The Ohiki Chicken is known as a breed of ornamental chicken that is loved by many people. Its balanced body and soft feathers have created a masterpiece that is difficult for any other long-tailed bantam chicken to have.
Introducing the Ohiki chicken breed
The Ohiki is a breed of chicken originating from Japan, originating from the island of Shikoku, in the Kōchi province during the Warring States period of Japan. Historically, this breed was introduced to England in 1990. The Ohiki is the longest of the long-tailed chicken breeds in Japan.
According to research by scientists, this breed of chicken is related to the Chabo and Onagadori breeds. This long-tailed breed was imported into Europe in the 1990s and has appeared in domestic and international exhibitions. This breed of chicken is very gentle, easy to raise, and easy to care for.
The appearance of Ohiki chicken
This breed has some common characteristics similar to the long-feathered chicken, with a slender body, and soft, silky feathers that grow quickly. Some chickens are known to also exhibit some degree of non-molting. Another difference is that this chicken has a straight comb, white ears, and red-brown eyes.
The comb is medium in size for a long-feathered chicken, not as large as in the Chabo breed. The size of the comb varies according to the breed or color. The color of the feathers is either red or banana.
Color of Ohiki chicken feathers
The feathers on the neck are extremely thick and long, almost covering the shoulders. The saddle feathers vary in length from bird to bird but generally touch the ground and trail from 5 to 15 cm. The tail feathers form a 30-degree angle and trail behind. The legs are olive in color, reflected in the ears, and the feathers have stopped growing and hardened.
Weight of Ohiki chicken
The weight will be divided into two, with the rooster weighing around 900g, the hen weighing around 750g, and finally, the young chicken weighing between 600 and 750g. Unlike the long-tailed chicken breeds, the Ohiki chicken is a dwarf chicken breed and does not have larger variations.
To put it simply, the phoenix/Yokohama breed has two variations, normal and small/bantam. The Ohiki breed is dwarfed instead of having a disproportionate body part. The dwarf gene causes the chicken to have a normal-sized head, short body, and small limbs, especially the legs that are very far forward from the body. They look balanced, creating a beautiful chicken.
Because of the dominant gene, the chick only needs to receive one allele from the parent chicken. Note that this is not a sex-linked inheritance pattern, so both roosters and hens show the “dwarf” phenotype.
This phenotype closely resembles the description of a deformity called hypochondroplasia. The Ohiki chicken is similar to other Japanese bantam chickens, but it is important to note that these are two completely different breeds. The dwarf gene or short leg gene in this chicken is also dominant but does not contain toxic elements to the body.
There are many different types of purebred chickens, and the tail feathers are commonly used by people. Usually, the tail feathers are 60–70 cm, 80–90 cm or 150 cm depending on the breed. If they are considered to have inherited many Onagadori genes, their tail feathers will resemble the tail of an Onagadori chicken.
In Japan, there are some individuals that look like miniature versions of the onagadori chicken, with some chickens having tail feathers up to one and a half meters long.
How to raise Ohiki chicken
The long-tailed bantam breed is different from the Ohiki breed and is raised in a similar way. Here is how to care for this breed.
When raising chickens, the first thing you need to prepare is a high pole so that their feathers do not fall to the ground and get dirty easily. Because the chicken’s tail is the most beautiful part, reflecting its value.
During the process of raising chickens, farmers should not keep them in the coop for too long. Occasionally, they should let them out in the garden. This will help the chickens develop physically.
Regular cleaning of the garden and barns is also very important. Cleaning the barns and gardens will help ensure hygiene and safety, prevent disease and provide a clean, airy space.
This is an easy-to-raise chicken breed, so their food is also very simple. People can use: bran, ground corn, rice, green vegetables, etc.
In addition, breeders should also supplement herbal sprouts, protein, vitamins, and minerals to help our chickens grow healthily and improve resistance.
When raising chickens, avoid feeding them synthetic bran and flour because it will cause weak feathers and easy loss.
Tail feathers must be cleaned regularly to maintain their beauty for a long time. Bathe chickens with ash, and tea, and expose them to the sun regularly to remove bacteria and help chickens avoid infectious diseases.
Above is information about the Ohiki chicken breed and how to raise chickens effectively. Hopefully, the information that Phtaya has just introduced will help chicken breeders raise this breed of chicken better.
Jimmy Wang is a respected iGaming expert with over a decade of experience. Born on September 15, 1985, in Cebu City, Philippines, Jimmy graduated from De La Salle University with a degree in Business Administration, specializing in Marketing. His innovative thinking and strategic expertise have made him a prominent figure in the online gaming industry.
At PHTaya, Jimmy leads the creation of high-quality, insightful content that helps players enhance their gaming experience. He ensures all articles are user-friendly and meet the highest industry standards. His dedication has been instrumental in establishing PHTaya as a trusted source for online casino reviews and gaming strategies.
Jimmy has authored hundreds of guides and reviews, offering readers valuable insights into the world of iGaming. With a focus on transparency and player satisfaction, his work consistently attracts thousands of readers monthly.