Dongxiang Green-shelled Egg Chicken

Dongxiang Green-shelled Egg Chicken

The Dongxiang Green-shelled Egg Chicken is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Origin (or distribution): Dongxiang County, Jiangxi Province.

　　Population: In 1998, the county raised 50,000 birds.

　　Main characteristics: A dual-purpose breed for eggs and meat, with black feathers; beak, comb, skin, meat, bones, and claws are all dark black. Hens have a single comb and a refined head. Roosters have a single dark purple comb and a diamond-shaped body. A small number of individuals have white, speckled, or yellow plumage. Birth weight is 33.2 grams; adult weight is 1,654.6 grams for roosters and 1,306.7 grams for hens. Slaughter measurements for a 1,809.6-gram rooster: semi-eviscerated 78.4%, fully eviscerated 64.5%; for a 1,307.8-gram hen: semi-eviscerated 81.8%, fully eviscerated 71.2%. Age at first egg laying is 170–180 days; average egg production over 500 days is 152 eggs, with an egg weight of 49.6 grams, shell color light green, egg shape index 1.33, and shell thickness 0.35 mm.

　　Dongxiang Green-shelled Egg Chicken

　　Origin (or distribution): The Dongxiang Green-shelled Egg Chicken originates from Dongxiang County, Jiangxi Province.

　　Conservation method: Conservation through conservation zones and farms (Dongxiang Black-feather Green-shelled Egg Chicken Original Breed Farm in Jiangxi Province)

　　Population: In 2002, there were 100,000 Dongxiang Green-shelled Egg Chickens in stock.

　　Main characteristics

　　The Dongxiang Green-shelled Egg Chicken is a dual-purpose chicken breed. It has black feathers; beak, comb, skin, meat, bones, and claws are all dark black. Hens have a single comb and a refined head. Roosters have a single dark purple comb, deep and thin wattles, and a diamond-shaped body. Adult weights: roosters 1,655 g, hens 1,307 g. Adult slaughter rates: semi-eviscerated — roosters 78.4%, hens 81.8%; fully eviscerated — roosters 64.5%, hens 71.2%. The Dongxiang Green-shelled Egg Chicken begins laying eggs at 152 days of age, producing 160–170 eggs over 500 days, each weighing about 50 g with a light green shell.

　　Geographic scope

　　The Dongxiang Green-shelled Egg Chicken originates from Dongxiang County, Jiangxi Province. In 1985, chickens laying green-shelled eggs were discovered in Changlin Township (now Xiaogang Town) of Dongxiang County. A special survey on green-shelled egg chickens was later conducted throughout the county. Results showed historical distribution in multiple townships, but at that time only three rural townships had scattered populations. Currently, the Dongxiang County Green-shelled Original Breed Farm (breed resource farm) is located in Dazhongshan Livestock Area, Guangchang Village, Xiaohuang Town, Dongxiang County. It has established 40 core families, with a population of 150,000 birds and an annual output of 225 tons. The declared geographical indication area includes: Xiaogang Town, Huxu Township, Xiaohuang Town, Hongxing Reclamation Farm, Xushangqiao, Zhanxu Township, Dengjia Township, Wangqiao Township, and Yangqiao Dian Town. The geographical coordinates are 116°25′–116°45′ east longitude and 28°10′–28°25′ north latitude.