Sultan
OrnamentalTurkey
The Sultan is pure ornament: snow white, crested, bearded, muffed, vulture-hocked, feather-footed, and five-toed — it carries virtually every decorative trait a chicken can have at once. It was kept in the palace gardens of Ottoman sultans and still acts like it belongs somewhere manicured.
Eggs per year
50–100
Egg color
White
Egg size
Small
Hen weight
3.5–4.5 lbs
Temperament
Gentle and content
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
The Turkish name "Serai Taook" translates roughly to "fowl of the sultan's palace," which is exactly what they were.
Sultan egg production
Expect roughly 50–100 white eggs a year from a Sultan in her prime — about 1–2 a week, or 4–8 dozen over the course of a year. These are occasional layers — kept more for looks or character than for a full egg basket. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Sultan is generally described as gentle and content. These are calm, people-oriented birds that tolerate handling well and settle into a backyard flock without much fuss.
Climate & care
The Sultan isn't especially cold-hardy, so in cold-winter regions give it a well-insulated, draft-free coop and take extra care to prevent frostbite. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
Sultanhens rarely go broody, which keeps the eggs coming but means they won't usually raise their own chicks. To hatch, you'll want an incubator — our incubation calculator tracks every step.
Space & feeding
A Sultan hen is a small bird at 3.5–4.5 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Sultan right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a calm bird that's good around children
- You want a striking bird kept for looks and personality
- You keep chickens in a hot climate
Think twice if…
- You want the most low-maintenance possible first bird
- You face long, hard winters
- You want the absolute maximum egg output
Sultan FAQ
- How many eggs do Sultan chickens lay?
- A healthy Sultan hen lays about 50–100 white eggs a year — roughly 1–2 a week, or 4–8 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Sultans lay?
- Sultans lay white eggs, small in size.
- How big do Sultan chickens get?
- A Sultan hen weighs roughly 3.5–4.5 lbs — a small bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Sultans cold-hardy?
- Not especially. The Sultan does best in mild or warm climates; in cold-winter regions it needs an insulated, draft-free coop and extra care against frostbite.
- Are Sultans good for beginners?
- The Sultan is gentle and content and tends to suit keepers with a little experience more than absolute beginners.
- Do Sultan hens go broody?
- Rarely. Sultan hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
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