How to Draw a Chicken
Step by Step

Quick Overview: How to Draw a Chicken

If you just want the big picture before you start, here’s how the drawing comes together:

1. Draw the head, beak, eye, wattles and comb.
2. Draw the neck and back, then the round body outline.
3. Add the fluffy belly, back feathers and wing.
4. Draw the tail, neck feathers, legs and feet.
5. Add feather details, the eye and finishing touches.

Now let’s go through each step in detail.

Step-by-Step: How to Draw a Chicken

Step 1: Draw the Head and Beak

Start near the top of your paper, a little to the right of the center. This leaves plenty of room for the body and tail on the left.

Draw a curved line for the top of the head with a couple of small bumps on it. On the right, draw the beak: a curved, pointed upper part and a thinner lower part, slightly open. Then add a small almond-shaped eye just behind the beak.

Step 2: Add the Wattles

Wattles are the soft red flaps that hang under a chicken’s beak. Draw two teardrop shapes coming down from under the beak. Make the one in front a little bigger, because it’s closer to us. The one behind can be partly hidden.

Step 3: Draw the Comb

The comb is the crown-like shape on top of the chicken’s head. Draw a wavy line with rounded bumps, starting above the beak and curving back over the head. Don’t worry about making the bumps perfectly even; real combs are a little irregular.

Step 4: Outline the Back of the Head

Draw a curved line from the back of the comb down toward the wattles. This closes the shape of the head and gives it a round, full look.

Step 5: Draw the Neck and Back

From the back of the head, draw a long line going down and to the left. Give it a few small, jagged bumps near the top to suggest neck feathers. At the bottom, curve the line out to the left to form the chicken’s back.

This line sets the posture of your whole hen, so take your time with it.

Step 6: Complete the Body Outline

Now draw the front of the chicken. Start under the wattles and draw a big rounded line down for the chest and front of the body. Chickens have a full, puffed-out chest, so let this line bulge out.

At the back, add a fluffy, bumpy edge to show the feathers on the hen’s rear.

Step 7: Add the Fluffy Belly

Close the bottom of the body with a row of small, soft curves. Chickens are very fluffy underneath, so this line should look feathery rather than smooth.

Step 8: Draw the Back Feathers

At the upper left of the body, draw a curly, scalloped line. This adds volume to the chicken’s back and makes the body look rounder and softer.

Step 9: Draw the Wing

A chicken’s wing rests folded against its side. Draw a large curved shape across the middle of the body, with a scalloped feathery edge along the bottom. Then add a curved line on the right side to show where the front of the wing ends.

Step 10: Add the Lower Rear Feathers

Under the back feathers, add a few more bumpy curves at the lower left. This fills in the fluffy area between the wing and the belly.

Step 11: Draw the Tail

Hens have a short, rounded tail that points up and back. Draw a curved fan shape rising from the back of the body, with a bumpy outer edge for the feather tips.

Step 12: Draw the Neck Feathers

Chickens have a “cape” of longer feathers around the neck. Draw a scalloped line, like a row of small U-shapes, across the chest and back where the neck feathers end. This is one of the details that makes your drawing look like a real hen.

Step 13: Draw the Legs and Feet

Under the body, draw two thin legs. The leg in front should be slightly lower and bigger; the one behind is a little higher and partly hidden.

For each foot, draw three long toes spreading forward. Give each toe a small pointed claw at the tip.

Step 14: Add Tail Feather Details

Draw a few curved lines inside the tail to split it into separate, layered feathers. Follow the curve of the tail so the feathers look like they’re fanning out.

Step 15: Add Wing Feather Details

Inside the wing, draw rows of small curved lines to show layers of feathers. Make them overlap like roof tiles. Add a few short strokes along the neck feathers too.

Step 16: Add the Eye Ring and Feather Texture

Draw a small circle around the eye to create the eye ring. Then add short, curved strokes across the chest, belly and neck. These tiny marks suggest feather texture without cluttering the drawing.

Step 17: Draw the Eye

Inside the eye ring, draw a round eye and fill in the pupil. Leave a tiny white dot as a highlight. This one small detail makes your chicken look alive.

Step 18: Your Chicken Drawing Is Finished!

Go over your final lines with a black pen or marker. Wait for the ink to dry, then gently erase any pencil marks. Well done, you’ve just drawn a chicken!

How to Color Your Chicken

Coloring brings your hen to life. Here are a few easy color ideas:

• Classic brown hen: Use reddish-brown for the body, darker brown for the wing and tail feathers, and lighter brown on the chest.
• White hen: Leave the body white and add light gray shading under the wing and belly.
• Black hen: Color the body black or dark gray and add a few dark green or blue strokes on the tail for a glossy shine.

For every version, color the comb and wattles red, and the beak and legs yellow or orange.

Tip: Leave small white gaps on the feathers when coloring. It makes them look soft and shiny.

Tips for a Better Chicken Drawing

• Start in the right spot. Begin the head near the top right of your page so the body and tail don’t run off the edge.
• Think round. Chickens are plump and fluffy. If your hen looks thin, make the chest and belly curves fuller.
• Use bumpy lines for feathers. Smooth lines look like skin; small bumps and scallops instantly read as feathers.
• Keep feather details light. A few strokes on the chest and belly are enough. Too many lines make the drawing look messy.
• Don’t press hard in pencil. You’ll want to erase guide lines later.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• The head is too big. A hen’s head is small compared to her body. If the head looks huge, make the body rounder and wider.
• The legs are too long. Chicken legs are short and partly hidden by fluffy feathers. Keep them short and sturdy.
• The tail looks like a rooster’s. Hens have short, rounded tails. Long, sweeping, curved tail feathers belong to a rooster.
• The feet look flat. Spread the toes out and add small claws so the chicken looks like it’s standing firmly.

Hen vs. Rooster: What’s the Difference When Drawing?

This tutorial shows a hen. If you want to draw a rooster instead, change these details:

• Make the comb and wattles much bigger.
• Draw long, curved tail feathers that arch up and drape down.
• Add longer, pointed neck feathers.
• Give the rooster a taller, prouder posture with the chest pushed out.
• Add a small spur on the back of each leg.

Make It Fun: Ideas to Try Next

• Draw a few baby chicks next to your hen.
• Add a nest with eggs under her.
• Draw a simple farm background with grass, a fence and a barn.
• Try a cartoon chicken with big eyes and a tiny body.
• Print the finished outline and use it as a coloring page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it hard to draw a chicken?

Not at all. A chicken is mostly made of rounded shapes and bumpy feather lines. If you follow the steps one at a time, even beginners can draw a chicken that looks great.

What shapes are used to draw a chicken?

The body is a large rounded shape, the wattles are teardrops, the comb is a wavy line of bumps, and the beak is a small pointed triangle. Feathers are made with small curves and scallops.

How long does it take to draw a chicken?

Most people finish this tutorial in about 20 to 30 minutes. Coloring takes an extra 10 to 15 minutes.

Can kids follow this chicken drawing tutorial?

Yes. Kids around 8 and up can usually follow it on their own. Younger kids can follow along with an adult and skip the feather details in steps 14 to 16.

What colors should I use for a chicken?

Real chickens come in brown, white, black, gray and golden colors. The comb and wattles are usually red, and the beak and legs are yellow or orange.

How do I make my chicken drawing look more realistic?

Add layered feathers on the wing and tail, a scalloped line for the neck feathers, small texture strokes on the body, and an eye with a white highlight. Light shading under the wing and belly also adds depth.