Five Chickens You Do Not Want To Eat

Chickens in general are bred for food, and in our sunny metropolis Singapore, we are not allowed to have chickens as pets, unless you have a landed property, or farm. Which makes a lot of sense, can you imagine a rooster calling while you are still sleep in bed at your HDB block? 

Most people would tell you, “I WILL COOK THE CHICKEN”.

Year Of The Rooster

Massive Lit-up Rooster at Chinatown, Singapore

It is one day before The Lunar New Year, and this year marks the year of the Rooster, the 10^th animal in the Chinese Zodiac. Everyone has seen a live chicken or two in their lives, but what we do not see here in Singapore, are Chickens for show. (Yes, like Dogs, Cats and Rabbits etc.)

In many other parts of the world, chickens are not just bred for consumption and eggs, they are also bred for Poultry Shows. These are five breeds that are very treasured in other countries.

The Malay

As you guys may know, the illegal trend of Rooster or Cock Fights are still on going in other countries, and there are some folks that keep this breed for conservation purposes. This breed is the Malay, also known as “Asian Hard Feathers”. Believed to be from India, they stand tall at 1 metre *GASP*. That’s about as tall as your school tables! Malay hens are known to lay only 50 eggs per year, they do not do well in confined places.

Source: https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/malay

These Roosters and Hens are raised fighter because they are very aggressive, even a Malay Hen that feels threatened by another will start killing her very own chicks. Their bodies are mostly muscle mass, sporting a long neck and long legs, making them not viable for food choice with their tough meat. Firm, narrow and compact feathers line their bodies like “armor” leaving the throat and face bare, with a stern and fierce looking appearance.

The Barnevelder

Named after a district with successful breeding, The Barnevelder chicken is a Dutch breed that lays about 3 eggs per week, and their eggs were sought after for their chocolate brown colour. Unfortunately the colour quality declined in the recent years and they are now sought after for show standards.

Source: http://www.whynotfarm.net/breeds/barnevelders/

A Barnevelder is a large scale chicken, with rooster growing to weigh about 4 kilograms, and hens about 3 kilograms. They are said to be friendly, and people oriented, especially around kids, and regularly sought for Poultry Shows because of their beautiful plumage. Roosters are usually black with iridescent shimmering green and hens have a wider range of colours that follows their body contours.

Silkie Bantam

We don’t know about you, but this guy definitely does not look like food. This, is the Silkie Bantam, and it’s no wonder it’s a show bird because of its silk like appearance giving this chicken a full fluff from head, body, and legs. They lay about 100 eggs per year, which isn’t very suitable for a chicken farm. However, they are often used as foster hens for their motherly instinct to constantly brood (sitting on eggs for incubation).

Source: http://mughalbirds.blogspot.sg/2015/11/most-beautiful-white-silkie-bantam.html

Underneath those fluffly feathers is blueish skin and legs (no wonder nobody eats them), and back in the Silkie’s native lands, China, their odd meat and skin were sold as “healing” medicine. They weren’t the only ones, for in Europe back in the days, people sold the Silkie chickens passing them off as a cross breed between a rabbit and a chicken (HAHA!)

The Crevecoeur

Even if you wanted a taste of this breed, you can’t. That is because The Crevecoeur is listed as an endangered breed throughout the world. Originating from France, they were named after a town, translated to mean “broken heart). Popular as a breed with dual purposes, for their extremely white meat that grow in big proportions to thin bones, to their show bird appearances.

Source: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/371947/crevecoeur-thread/380

These guys are known to be calm, friendly yet active, but in some instances they can be aggressive. A Crevecoeur rooster can weigh up to 4 kilograms, and a hen 3 kilograms. They walk on bluish grey legs which matches their full, jet black feathers, holding a prideful stand, perfect for Poultry Shows.

The Booted Bantam

“Bantam” is a term known for miniature breed in chickens, and the Booted Bantam chickens are known to make great pets with their friendly and docile nature, enabling them to be easily tamed. A compact body with long wings, they come in a variety of 20 different plumages, the most common being the “spotted” markings. 

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6544361934390393/

The Booted Bantam chickens are now a popular choice for a pet because of their cleanliness. Unlike most of the other chicken breeds that forages for food and messes up plants, the Booted Bantam forages without messing up the plants and crops. Their origins are still shrouded in mystery, but speculated to be from Java.

Chickens In Singapore

Its not impossible to spot Chickens running about the road side or parks, which would be a funny and sort of rare opportunity, we are brought up in a country where Chicken Rice is norm. Though most of us probably wouldn’t have a chance to keep a chicken or two as pets, there are always farms and the Zoo where you can pet some chicks!

Source: http://www.greenhealthyfarm.com/2014/02/poultry-series-management-of-day-old.html

FunFact: Did you know, when eggs are not collected after the hen lays them, they stop laying eggs and that start brooding (sitting on them). Hens constantly turn their eggs to maintain an even temperature throughout the 21 days of incubation. Talk about being a good parent!

On behalf of the entire Team At ThePetsDialogue, We wish everyone in advance,

Happy Rooster Year People!!!!