21/05/2025
Different kinds of Native Chicken in the Philippines.
Banaba
In a country absolutely crazy over fighting c***s, this breed is renowned as the original Filipino fighting bird. A 1930 article by Leon Gardner on c**kfighting in the Philippines describes this plucky pugilist. “The best-known and most desired gamec**k in these Islands is the Banaba, a black-breasted red c**k with a black beak, legs and toes. It originates from Southern Luzon. Good fighters, those that have won a number of contests sell for remarkably high prices.”
Bolinao
Hailing from Pangasinan, a coastal region north of Manila, this breed shows fine potential either as broiler or layer stock. Plumage color varies widely, but reds and browns are the norm, with the occasional jet-black bird cropping up. The somewhat drab plumage is paired with a red comb, earlobes and hackles. Excellent free-range fowl, they require minimal inputs. In December 2019, the government established the first-ever Bolinao chicken demonstration farm to generate alternative livelihood opportunities for inmates in the city of Batac in Ilocos Norte. More farms are underway to further refine the breed’s desirable traits and maximize its value for backyard food security.
Darag
This chicken breed originates from Panay Island in the Western Visayas, near the world-famous beaches of Boracay. It is rapidly rising in popularity for very good reason. The typical plumage for roosters, locally called Labuyo or Alimbuyog, is a deep red hackle and wings, plus ebony feathers and a matching black tail, though other color morphs are seen. Hens have sandy or yellowish-brown plumage. C***s weigh an average of 1.3 kilogrammes while hens reach about 1.1 kilogrammes. Known for their economical feeding habits, Darag chickens are ready for harvest after around 10 weeks. Traditionally used for the region’s famed Inasal or barbecued chicken or the more ubiquitous Filipino Tinola or chicken soup, the breed offers distinctively-lean, smoky and flavourful meat.
Joloano
Another breed used mostly for c**kfighting, the Joloano is a heavyset bird thought to have originated in Mindanao, the southernmost island group in the Philippines. Also called the Basilan, it has an impressive and sturdy bearing, with a unique ramrod posture which gives it an immediate height advantage over most of its game-fowl opponents. Adult c***s weight about 2.8-4 kilogrammes while mature hens reach about 2-2.6 kilogrammes. Roosters sport deep orange plumage with a predominantly black tail, occasionally speckled white. A plain head features a pea comb for both c***s and hens. Hens are predominantly a dull buff brown with pale yellow legs. Joloano chickens reach a kilogramme after about three months. The Philippine government is currently attempting to purify and refine the bloodline of this breed. Similar to the above mentioned programme for the Bolinao, the Joloano is being used for a government-spearheaded food security project for inmates, this time in Zamboanga City.
Paraoakan
This is the largest heritage chicken breed in the Philippines, with mature c***s averaging 2.8-4 kilogrammes and hens at 2-2.8 kilogrammes. Originally hailing from Malaysia, the breed was brought to the Philippine island of Palawan in the 14th century by Arab explorers. Generally black in color and sporting particularly long legs, Sabungeros or c**k-fighters make use of the Paraoakan’s size for c**kfights, being the breed of choice for the Western Philippines. Sporting a bigger body, longer neck and a larger head than other native breeds, many individuals feature pale yellow legs, plus a black tail with contrasting white feathers at the base. The largest individuals top out at over five kilogrammes and show immensely-strong musculature. While offering good, tough meat, the breed is still traditionally thought-of as a fighter instead of food.
Zampen
ZamPen, or Zamboanga Peninsula native chicken, is a purified breed of Joloano chicken, specifically propagated in the Zamboanga Peninsula region of the Philippines. This native chicken is known for its improved production performance compared to the Joloano breed.
Boholano
The Boholano native chicken is a newly described strain of Philippine native chicken, characterized by a single comb, yellow shank, red-plain plumage, white skin, and orange iris. Roosters are heavier and have larger body measurements than females.
Patani
The Patani is a black native chicken breed unique to the Philippines, particularly the Caraga region. It stands out for its high level of black pigmentation in its skin, shaft, plumage, and bones, as well as its grayish meat. Patani is a native breed that is being promoted in the Philippines for its unique characteristics and potential benefits to poultry farming.
