The South American chicken breed is considered by many to be one of the old breeds with good health and easy to raise in the Philippines, favored by many cockfighters. So, what are the characteristics of this chicken breed, and how do you choose to buy South American chickens? You can refer to the information below to understand more about this chicken breed of Jollibee!
What is South American chicken?
South American chicken breed, also known as the giant South American chicken, originates from Brazil and is known for its large body size, which can weigh between 10kg and 15kg. They have long necks and bright red combs and are usually tall, with an adult height of over 1m. The giant South American chicken is resistant to blows and aggressive and is often raised for show and cockfighting purposes.
The outstanding feature of this breed of chicken is its long neck, often without feathers or with only a few down feathers, which helps regulate body temperature when living in hot environments like South America. Their feathers are quite long, thick, and smooth, with diverse colors from black mixed with gray to yellow-brown.
The South American chicken breed is also popular in the Philippines because it is easy to raise, has a high egg productivity of 50 to 70 eggs/year, and has an egg weight of 100 to 150. Six-month-old South American hens can start laying their first clutch of eggs, with each batch being able to lay from 15 to 20 eggs. This is a breed of chicken with good health and the ability to adapt to changing environments, suitable for the Philippines’s climate.
How to help you choose good quality South American chicken breeds
When choosing South American chickens, you need to pay attention to some important factors to ensure that you choose good quality chickens. If you are not sure what these criteria are, you can see some ways as follows:
- Appearance: South American gamecocks have large, muscular bodies, broad chests, broad shoulders, straight backs, small heads, short beaks, bright eyes, smooth feathers, and thin skin.
- Feathers: Although this breed of chicken has many different colors, the most common are black, gray, and red. You should prioritize choosing chickens with thick, smooth, and shiny feathers.
- Legs: The legs of South American gamecocks must be strong, with large, thick scales and close together. The spurs must be long, pointed, and curved.
- Beak: The chicken’s beak should be short, thick and strong.
- Eyes: You should pay attention and choose chickens with bright, sharp eyes and black borders around them.
- Breed: South American gamefowl have many different breeds, and each breed has its own advantages and disadvantages. You can choose to buy those with reputable breeds that have been proven through cockfights.
- Parents: You should prioritize choosing chickens from parents with good fighting records. These are chickens with dominant genes that can produce high-quality offspring.
- Temperament: The South American Gamecock must be aggressive, brave, and have a strong fighting spirit.
The above criteria will help you choose good quality South American chickens that are suitable for your breeding or fighting purposes. Pay attention to every detail to ensure you have the best choices!
Basic Care Guide for South American Chickens
Caring for the South American chicken breed requires attention to many different aspects to ensure their health and optimal growth. Here are some basic guidelines on how to care for this breed that you may want to consider:
- Coop: The chicken coop you build must be large enough, cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. In addition, you also need to build the coop so that it can avoid wind blowing in and keep the coop dry and clean.
- Food and water: Chicks need to be fed in moderation and divided into several meals a day. The drinking water for chickens will need to be cleaned and changed regularly. If you raise adult chickens, you need to increase their diet and supplement necessary nutrients such as brown rice, barley, soybeans, and ground corn. Feeding time for chickens should be divided into two main meals: Breakfast before 7 am and afternoon before 4 pm.
- Chicken Training: To keep your chickens healthy, you need to pay attention to their training. Exercises such as foot massage and balance exercises help chickens develop better muscles and strength.
- Health Care: Make sure you have veterinary medicine and feed available for your chickens. The chicken coop should always be cool enough in the summer and warm enough in the winter. You should also clean the chicken coop regularly to prevent disease.
The above instructions are basic for caring for the South American chicken breed. However, depending on the specific conditions of each household, you may need to adjust the care method accordingly. Therefore, you should monitor the health of the chicken and consult with chicken-raising experts for the best care measures.
Hope you have understood what South American chickens are and the information related to this type of chicken. Wish you choose to buy the most satisfactory chickens for your raising needs.
