When boiled, this chicken is typically served with a dipping sauce composed of chili, sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce.ĭong Tao chicken meat can be fried and served with steamed rice. Preparing Dong Tao MeatĪmong the Vietnamese people, a lot of care goes into the preparation of the meat from a Dong Tao chicken.

While you may be used to discarding your regular chicken legs as scraps, the Dong Tao’s legs are considered a delicacy, especially in its country of origin. The Feet Source: red meat of Dong Tao chickens may be something to talk about, but it is the big feet that are the stars of the show. It is said to be both lean and chewy in texture. The MeatĪccording to some, the meat of the Dong Tao is tastier than that of any other chicken breed. However, with some people willing to pay as much as $2000 for a top-quality Dong Tao chicken, there is still a significant incentive for farmers to raise them. It’s clear that dragon chickens are not the bird to get if you’re interested in getting a lot of eggs. As a result, farmers may have to invest in an incubator if they hope to get any chicks they can raise in the future. The enlarged legs of the hens make it easy for them to break the eggs after laying. For starters, the females are not the most proficient layers, producing one or two eggs in a whole week. Dong Tao Chicken Usesĭong Tao chickens are not easy to breed, and this probably contributes to their rarity. Dong Tao chicks will typically have black wings contrasting with their white bodies. The wattles and combs on both hens and roosters will be bright red. Some of the males may also be auburn with white, gray, and black feathers scattered throughout. Source: hens are usually lighter colors like white mixed with buff or all white while the rooster can have black breasts with red feathers on their backs and wings.

In fact, the roosters can weigh as much as 13 pounds at maturity while the hens may weigh around 10 pounds.Īs with most chickens, the male Dong Taos’ plumage tends to be darker and has more color varieties compared to the females. Once you look past the legs, the next thing you may notice is that the Dong Tao is a larger chicken breed compared to others. The enlarged legs of the dragon chicken are present in both hens and roosters, but the effect is particularly visible in the males. These thick legs are covered by scales that have reddish-pink color to them. The first thing you’re likely to notice about the Dong Tao chicken is its massive legs and feet which can grow to be as thick as an adult human’s wrist.

It is said that in the days gone by, you couldn’t get a taste of Dong Tao chicken unless you were in the Vietnamese royal family or a Mandarin. It is believed that these chickens were initially bred for cockfighting.Īs old as they are the exact origins of the dragon chicken breed are yet to be established. Many chicken breeds you see today are likely to have been developed after the 1800s, but Dong Tao chickens go back hundreds of years. These chickens also go by the name dragon chicken, perhaps alluding to the fact that the chicken’s legs and feet look more like something you’d find on a dragon. The Origins of the Dong Tao Chicken Breedĭong Tao chickens are named after the village that is most associated with them, Dong Tao, located in the Khoai Chau District in Vietnam. Legs can grow as thick as an adult human wrist. Mild-Mannered, Roosters may get aggressive around hens Read on to find out if you can pay the high price of admission to join the exclusive club of Dong Tao chicken farmers. If you have ever wanted to raise a rare chicken breed, the Dong Tao chicken might be what you’re looking for. Their origins in South-East Asia mean not every environment will be right for raising them though. These chickens do, however, have more going for them, including a great personality. This feature gives them a much higher value compared to your regular meat birds, but it also has negative effects on other aspects of their lives. Source: Tao chickens have one feature that stands out above the rest, their thick legs. Raising these chickens is a singular experience that, realistically, many chicken farmers are unlikely to ever experience but that shouldn’t keep you from trying. The Dong Tao chicken remains a rare chicken breed even today and is highly prized for its meat. This chicken is of Vietnamese origin and its distinct look once made it a reserve of the royal family. If there was a competition for the most unique chicken breeds out there, the Dong Tao chicken would undoubtedly be high up on that list if not at the very top.

Dong tao chicken cost