Indigenous Breeds of Poultry in Bhutan
Up one levelBaylaitey
Cultural / Economic Significance - This line is medium-built and resembles the ancient English Dorking breed typically characterised by a short shank. Some birds have feathers on their shank. The word Baylaitey refers to "exotic". This is because of its large and graceful looks, somewhat similar to pure bred exotic chickens.
Shekheni
Cultural / Economic Significance - Local name: Shekheni (lh). It has a longer shank as compared to other lines. It has large and graceful looks similar to many pure bred exotic chickens.
Native Black
Cultural / Economic Significance - Local name: Yubjha naeb (Dz), Kalo kukhra (lh). It is believed that meat of the black variant has medicinal properties.
Belochem
Cultural / Economic Significance - Local name is Belo which means traditional ‘sun-cap’. This line is considered to be highly endangered around the world. It is also true in Bhutan as not many such birds are found across the country.
Barred Yubjha
Cultural / Economic Significance - Local name is Poolsuri (lh)
Naked Neck
Cultural / Economic Significance - The local name of the bird is Khuilay - meaning ‘bald’. The naked neck is a notable and dominant trait characterised by a complete lack of follicles in the neck and fewer or no feathers on the head. A featherless neck is an excellent adaptation for a hot environment as it is mostly found in the Southern part of Bhutan.
Kauray
Cultural / Economic Significance - Research findings suggest that chicken lines of Kauray along with Naked Neck and Barred Yubjha are clustered closely and may be derived from Seim, the most common indigenous chicken found in Bhutan.
Frizzle
Cultural / Economic Significance - Local name: Pulom (Dz). Dum-shay (Lh) meaning “like a Porcupine”.
Native white
Cultural / Economic Significance - Local name: Jha kaeb (Dz). Shayto khukra (Lh). Many believe the native white or yubjha kaeb are the lineage of the conventional commercial White Leghorn, which were introduced in Bhutan more than two decades ago. However, farmers in Bhutan have reared pure white indigenous chickens many years before the White Leghorn was first introduced in Bhutan.
Bobthara
Cultural / Economic Significance - Bobthara is the most common line of indigenous chicken found in Bhutan. Many farmers believe that these birds are the direct descendants of the jungle fowl and for this reason the male and female of this line are collectively called Bobthara (Dz). They are also called Bja Katseri due to its resemblance to the red jungle fowl. The local name of the female is Seim (Dz), Paile (Lh), while that of a male is Jhapay maep (Dz), Rato baelay (Lh). Females make excellent brooders.
