List of native Philippine chicken breeds
| Conservation status | Recovering |
|---|---|
| Other names | Philippine Native Chicken |
| Nicknames | Native Chicken |
| Country of origin | Philippines |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
|
| Skin color | Yellow/White |
| Egg color | Brown |
| Comb type | Single |
| Classification | |
| APA | Recognized by the PA |
| Notes | |
| Dual purpose layer breed | |
| |
The Philippine Native Chicken is a breed of chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). They are a utility bird, raised for meat and eggs. They are a popular choice for backyard flocks because of their egg laying abilities and hardiness.
Appearance
The bird's feathers are varied due to their mixed heritage. One of the colors are red that resembles the Red junglefowl. Their eyes are red-orange and would sometimes vary depending on w/c breed they came from. Chicks are a light red to tan color with two dark brown bars running down. See below description based on local resource:
Color Varieties
Dalusapi and Mayahin - These chickens have reddish-brown plumage resembling the Philippine "labuyo" or the Red junglefowl. The shanks of the Dalusapi are yellow or white while that of the Mayahin are slate or black. They can have white earlobes.
Greys - The Greys has bluish-green plumage. The shanks are either yellow, white, black or grey. They can have white earlobes.
Dom - The plumage of this type has alternating barrings of black, white, grey and sometimes, reddish-brown. The shanks are either yellow, grey or white. They resemble the Sussex (chicken) breed and can have white earlobes.
White - This has a solid white plumage with yellow, white or slate shanks. They resemble the Plymouth Rock (chicken) breed and can have white earlobes.
Ash - This is the smokey-white to almost brownish-grey type. They resemble the Andalusian (chicken) breed. The shanks can be yellow, grey or white. They can have white earlobes.
Lasak - This chicken has brown to grey plumage with white spots. They can have white earlobes.
Black - The plumage of this type is solid black plumage. They resemble the Australorp breed. They can have white earlobes.
The roosters usually weigh in at 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg), the hens slightly less at 4.5 pounds (2.0 kg), cockerels at 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg), and pullets at 0.5 pounds (0.23 kg).
History
Developed in the Philippines through crossbreeding of various fowl breeds and strains and one of them is the red junglefowl. The red junglefowl would often mingle, feed and breed with them as sometimes they would wander in the forests looking for food and one of the reasons why they're a flighty, hardy bird capable of adapting to local conditions. Due to their mixed heritage, hens will develop spurs like males do although it is not a main occurrence.
The list of Philippine Native Chicken breeds known in the government and its respective localities of origin based on locals description:
| Name | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Banaba[1] |  |
From Batangas.[2]
The Banaba fowl is a straight-combed breed. Black breasted with red-orange hackle feathers in roosters. Hens vary in color, straight-combed. Black Tail feathers on both sexes. Straight-comb with bright red earlobes, can have white earlobes. Stands upright with slate colored shanks. Plumage colors may vary. [citation needed] |
| Bolinao[1] |  |
Found in Pangasinan.[2]
Got its name because it is locally found in the region. Predominantly black in color. Known for its gameness or courage as a fighting cock, often used in cockfighting.[citation needed] |
| Camarines[1] |  |
From Bicol.[2]
Red and barred colors. Currently known for meat and egg production in the region.[citation needed] |
| Darag[1] |  |
From Panay Island, Visayas.[2]
A utility, straight-combed breed, yellow-skinned primarily because of being raised in the range. Raised for meat and eggs. Plumage colors may vary. [citation needed] |
| Joloanon[citation needed] |  |
The Joloanon fowl resembles the Asil fowl of India.
Also known locally as "Basilan native fowl". Pea combed with brown red-orange feathering with streaks of black and white colors. Hen plumage colors are brown and had brown-black hackle feathers. Black Tail feathers on both sexes. Straight-comb with bright red earlobes, can have white earlobes. Heavy breed, stands upright with yellow to gray shanks. Plumage colors may vary. [citation needed] |
| Palanan[citation needed] | Found in the island of Luzon, province of Isabela, Philippines.
Got its name because it is locally found in the region. Breed is used for utility and known for its distinct fighting style in the pit.[citation needed] | |
| Paraoakan or Parawakan[1] |  |
From Palawan.[2]
The Parawakan/Paraoakan fowl resembles the Asil fowl of India. Rose-combed and is predominantly black in color. Upright tail and is black in color with some white feathers at the base. Rose comb with bright red earlobes, can have white earlobes. Long-legged heavy breed, stands upright with yellow to gray shanks. Plumage colors may vary. [citation needed] |
| Pulo[citation needed] | Its name means "island" in the English language.
Found in the island of Luzon, province of Batangas, Philippines. Comes in dark red or black, with dark eyes and dark slate legs. Breed is used for utility and known for its distinct fighting style in the pit.[citation needed] | |
| Visayas[citation needed] | Known locally as "manok bisaya".
Breed is used for the well-known delicacy, "chicken-inasal", a roasted chicken delicacy that is unique in taste in Visayas region and is served in restaurants. Plumage colors may vary. [citation needed] |
There are some efforts to cross and upgrade the Philippine Native Chicken with Cantonese, KABIR from Israel, SASSO, Grimaud Freres chicken from France, and recently the Hubbard JA57 and RedBro Line. These birds resemble some of the American breeds such as the Rhode Island Red. These imported breeds of chicken is being distributed throughout the country as only few people have these birds in their backyards. Crosses from these breeds has drastically improved the growth rate, feed conversion ratio and variation in plumage colors. It has also enhanced the capabilities of the birds for adaptability to local conditions.
The Philippine Native Chicken are friendly chickens with a good nature. They are very good pets but they can get aggressive when annoyed.
Philippine Native Chicken are tough birds, resistant to illness, good at foraging and free ranging, and typically docile, quiet, and friendly. Although they are widely known as good layers through cold periods in the country, they're reliant in feed supplement by their owners.
Although usually friendly, Philippine Native Chicken roosters, and sometimes hens, can be quite aggressive towards young children and adults. Most roosters will also attack strangers (humans or animals) if they feel nervous or have never seen the intruder. They are usually friendlier with familiar people, such as those responsible for feeding. Both hens and roosters are known to be aggressive with other chickens, especially in confinement.
Even though they can have an aggressive nature, if raised properly and lovingly, they can be quite loving. They will come when called or when they can see their owner and will walk with him/her just as a dog would. It has even been reported that one Native hen was a "lap chicken", who would walk over and climb into the lap of their owner who was sitting in the grass. These chickens care for each other as well, and often stay in a group.
In Popular Culture
In the 1980s the popular T.V. show in channel IBC 13 "Ang Manok ni San Pedro" features a white gamefowl rooster borrowed by Teban, a cockfighter (portrayed by Lito Pimentel) from Saint Peter.
References
- ^ a b c d e Breeds reported by Philippines: Chicken. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Feleciano R. Bejar, Manuel J. Baylon, Jaime B. Fabillar, Lagrito Ebert B. Mante, Arturo A. Ultra, Reynaldo R. Aquino, Elvie T. Bejar (2012). Management Practices and Morphological Characterization of Indigenous (Native) Chickens in Samar Province. Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture: Agriculture & Development Discussion Paper Series No. 2012-3.
