Believe It or Not!, the Onagadori chicken is one of the most unique birds on Earth, famous for its tail feathers that can grow up to 50 feet long!
The Onagadori originated on Shikoku Island, Japan, where breeders began developing these extraordinary birds as far back as the 1600s. Through careful breeding and meticulous care, they created a chicken with tail feathers unlike any other.
Most chickens shed and regrow their feathers each year. Not the Onagadori.
Instead, their tail feathers keep growing continuously, sometimes for years, creating those jaw-dropping lengths that seem almost impossible.
In 1952, the Onagadori was officially designated a Japanese National Natural Treasure, recognizing both its uniqueness and cultural importance. Today, they’re carefully protected, and only a small number exists worldwide.
Raising one isn’t easy either. Their long tails require special perches, constant grooming, and dedicated care to prevent damage. These chickens live a life of luxury because when your tail is 50 feet long, you can’t exactly rough it.
When Robert Ripley traveled the world in search of the unbelievable, he came across these bizarre birds and documented chickens with tails stretching an incredible 24 feet long.
Even then, it sounded too wild to be true. But as history (and a whole lot of feathers) would prove… that was just the beginning.
From their royal status in Japan to their gravity-defying tails, Onagadori chickens are proof that nature doesn’t always play by the rules.
Looking to see more unbelievable animals? Step into a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! near you and discover more real, weird, and wonderfully impossible stories just like Pearl's.
