Developed in the Kochi Prefecture on the southern Japanese island of Shikoku in the mid-nineteenth century from crosses (details unknown) between long tailed breeds and small bantams such as Japanese (Chabo) or others of roughly Pekin type. They are a short legged bantam with a rounded body, old cocks having extraordinary long tail feathers which drag along the ground. Their name translates: O - tail, hiki - dragging. Not bred in the UK until the 1990s.
General characteristics: male
Type: The body is compact, broad, of medium length, with abundant body plumage which gives a full, rounded appearance to all parts, especially the breast and back. Carriage is nearly horizontal.
Wings: Relatively large and long, carried low so that the tips nearly touch the ground.
Head: Medium size and formation for a bantam of this overall size. Comb is single, no more than medium size, straight and upright, four to six serrations. Earlobes of medium size and oval or round. Wattles finely textured, round, of no more than medium size. Eyes large. Beak of medium length and thickness.
Neck: Rather short, with abundant neck hackle feathering which flows over the shoulders and reaches the back.
Saddle and Tail: Abundant long and narrow saddle feathers which should reach the ground, and even drag along the ground on exceptional mature cocks. The main tail feathers are long, well spread, and moderately high. They are covered by very long, rather narrow, and supple sickles, side hangers and coverts, which flow over the main tail and then down to the ground. This is all that is expected of cockerels, but plumage quality, quantity and length increases with age. The best mature cocks have flexible sickles and side hangers which drag up to 60 cm along the ground. The profile of the neck, back and rise and fall of the tail is said to form an S.
Legs and feet: Thighs short, hidden by the full plumage and low wings. Shanks short to medium in length, strong, smooth, with well-developed pointed spurs on adults. Toes of medium length, straight and well spread.
Plumage: Very abundant and soft.
Female
The general characteristics are similar to those of the male, allowing for natural sexual differences. Carriage is even more horizontal, the comb is rather small. Females obviously do not have the very long saddle and tail feathers of the male, but their cushion and tail is of full, rounded, elongated oval shape.
General characteristics: male
Type: The body is compact, broad, of medium length, with abundant body plumage which gives a full, rounded appearance to all parts, especially the breast and back. Carriage is nearly horizontal.
Wings: Relatively large and long, carried low so that the tips nearly touch the ground.
Head: Medium size and formation for a bantam of this overall size. Comb is single, no more than medium size, straight and upright, four to six serrations. Earlobes of medium size and oval or round. Wattles finely textured, round, of no more than medium size. Eyes large. Beak of medium length and thickness.
Neck: Rather short, with abundant neck hackle feathering which flows over the shoulders and reaches the back.
Saddle and Tail: Abundant long and narrow saddle feathers which should reach the ground, and even drag along the ground on exceptional mature cocks. The main tail feathers are long, well spread, and moderately high. They are covered by very long, rather narrow, and supple sickles, side hangers and coverts, which flow over the main tail and then down to the ground. This is all that is expected of cockerels, but plumage quality, quantity and length increases with age. The best mature cocks have flexible sickles and side hangers which drag up to 60 cm along the ground. The profile of the neck, back and rise and fall of the tail is said to form an S.
Legs and feet: Thighs short, hidden by the full plumage and low wings. Shanks short to medium in length, strong, smooth, with well-developed pointed spurs on adults. Toes of medium length, straight and well spread.
Plumage: Very abundant and soft.
Female
The general characteristics are similar to those of the male, allowing for natural sexual differences. Carriage is even more horizontal, the comb is rather small. Females obviously do not have the very long saddle and tail feathers of the male, but their cushion and tail is of full, rounded, elongated oval shape.
Please contact the breed registrar for more information - Ohiki@rarepoultrysociety.org.uk