Did you know chooks (chickens) can have beards?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340118)
Rockingham, Australia
July 2, 2020 7:27am CST
Did you know chickens are called ‘chooks’ in Australia? Chickens to us are baby chooks. There is great variety in the chook world, just as there is among many livestock breeds such as sheep or cattle.
Some chicken breeds have unusual colouring; some have funny combs and some have funny feathering. Others have beards and/or muffs. Muffs are fluffy feathers which stick out horizontally from under the ears.
The Belgian Bearded d'Uccle is one of those breeds that has a beard. It was first bred in Belgium on the outskirts of Uccle. It is a true bantam breed with no full-size equivalent.
It also has feathers on the legs and is often called the Mille Fleur (thousand flowers) in the USA. There are a number of colour variations. The eggs are small and creamy in colour.
Aren’t they just the cutest?
Photo courtesy: Abrahami / CC BY-SA (
24 people like this
22 responses
@moffittjc (121589)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 20
It would be much cuter if it didn't have feathers on its legs!
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
3 Jul 20
Hey! That's almost what I said, Jeff!
4 people like this
@moffittjc (121589)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Jul 20
@DaddyEvil It reminds me of women who don't shave their legs! haha
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jul 20
@DaddyEvil @moffittjc I agree it would be cuter without the feathers on the legs. They get really messy in most chook-pens.
3 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7084)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
2 Jul 20
Unusual chicken features -- but pretty! I have seen pictures of all sorts of chicken varieties in the past, and some look very strange. I would never remember all the names of them, though.
Thanks for the info and picture!
4 people like this
@Orson_Kart (6775)
• United Kingdom
3 Jul 20
@JudyEv True. I'm more of a pheasant plucker myself.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jul 20
@Orson_Kart Are you able to sing that without stumbling?
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (102889)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
3 Jul 20
Chickens are cute creatures,
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340118)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Jul 20
@Deepizzaguy Have you seen this? I'm sure you'd enjoy it.
With the help of its owners, this chicken has been training to become a lean, mean, clucking machine by completing their homemade chicken agility obstacle co...
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (102889)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
4 Jul 20
@JudyEv I did not know that fact.
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@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
2 Jul 20
You've provoked a memory. I had a brief encounter with chickens. My late husband spent his formative years on an out island in The Bahamas. He grew up around goats and chickens, etc. This was during the first year we were married. A guy on the corner somewhere wanted to get rid of some baby chicks and he gave them to my husband FOR FREE! I came home from work and saw those chicks and said: “Listen up Nassau boy! I'm a city girl and I don't know nothing raising chickens. You better get rid of them!” LOL. He look disappointed but he found another guy to give the chickens too. And I sternly warned him that before bringing any creatures into our home, he needs to consult with me first! That was one rule he learned to follow very well. LOL.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
2 Jul 20
They are cute. I will have ti mention them to my grandson who is now raising chickens.
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@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
3 Jul 20
I like the beard/sideburns but the feathered feet look kinda nasty. I think it needs to wash it's feet a little more often.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106323)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Jul 20
They are cute. My easter eggers sometimes get the ear feathers
3 people like this
@Dena91 (16636)
• United States
2 Jul 20
Pretty markings on the chook, chicken. Raising your own chickens has become super popular here in our community in the past couple of years. I have 15 friends who raise their own now. When I first dated Mike he owned chickens and peacocks and bee hives.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (178767)
• United States
3 Jul 20
Thank you for the information on the chooks. Great picture.
2 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
2 Jul 20
Omg...they look so strange to me
3 people like this