Thalassery chicken is an indigenous variety of poultry in Kerala. It is the only chicken from Kerala among the 19 recognised Indian breeds of chicken. The chicken found in Thalassery and nearby areas was recognised by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) in 2015.
The AICRP on Poultry at Veterinary University in Mannuthy started preserving the indigenous chicken varieties as part of developing local and foreign hybrid breeds suitable for Kerala.
Features
Thalassery chicken is featured with black feathers, grey legs and red comb and wattle. The hens start laying eggs when they are 6-8 months old and produce upto 60-80 eggs a year.
As result of the genetic selection, the Thalassery chicken at AICRP centre start laying eggs at 4.5 months and produce upto 160-170 eggs a year. Average weight of an egg is 43 grams. A rooster weighs 1.27 kilogram in 4 months and 1.75 kilogram in 10 months.
Thalassery chicken have high immunity for the local pathogens and are suitable for rearing in households. As they can be fed with the waste food from kitchen and grains, this breed is the right choice for those who grow chicken for household purposes.
Thalassery chicks eat leaves and insects and their eggs have deep yellow yolks and the egg shells are light brown in colour. These features are preferred among most of the customers in Kerala.
Also the meat is less fatty and fetches high price. Those who pre-order at AICRP centre in Mannuthy veterinary college will get Thalassery chicken eggs for breeding.
