Heritage Chicken Breeds (Pure Breeds)
The following heritage chicken breeds are mostly grown for breeding purposes. Selling hatching eggs, chicks, and adult breeders is the
main reason why these are the favorite breeds to raise.
1. Rhode Island Red
Rhode Island Red (RIR) is indisputably the most popular American heritage chicken breed.
There is a very low supply of this breed while the demand is extremely high. All available
RIRs for sale are for breeding and not for slaughter as this costly breed is not yet ready
for the slaughter market. In Luzon, the price of chicks ranges from P130 to as high as
P300, while the ready-to-breed birds are priced at around P1,500.
2. Barred Plymouth Rock
Coming in second and extremely close is the Barred Plymouth Rock (BPR). This
beautiful chicken heritage breed is both for meat and egg production, but like
Rhode Island Red, this is not available in the slaughter market yet as all stocks are
still at the breeding stage. The price of chicks and ready-to-breed BPRs are the
same as RIRs. Hatching fertilized eggs can cost between P30 to P60 depending on
location.
3. Black Australorp
Black Australorp is a popular breed developed in Australia. It is one of the biggest chicken
breeds in this list with males averaging 4kg while females averaging 3kg. There are fewer BAs
in the Philippines compared to RIRs and BPRs, making it more expensive than the two
above. The cost of day-old to one-week chicks is around P150 to 330 while the ready-to-breed
hens can cost up to P2,000. Black Australorps have black plumage. The underside of the neck
is yellow with white wingtips. Their eyes range from dark red-yellow to black. It also has a dark-
colored beak, giving it a dreamy, mysterious appearance.
4. Buff Orpington and Light Sussex
Buff Orpington and Light Sussex are both very attractive breeds of chickens.
They say if you want to raise chicken in a crowded neighborhood you should
choose Orpingtons because they are silent. Both chickens are very large breeds
with males exceeding 4 kgs and females exceeding 3kgs. Unlike the three
heritage chicken breeds mentioned above, Buff Orpington and Light Sussex are
harder to find and are more expensive. Additionally, based on this writer’s
personal experience, Orpingtons needs utmost care when younger because
they are weaker compared to other breeds. Orpingtons and Sussex share the
same price range with chicks ranging from P180 to 350 while ready-to-breed
adult birds can cost up to P2,500
5. Brahma
Pure breed Brahma chickens are really huge birds. With males averaging 5.5
kgs while females at 4.5 kgs, this breed is second only to Jersey Giant in terms
of size. The big size and surprisingly unique appearance, however, comes with
a hefty price tag. Although this breed is common in the US, in the Philippines,
Brahma could be the most expensive bird that can be found in someone’s
backyard.
One reason why Brahma is very rare is because of its expensive price. A day-
old chick could cost around P500 to P800 while a 1-month-old can cost around
P1,500. A pair of adult and ready-to-breed Brahmas would cost between
P9,000 to P13,000. This sounds too expensive for an ordinary person who is
not into chicken farming but if you compare the price of a fighting cock, this is
still nothing. You may think that raising Brahma would be a great idea but its
hefty price could limit your market reach.
Brahma comes in several colors with the most popular are light and buff.
6. Jersey Giant
Jersey Giant is the largest chicken breed but also one of the slowest to reach maturity. A large
amount of food and time is required for the Jersey Giant to reach its full size. Males can weigh
an average of 5.9 kgs while females weigh an average of 5.5 kgs.
Jersey Giants has a huge similarity with Black Australorps. Australorps differ from Black Jersey
Giants in that the legs of the Jersey Giant are black (some tending toward willow) and the
underparts of the feet are yellow. In Australorps, the legs are black, shading to dark slate in
adults, but the underparts of the feet are pinkish white. Black Australorps also have black beaks
while the Giants have part yellow.
Some Filipinos raise this bird as a pet and for show. The chick prices can range from P250 to
P400 while adult price depends on age.
7. Asil and Shamo
Asil and Shamo are two closely related breeds and look really similar. These breeds are raised
and being crossed to game fowls due to their aggressive behavior. They are also closely related
to the local Parawakan (Jolo) breed.
The difference between Shamo and Asil is that Shamo is taller and less compact than the Asil
chickens, and lacks the exaggerated curves of the Malay chicken. The tails of the Shamo chicken
are small and generally follow the line of the back sloping down to the ground. They have a
smaller-sized bright red colored pea comb. Shamo is originated from Japan while Asil is from
India. They are also raised as show birds. The cost of this type of chicken depends on the
demography and the seller.
8. Ayam Cemani
Ayam Cemani is the most unique breed of chicken on this list. Originated from Indonesia, pure
breed Ayam Cemani is all black including meat, bones, and internal organs. The blood is normally
red. The birds’ black color occurs as a result of excess pigmentation of the tissues, caused by a
genetic condition known as fibromelanosis. This gene is also found in some other black fowl
breeds. The roosters weigh 2.0–2.5 kg and the hens 1.5–2.0 kg. The hens lay cream-colored eggs,
although they are poor setters and rarely hatch their own brood. Filipinos raise Ayam Cemani
for show and also for reselling. There are particular Facebook Groups that are dedicated to
raising Ayam Cemani in the Philippines. Ayam Cemani has a native counterpart which is called
“Ulikba” and it is not clear whether Ulikba is a descendant of Ayam Cemani. Ayam Cemani is one
of the most expensive breeds in the United States with some adults reportedly costs $5,000. The
price depends on the degree of blackness of the chicken.
Hybrid Chickens (Crossbreeds)
Hybrid chickens mean a combination of two or more breeds to produce a productive result. Like the broiler chicken, or we simply call 45
days which is usually a cross of Cornish and White Plymouth Rock, there are several hybrids that are becoming popular for backyard
farming.
9. Kabir and SASSO
Kabir and SASSO are developed separately by two different companies but are now marketed under one company – the Cobb-Vantress,
in collaboration with Hendrix Genetics. Both chickens are developed primarily for meat but are also good layers. Both chicken lines are
highly popular in backyard chicken farming and even in industrial-grade free-range farming. SASSO and Kabir chicks are sold between P60
to P90 per head with varied prices on adults.
Both Kabir and SASSO brands have different colors but the most popular are reds, which are almost identical.
10. Dominant CZ
Dominant CZ is the name of the company the develops Dominant hybrid chickens. Dominant
chickens are getting more and more popular to layer backyard farmers as this line of hybrids
produces more eggs than most pure breeds. Dominant uses codes to identify its line of breeds like
D-107 for Dominant Blue and D-109 for Dominant Black – two of the most productive and popular
colors of Dominant CZ. Dominant line of hybrids is known to produce eggs as early as 4.5 months
old.
Dominant CZ chicks cost between P90 and P130 in many parts of Luzon with blue as the more
popular than the black.
DeKalb Chickens
There are two most popular DeKalb lines of breeds that are widely grown and raised in the Philippine for eggs. They are Dekalb White and
DeKalb Brown.
DeKalb White
DeKalb White is what we see in most caged poultry layer farms in the
Philippines today. Although there are other competitors like Lohmann White,
DeKalb dominates the Philippine market. DeKalb white is developed mainly
from White Leghorn with other breeds.
The Dekalb White is efficient, docile, and capable of laying up to 500 eggs. As
the industry transitions from a cage system to cage-free and pasture run
systems, the Dekalb White is ideal for this ongoing evolution.
Adaptable and docile, the Dekalb White is the right choice for extended
production cycles, superb persistency, and it thrives in alternative housing
systems. The Dekalb’s high number of first quality eggs are suitable for table
egg or processing purposes. And because of its good temperament, management under today’s welfare standards is easy.
DeKalb Brown
DeKalb Brown is the most popular breed in cage-free egg production
producing brown eggs. From backyard raisers to big free-range layer farms,
DeKalb Brown is always the best choice. DeKalb Brown is developed from
several heritage breeds including Leghorns and Rhode Islands.
Dekalb Brown is a well-balanced, all-round performance bird. A champion
egg layer producing dark brown eggs with a very strong shell. The Dekalb
Brown is an ideal layer for high numbers of first quality, medium-sized,
table eggs. This bird delivers predictable and proven profits for egg
producers. With high peak production and excellent laying persistence, the
Dekalb Brown is a proven all-round performer.
