Cinnamon Queen Chicken: All You Need to Know

Let’s introduce you to the Cinnamon Queen Chicken, in case you haven’t heard of it. It might not be a head-turner, but it holds many surprises, and good ones, at that!

There’s a lot to discuss about this feathery friend. With that, let us not dilly-dally anymore. Let us get right into this discussion! 

Breed Standard and Appearance of Cinnamon Queens

First thing first, this chicken is a hybrid. With that, the American Poultry Association does not recognize this breed.

While this chicken might not have an official breed standard, it does have typical physical characteristics one can expect to see in all Cinnamon Queens. 

First, let’s discuss the first-generation chicks. These chicks are either white or red. Additionally, they are color-sexable, with males sporting white downs and females having red ones. 

As the chicks mature into adults, they mostly retain their initial coloring. However, hens might sport some white feathers here and there. On the other hand, males could have red spots. Generally, adults are compact and heavy, with males weighing around 8 pounds and females 6 pounds. (As you can see, the Cinnamon Queen can make a good table bird!)

As for this bird’s appendages, its legs are not feathered and tend to sport a yellow hue. On the other hand, its combs and wattles are average-sized and, of course, red.

The genetics become more complex with second-generation Cinnamon Queen chicks. As we have said earlier, this chicken is a hybrid. Their offspring will not consistently inherit their traits.

That is, mating a Cinnamon Queen with another of its kind will not make another Cinnamon Queen. The second-generation chicks will not look the same as their parents. They will come in varying colors and will no longer be color-sexable.   

Note: While the Cinnamon Queen has many qualities, however, as it is not recognized by the APA, being a show bird is not on top of the list. At best, a Cinnamon Queen might only be able to join a local contest or competition.

Personality and Temperament of Cinnamon Queens

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Cinnamon Queen is not just a docile breed; it is also friendly. With that, it can be an ideal choice for a first chicken. 

On the other hand, you do not have to worry if you already have an existing flock. The Cinnamon Queen is also friendly with other birds and does well with other breeds.

Additionally, the Cinnamon Queen is also kid-friendly. It’s unlikely to attack without provocation. It can deal with kids. You do not have to worry about it causing children trouble for no reason.

In addition to being docile and friendly, this chicken is also sweet. With that, when it comes to personality and temperament, the only problem you might face with this chicken is clinginess. However, that will likely not be a problem if you are ready to give a little bit of loving and petting from time to time. 

Note: While the Cinnamon Queen is generally docile, friendly, and sweet, it is still possible to meet a mean one. As you might already know, chickens, like people, are not all the same. 

Egg Laying of Cinnamon Queens

This chicken is productive and efficient. That is seen best with its egg productivity. 

For one, this chicken begins laying at an early age. Most chickens typically start laying between the 18th to 22nd week. However, the Cinnamon Queen can already begin giving some eggs by the 16th week! 

Additionally, the Cinnamon Queen can give around 300 eggs annually. Now, as if that is not enough, the eggs it gives are big! Still, that is not all. It is also a dependable winter layer. While other hens will stop giving around this time, the egg production of the Cinnamon Queen will only decrease. However, it will still give!

However, when it comes to breeding, the Cinnamon Queen has limitations in producing true offspring.

If you want the Cinnamon Queen to lay some eggs for you to hatch and raise, that is possible. However, as we have said above, this bird is a hybrid and will not yield real Cinnamon Queen eggs and chicks.

Still, as mentioned, you can hatch and raise the chicks from this bird. While you cannot expect a Cinnamon Queen to give you another Cinnamon Queen, you can still expect its offspring to be a good layer too. 

Note: There are sellers and hatcheries claiming to have true Cinnamon Queens. No such thing exists. Such claims are likely only for a marketing gimmick. Beware.

Health Issues and Care of Cinnamon Queens

The Cinnamon Queen boasts many good qualities. However, it is not a perfect bird. It has some health issues you ought to know about.

Chickens generally live around five to ten years. However, the average lifespan of the Cinnamon Queen is only three years. As you can see, it is a lot shorter than the average lifespan of a chicken.  

This chicken is susceptible to various reproductive problems. However, as long as the Cinnamon Queen does not get pushed to lay more than it already is doing so, lethal problems should not be that pressing.

While the average lifespan of this chicken is only three years, with proper care, there is a way to prolong its life. However, even if the attempt to lengthen the life of this chicken succeeds, the quantity and quality of eggs diminish with age. At some point, it will be almost impossible to avoid dealing with shell-less eggs and other similar problems. 

Finally, while reproductive problems are the most pressing issue with the Cinnamon Queen, taking precautions for common health concerns is ideal. Vaccinations and such should be considered, especially if you have a flock.

4 Tips for Raising Cinnamon Queens

With all that we have talked about the Cinnamon Queen, you might be thinking of taking one or two or a dozen home now! Well, let us share some tips for raising these chickens, then!

1. How to Feed the Cinnamon Queens

Given that the Cinnamon Queen is a prolific layer, it requires more nutrients than other chickens. This chicken needs lots of food. 

Commercial feeds are often not enough to keep them healthy and laying abundantly. You want to make sure their diet has lots of proteins and calcium. Some things you might want to include in their diet are:

• Mealworms
• Meat Scraps
• Seeds
• Shells
• Greens

Note: Always research before giving your chicken any treats. Some treats can be harmful to chickens.

2. How to Protect the Cinnamon Queens

If you already have a flock, make sure you do not just put your Cinnamon Queen with your other birds. As you might already know, a flock establishes a pecking order. A new bird can bring chaos to this order. If the newbie is aggressive, it can likely fend for itself. However, being a docile creature, a Cinnamon Queen can get bullied if you have aggressive breeds. 

On the other hand, whether it is a Cinnamon Queen or another breed, make sure you tell your little ones how to handle chickens if they want to mingle with them. A Cinnamon Queen will not just attack, but it could if threatened. 

3. Giving Cinnamon Queens Love (And Treats!)

As we have said above, this bird is a sweet one. With that, prepare to give your Cinnamon Queen some affection from time to time. This bird is almost always in it for pets and treats!

4. Keeping Some Distance from Cinnamon Queens

It is not hard to fall in love with the Cinnamon Queen. Even so, they are primarily livestock, not pets. As we have said above, the average lifespan of this bird is three years. Enjoy their company, but emotionally keep some distance from this bird, given its shorter lifespan, to save yourself the heartbreak when they pass away.

Final Words

Today, we got to get up close and personal with the Cinnamon Queen Chicken. As you have seen, it might not look the part, but it has plenty to boast! 

However, the Cinnamon Queen is not the only chicken with a thing or two to boast about and brag about. If you want to get acquainted with other chickens and know their special traits and characteristics, you might want to check out our other talks. We still have many more chicken breeds to introduce!

That will be all from us for now, but we hope to see you around soon!

Joseph Hudson

Joseph Hudson has been raising chickens for over 15 years. In 2018, he completed the Agriculture & Natural Resources program at Mt. San Antonio College. He currently raises over 1400 chickens on his 7.5-hectare farm. He keeps sharing his experience on raising healthy and happy chickens on Chicken Scratch The Foundry.