Phoenixes are
a show bird more than anything; they are extremely poor egg layers and their
body structure doesn't make them very good fryers. Phoenix Chickens are best
known for their tail, which can grow to almost absurd proportions. They have an
average-sized single comb and medium length wattle, both a light red color.
Their colorings can various wildly from silver to black to gold to red to
brown. Their legs and beak are typically a light gray color.
Phoenixes do
well in confinement, which is good because they'll need lots of codling due to
their tail feathers. Their attitudes range from shy and calm to aggressive and
in-your-face. Generally though they aren't very friendly and don't like to be
pestered.
In order to
keep their tail feathers clean and undamaged, Phoenixes require a high amount
of maintenance. They need their bedding and coops to be clean and dry and their
perches for roosting to be high up off the ground so that their tail feathers
aren't just resting in the dirt. Furthermore, their tails can freeze in the
winter months, so they need warm coops to manage the shift in temperature.