"Capital" of nine-toed chickens in Muong Xuan Dai

Located in the buffer zone of Xuan Son National Park, Xuan Dai commune is not only famous for its majestic natural scenery but also known as the "capital" of the rare nine-toed (multi-toed) chicken breed. From an animal associated with the legend of Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh, the nine-toed chicken has become a valuable commodity, helping people in mountainous areas escape poverty sustainably.

The multi-toed chicken breed is raised by many Muong ethnic minority households in Xuan Dai commune on a farm and family farm scale.

The meticulous craft of raising "mascots"

Arriving at Mr. Ha Van Tam's poultry farm, located on a high hill, we witnessed hundreds of multi-toed chickens with smooth feathers and muscular bodies freely scratching the ground for insects, bathing in the sand under the shade of trees, forming scattered groups throughout the vast space.

Mr. Tâm shared: "This breed of chicken is raised by the Mường people here in a semi-natural way to ensure meat quality and preserve its rare characteristics."

Unlike common chicken breeds, the Xuan Dai nine-toed chicken has very unique biological characteristics. According to local breeders, this breed has rather bulky legs due to having many toes (spurs), leading to weaker natural immunity and requiring very meticulous care. Therefore, from a young age, chicks must be separated for brooding and closely monitored to reduce flock mortality.

To maintain the delicious, firm meat quality befitting "royal chicken," local people maintain a completely natural free-range farming method on hillsides and rocky mountains. The chickens are constantly moving, and even their coops are designed with elevated platforms to allow them to fly and jump.

The chicken coops were designed by farmers with high platforms so that the chickens could fly and jump around freely.

In particular, their food source is entirely derived from agricultural by-products such as chopped banana plants mixed with rice bran and fermented with biological enzymes for a week. This method not only reduces costs but also helps the chickens stay healthy and have good resistance to disease.

Affirming the value and brand of the ancestral land's specialties.

With over 30 years of experience raising multi-spurred chickens, Mr. Xa Van Tuoi from Du hamlet said: Although named "nine spurs," in reality, chickens in nature usually only have 6 to 8 spurs. Individuals that possess all nine spurs are extremely rare and are considered symbols of good luck and spirituality.

Even long-time local poultry farmers only own a few chickens with nine spurs. For example, Mr. Ha Van Tam, who currently has the largest flock of chickens with multiple spurs, has only managed to have one truly nine-spurred chicken in all his farming activities from 2007 to the present.

Chickens with multiple spurs have smooth feathers and firm muscles thanks to being raised in a semi-natural environment.

Because of their rarity, these chickens command a considerable price. While commercially raised broiler chickens (with 6-8 spurs) cost between 250,000 and 300,000 VND per kilogram, those with nine spurs can be sought after by wealthy collectors and enthusiasts for 30 to 40 million VND per bird for ornamental purposes or breeding. According to local experience, these multi-spurred chickens grow very slowly; it takes until the second year for the spurs to fully develop and become clearly colored.

Currently, the movement to raise nine-toed chickens in Xuan Dai commune is developing strongly, with about 20 households participating in farm-scale breeding, raising hundreds of chickens or more. A cooperative for raising nine-toed chickens has been established in the area with 10 member households, maintaining a total flock of over 3,000 chickens.

Xuan Dai's nine-toed chickens not only serve local needs but have also reached the Hanoi market. Every day, 2-3 passenger buses transport pre-slaughtered, vacuum-packed chickens to supply high-end restaurants and hotels. Especially during the Lunar New Year, market demand surges, making nine-toed chickens a luxurious and meaningful gift.

Mr. Ha Van Tam, the largest breeder of nine-toed chickens in Xuan Dai commune, uses agricultural by-products as animal feed to improve the chickens' resistance and ensure their quality.

Comrade Dinh Cong Hoa – Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Dai commune, said: Xuan Dai is a long-standing home of ethnic minority communities, with the Muong ethnic group accounting for about 80%. With the guidance of the local Party committee and government, and the efforts of the people, the multi-toed chicken breed has been maintained and developed, not only contributing to the preservation of rare genetic resources associated with the cultural and historical heritage of the ancestral land, but also opening up promising avenues for the development of ecotourism and culinary tourism in the Muong region of Xuan Dai.

This area is also one of the few key breeding regions in the province specializing in raising nine-toed chickens, establishing and developing a model for preserving and developing this rare breed, contributing to affirming its position as a distinctive OCOP product, and at the same time contributing to changing the socio-economic landscape of the ethnic minority areas.

Bui Minh

Source: https://baophutho.vn/thu-phu-ga-chin-cua-xu-muong-xuan-dai-254792.htm