10 Rarest Chicken Breeds in the World - Sustainable Agriculture

December 3, 2022 by Lauro Braganza

In this article, we are going to present a list of the 10 rarest chicken breeds in the world. To people unfamiliar with raising poultry, chickens may all look the same and are simply raised for meat and eggs. However, there are many breeds of chickens around the world, each with its own characteristics and history.

Unfortunately, many of these breeds are in danger of extinction because there is no interest from people to maintain them. So, if you are thinking of acquiring some specimens for your chicken coop, take a look at our list of the 10 rarest chicken breeds in the world and help us save these breeds!

Chickens are one of the most common birds out there. Every country in the world has its own local variety called native breeds, some of which are used for the production of eggs, poultry, or even as show birds. But what are the ten rarest chicken breeds out there? Let’s see!

Here are the 10 rarest chicken breeds

1. Dong Tao

Dong Tao chicken is one of the 10 rarest chicken breeds you will find in the Philippines and in the world except for Vietnam. This impressive bird is native to Dong Tao village near Hanoi, Vietnam. It is known locally as the dragon chicken and has become famous for its extremely large legs.

Although they are considered rare chickens, their meat is considered a delicacy in Vietnam. High officials of the Vietnamese government and the royal family were often served when Vietnam was under the rule of the dynasty. Dong Tao chicken is also sold at a very high price, a pair of these impressive birds can cost from $ 2,500 to $ 5,000. It is certainly worth the effort if you want to acquire one of the rarest chicken breeds on the planet.

2. Sultan

The Sultan hails from Turkey and as the name suggests, this breed was originally developed as an ornamental breed for the Sultan of Constantinople. The breed arrived in the United Kingdom at the hands of Miss Elizabeth Watts of London’s Hampstead.

These beautiful little birds are particularly fluffy and fully feathered. The head is also feathered and has a very large rounded head. . The breed has five toes, the thighs are well developed, and the legs are covered with feathers. Their combs are small and V-shaped. The type of comb of this breed is called duplex and is bright red.

3. Brabanter

Native to northern Europe, the Brabanter chicken is considered one of the rarest chicken breeds in the world due to its peculiar appearance. This breed is named after the area of Brabant, a region of western Europe between Belgium and the Netherlands. These birds come in different color varieties, such as blue with laces, black, white, cream, gold with sequins, lavender, silver, and gold with crescent-shaped sequins.

The Brabanter chicken breed has a forward-facing crest and a V-shaped comb. Their whiskers hide their whiskers and earlobes. These breeds are very rare and it is very difficult to find them in hatcheries. These are calm and intelligent birds that can survive in confinement. They are also known to have submissive behavior. They are friendly with children and are not aggressive.

4. La Fleche

Legend has it that La Flèche chicken got its name due to the arrow shape of its comb, but the name actually comes from its area of origin, “Flèche” a small town located in the La Sarthe Valley in France. Unfortunately, this breed is critically endangered.

The Flèche is medium-sized and classified as a dual-purpose bird, laying good-sized white eggs. This unique-looking bird proudly sports its V-shaped comb in the shape of an arrow. They are good gatherers with an active but not aggressive temperament. The growth is quite slow but they fatten well producing meat of excellent quality. The imposing arrow that forms its comb makes it one of the rarest chicken breeds you will see.

5. Breda

The Breda chicken is a very old breed from the Netherlands. They have been portrayed in paintings since 1660 where they were shown as poultry on small farms. It was a very popular breed in the United States before the Civil War. However, its popularity began to wane in the 19th century until it completely disappeared from the US.

Fortunately, Dutch poultry enthusiasts kept the breed, however, its popularity was rapidly declining there as well. It is a chicken with a calm temperament, curiosity, and alert to any sign of danger. They like to run freely, but seem more than happy to stay in their home area after their daily walk.

6. Naked chicken

This chicken seems unrealistic but it actually exists, which is why we decided to include it in the list of the 10 rarest chicken breeds in the world. The featherless chicken is a rare and rare breed of chicken created by researchers at the Rehovot Institute of Agronomy Faculty of Genetics, Tel Aviv, Israel. The purpose behind the development of this bird was to create a chicken that was cheaper, more convenient, and more efficient compared to the typical everyday chicken that we all know and love.

Interestingly, this strange breed is not genetically modified, but is the result of a 50-year effort, using natural breeding methods. If you’re wondering what a zombie chicken would look like, then it could be this chicken.

7. Serama

This breed is native to the Kelantan province in Malaysia and is considered one of the rarest chicken breeds in Asia. Well, for the first time, they saw each other in the early 17th century. The name ‘Serama’ means a tribute to one of the Thai kings (King Rama).

This breed was first imported to the US in 2000. However, the import process was subsequently banned due to the Asian bird flu outbreak. This infection almost wiped out this breed, but they managed to survive this terrible disease. This breed was the product of crossing Japanese roosters with local Malaysian roosters.

8. Frizzle

This adorable bird has striking, curly feathers. While the frizzle gene that makes their plumage look curly can be seen in many breeds, such as the Peking and the Polish, the Frizzle is recognized as a unique breed in many countries in Europe and Australia. While the exact origin of this breed is unknown, it is believed that they originated in Asia. Unfortunately, Frizzle chickens are not recognized as a breed in the United States.

9. Spanish white-faced

The Spanish white face is a bird native to Spain and is considered one of the rarest chicken breeds in the world. According to British records, the origin of this breed dates back to 1572. Most chickens of this breed are black in color with a small amount of white in the neck area and on the wingtips.

His face is white. It looks almost as if the chicken is wearing a little white mask, hence its name White-faced Spanish Chicken They have simple combs, black legs, and feet. Today these birds are considered ornamental. If you want to see a Spanish white-faced, you will only find them at poultry shows in the UK.

Unfortunately; it is rare to find this bird in its home country of Spain. To be honest, if the British had not brought specimens of the breed to the UK, there is a good chance that this breed would have been extinct a long time ago.

10. Ayam Cemani

Ayam Cemani also known as the gothic chicken, is one of the 10 rarest chicken breeds on the planet. Originally from Indonesia, it has been described by Jason Bittel of National Geographic as the “most pigmented creature” found in nature due to its jet-black feathers, beak, tongue, eyes, and claws.

Not only is his physical appearance black; their organs, muscles, bones, and flesh are too. However, the black color is not present in the blood and eggs of this breed. The Cemani first emerged in the town of Java in Indonesia. In his home country, Ayam Cemani is seen as a magical creature with extraordinary healing powers.

There are many Ayam Cemani breeders in the Philippines though and looking to buy is never a problem as long as you have deep pockets because this breed is not cheap at all.

Where to buy the above rarest chicken breeds?

Depending on your location and country, you can source these chicken breeds locally or imported. If you are in the US and Europe, finding any of the rarest chicken breeds should not be a problem.

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