Rare Chicken Has A 5-Ft. Long Tail

2004 - Volume #28, Issue #6, Page #44

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Donald Barger vividly recalls the first time he saw an Onagadori. It was in the December 1970 issue of National Geographic. "I can remember back then saying I was going to own them someday," he says.
    Onagadori are ancient birds from Japan with incredibly long tail feathers that sometimes reach 30 ft. or more.
    People in Western Europe adopted the bird but they modified it into a breed now called the Phoenix. Today, few true original Onagadori exist in Asia and there are none in the United States.
    Barger is trying to change that by reversing the process that created the Phoenix. "It's about breeding back to the original genes so they're expressed," he says.
    Barger breeds and sells his long-tailed Phoenix. They molt at least every year and their black tail feathers grow to 5 to 6 ft. long.
    And contrary to how they look, they can fly. "I've seen females fly around the yard a couple of times before landing," he says.
    To keep the tails neat, the birds need to be kept in a tall pen with shelf-type perches.
    Other than dealing with the tail feathers, Barger says taking care of them isn't any different than taking care of any other birds.
    People buy the Phoenix for pleasure and as show birds. Their price depends on the tail feather length. Some can cost from $25 to $50 while other breeders sell the birds at $50 per foot of tail feather. If the tail feather was 3 ft. long, it'd be worth $150.
    Although Barger has had Phoenix for nine years, he's always thrown away the molted feathers except when people wanted them for crafts or decoration. However, recently he discovered the fly fishing market. "Before I realized there was a market for them, the feathers just fell on the ground and they got cleaned up with the litter," he says.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Donald Barger, 15300 Del Monte Farms Rd., Castroville, Calif. 95012 (ph 831 633-0529; email: longtailbreeder@aol.com; website: www.longfeathers.com).

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Rare Chicken Has A 5-Ft Long Tail LIVESTOCK Miscellaneous Donald Barger vividly recalls the first time he saw an Onagadori It was in the December 1970 issue of National Geographic I can remember back then saying I was going to own them someday he says Onagadori are ancient birds from Japan with incredibly long tail feathers that sometimes reach 30 ft or more People in Western Europe adopted the bird but they modified it into a breed now called the Phoenix Today few true original Onagadori exist in Asia and there are none in the United States Barger is trying to change that by reversing the process that created the Phoenix It s about breeding back to the original genes so they re expressed he says Barger breeds and sells his long-tailed Phoenix They molt at least every year and their black tail feathers grow to 5 to 6 ft long And contrary to how they look they can fly I ve seen females fly around the yard a couple of times before landing he says To keep the tails neat the birds need to be kept in a tall pen with shelf-type perches Other than dealing with the tail feathers Barger says taking care of them isn t any different than taking care of any other birds People buy the Phoenix for pleasure and as show birds Their price depends on the tail feather length Some can cost from $25 to $50 while other breeders sell the birds at $50 per foot of tail feather If the tail feather was 3 ft long it d be worth $150 Although Barger has had Phoenix for nine years he s always thrown away the molted feathers except when people wanted them for crafts or decoration However recently he discovered the fly fishing market Before I realized there was a market for them the feathers just fell on the ground and they got cleaned up with the litter he says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Donald Barger 15300 Del Monte Farms Rd Castroville Calif 95012 ph 831 633-0529; email: longtailbreeder@aol com; website: www longfeathers com

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