lay eggs which might be poisonous, monstrous or in any approach irregular.
These birds are literally fairly fairly, being speckled white and black with lengthy and opulent tail feathers, and possessing a form of stately steadiness to them.
These German chickens solely have their title due to a suspected corruption of their authentic, translated title which implies day layer within the German tongue.
In any case, these chickens are certainly famend for his or her laying capability, usually laying seven eggs every week yr in and yr out till they die. I assume in that sense, they’re “demise layers” as a result of they lay till demise!
They’re undoubtedly fascinating birds which might be largely free from the efforts of human breeding to this very day, though they’re fairly uncommon.
In order for you the privilege of proudly owning one you’ll should spend large bucks to get it. Chicks usually go for over $100, and even fertilized eggs can promote for $20 apiece.
Adults are extraordinarily uncommon to seek out on the market within the first place, and may routinely retail for upwards of $200.
10. Pavlovskaya
- Eggs: $10 to $15
- Chicks, unsexed: $50 to $65
- Adults: $200 to $250
A Russian rooster as soon as thought extinct like many others on this record, and solely resuscitated as a breed because of the devoted efforts of fanatic breeders and state-sponsored conservationists, the Pavlovskaya is taken into account a decorative breed in the US, however is a dual-purpose breed in Russia and elsewhere.
Identified for the putting coloration, upright crests of feathers on their heads that resemble a crown, feathered legs and tremendous candy personalities, proudly owning one in every of these chickens is a pleasure and a real privilege.
However it’s a privilege that comes at a value. The breed was solely correctly reintroduced within the late Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s after vital funding and codification of requirements, and they’re vanishingly uncommon within the West and in America specifically.
There are chickens which might be offered as Pavlovskyas which might be something but- they don’t share the true genetic data of the breed as formally categorized by Russia – and one telltale is a budget value.
In the event you discover the real article, adults will promote for upwards of $200, and chicks will promote for $50 or extra.
11. Liege Fighter
- Eggs: $15 to $20
- Chicks, unsexed: $100 to $125+
- Adults: $250+
A near-legendary recreation hen hailing from Belgium, the Liege Fighter is famend for its regal stature and combativeness because the title suggests.
And except for their historic use in cockfighting, they’re ferocious defenders of their flock, and even of their human masters. These birds are the bodyguards of the rooster world!
Identified for his or her super aggression, combating capability, and extraordinary dimension for a recreation hen, Liege Fighter roosters stand at two and a half ft tall and tip the scales at 13 lbs on common.
Regardless of their ferocity in the case of coping with predators, they’re simply as well-known for his or her tenderness and friendliness with people – assuming, after all, that you’re those who raised them and so they see you as household!
These birds are extremely uncommon to seek out, and chicks will virtually by no means go for lower than $100, and grownup chickens promote for over $200 as a rule. Notably spectacular specimens can attain $250 or extra.
12. Kadaknath
- Eggs: N/A
- Chicks, unsexed: N/A
- Adults: $1,200+
One other extraordinarily uncommon and borderline legendary rooster, the Kadaknath is one other stable black hen, however one that’s actually all black.
And I do imply black: the feathers, pores and skin, legs, eyes, comb, wattles, beak, meat and even organs of this hen are pure black, as black as coal!
Though, if you wish to get technical, the feathers can generally be seen with an exquisite emerald inexperienced hue blended in among the many black, giving these birds a really magical look.
Completely raised in distant components of India, these birds are celebrated for the purported medicinal qualities of the meat and organs.
These are one other rooster breed that’s nearly unknown and unseen within the West, and they’re virtually by no means discovered on the market. As of press time, younger hens will promote for a staggering $1,200!
13. Dong Tao
- Eggs: N/A
- Chicks, unsexed: N/A
- Adults: $1,300+, usually offered as pair.
My choose for probably the most unimaginable trying rooster on this record, the Dong Tao is a Vietnamese rooster that appears actually historical, virtually primitive in look.
Probably the most notable and instantly obvious characteristic of those birds is their immense legs.
Extraordinarily thick and stocky, with toes to match, and outsized scales that may look extra at house on an alligator than a rooster; these birds appear like they imply enterprise.
However regardless of their ferocious look, these chickens are raised for his or her meat alone, which is presupposed to be of unbelievably good high quality.
Regardless of the intense rarity of the breed, demand for them as meat birds is outrageous in Vietnam and elsewhere, and this has led to an awfully inflated market.
Mixed with the truth that these chickens solely lay between 50 and 60 eggs a yr, there’ll by no means be sufficient of them to satisfy demand.
As of press time, breeders exterior of Vietnam are non-existent, and grownup chickens usually retail for $1,300 or extra. Loopy!
14. Ayam Cemani
- Eggs: $25 to $35, when obtainable
- Chicks, unsexed: N/A
- Adults: $2,400+
One other extremely uncommon rooster, and yet one more one which “suffers” from a genetic mutation leading to each single a part of its physique being actually black- even the bones on this case!
The Ayam Cemani hails from Java, and it’s so uncommon in the US that the American Poultry Affiliation and different governing our bodies don’t even acknowledge it as a definite breed.
A mix of fanatic fervor, excessive rarity and a not-insignificant quantity of selling and status propaganda has resulted in actually unbelievable costs for these birds, giving them the highest spot on our record.
Brace your self: sexually mature grownup birds routinely promote for greater than $2,400 apiece! Solely the very wealthy or the actually obsessed will ever be capable of afford an Ayam Cemani rooster!
