is there a crested chicken

February 21, 2026

Yes, there absolutely are crested chickens—this is a whole group of chicken breeds that have a distinctive tuft or “pom‑pom” of feathers on top of their heads, so they’re often called crested or “top‑hat” breeds.

What is a crested chicken?

Crested chickens are breeds where a noticeable cluster of feathers grows on a bony prominence on the skull, creating a poof, cap, or swept‑back “hairstyle.”

These crests can be small and tidy or huge and showy, sometimes even covering part of the bird’s vision.

Typical traits:

Feathery “hat” or puff on the head (the crest).

Often kept as ornamental or show birds because they look unusual and stylish.

Many still lay a reasonable number of eggs, but production varies by breed.

Examples of crested chicken breeds

Here are some of the better‑known crested breeds:

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Breed	What the crest looks like	Main use
Polish	Big round “pom‑pom” that can cover the eyes.	Ornamental, light laying.
Sultan	Full fluffy crest plus beard and feathered feet.	Ornamental.
Silkie	Soft, fur‑like crest blending into fluffy body feathers.	Ornamental, broody hens.
Houdan	Full rounded crest, often with mottled coloring.	Dual‑purpose (meat and eggs).
Crevecoeur	Crest similar to Houdan, usually in black.	Primarily ornamental; rare/endangered.
Cream Legbar / Crested Legbar	Smaller tassel‑type crest swept back.	Blue/green egg layer, dual‑purpose.
Swedish Flower Hen (some lines)	Sometimes a small crest on the head.	Eggs and meat, backyard flocks.

Large guides list 10–28+ different crested or “afro” breeds worldwide, including rare types like Kosovo Longcrower, Lyonnaise, and Križevci Crested.

Are crested chickens good as pets?

Many crested breeds are described as friendly and calm, especially if handled from chicks.

Their crests can block vision, so they may be more easily startled and need predators managed carefully.

Some, such as Cream Legbars, are both crested and productive blue‑ or green‑egg layers, making them practical and pretty.

Little “story” picture

Imagine walking into a backyard and seeing a small flock of ordinary hens—and then one bird struts past with a huge feather “afro” bobbing as it walks. It pauses, tilts its head so the crest flops to one side, and you realize you’re looking at a Polish crested hen, the glam rock star of the chicken yard.

TL;DR: Yes, there are crested chickens—multiple breeds with a natural feather “hat” on their heads, like Polish, Sultan, Silkie, Houdan, Crevecoeur, and Cream Legbar.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.