Jiaonan Langya Chicken

Jiaonan Langya Chicken

The Jiaonan Langya Chicken is a national intangible cultural heritage.

　　The Langya Chicken originated in the coastal areas of southern Jiaonan City, including Langya, Zhaili, Poli, and Xinyang. Historically, this region belonged to the "Langya Commandery," hence the name "Langya Chicken." It is a highly valuable local poultry breed.

　　The Langya Chicken boasts several advantages, including its small size, excellent meat quality, high egg production, strong disease resistance, adaptability, and high feed efficiency. In 1978, it was listed as a superior local poultry breed in Shandong Province, and in 2009, it was included in the "Shandong Provincial Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Protection Catalog" by the Shandong Provincial Bureau of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine. Langya hens have entirely speckled feathers, with plumage in yellow-brown or mottled yellow. They are small-bodied, sturdy, with large eyes and short legs, exhibiting characteristics of egg-laying chickens. Their eggs, known as "Langya Eggs," are famous for their "red shells, large yellow yolks, and high quality." The yolk content is high, accounting for 33.3% of the egg weight, with a rich color and delicious taste, making them an exceptional dish. The roosters have glossy, well-coordinated feathers, tall and sturdy legs, and a proud, alert posture, earning them the reputation of being "fiery red roosters." The Langya Chicken, along with the Licha Black Pig, Huoyan Goose, and Laoshan Dairy Goat, is celebrated as one of the "Four Treasures" of Qingdao's livestock and poultry.

　　The Langya Chicken is a historically significant, genetically stable, and superior breed of chicken. It is raised in all townships across the county, with the highest distribution and best quality found in the southern coastal areas and the Baima River Basin, particularly in townships such as Langya, Poli, Dachang, Haiqing, and Dacun, where conditions for concentrated feed and aquatic animal feed are favorable.

　　The breed is most widespread and of the highest quality in the southern coastal areas and the Baima River Basin, especially in townships such as Langya, Poli, Dachang, Haiqing, and Dacun, where there is an abundance of aquatic animal feed and good conditions for concentrated feed.

　　In 1978, the provincial poultry breed conference officially recognized the Langya Chicken as a unique poultry breed of Shandong Province.

　　 The Langya Chicken is small in stature, robust in constitution, and has compact feathers, belonging to the egg-laying type. Roosters have large, upright combs, with golden-yellow neck feathers, cape feathers, and saddle feathers that shine brightly. Their primary wing feathers and tail feathers feature large, glossy black-green feathers. Their faces are bright red, their legs are tall and sturdy, and their bodies are majestic, standing alert with their heads held high, earning them the reputation of being "fiery red roosters."

　　Roosters have large, upright combs, with golden-yellow neck feathers, cape feathers, and saddle feathers that shine brightly. Their primary wing feathers and tail feathers feature large, glossy black-green feathers. Their faces are bright red, their legs are tall and sturdy, and their bodies are majestic, standing alert with their heads held high, earning them the reputation of being "fiery red roosters."

　　Hens are small-bodied, sturdy, with large eyes and short legs, and their tails are slightly raised. They are agile, with yellow-brown or mottled brown plumage overall. Their faces, ears, and combs are all red, with combs mostly being single-crested.

　　Hens are small-bodied, sturdy, with large eyes and short legs, and their tails are slightly raised. They are agile, with yellow-brown or mottled brown plumage overall. Their faces, ears, and combs are all red, with combs mostly being single-crested.

　　 The Langya Chicken grows and develops relatively quickly. Roosters reach sexual maturity at 5–6 months of age, while hens begin laying eggs at 7–9 months. When free-range, each hen lays approximately 145 eggs per year.

　　When kept in confinement and fed compound feed, the annual egg production increases to about 186 eggs. The egg-laying period lasts 210–270 days. The average egg weight is 54.7 grams. The eggs are renowned as "Langya Eggs" for their red shells, large size, and high quality.

　　The eggs are renowned as "Langya Eggs" for their red shells, large size, and high quality.

　　 Langya Chickens typically begin molting in September, a process that lasts about 45 days. Only 5–10% of hens go broody, which occurs once a year and lasts about five days. Simple methods such as washing or tethering the feet can help break broodiness, allowing the hens to resume laying eggs.

　　Simple methods such as washing or tethering the feet can help break broodiness, allowing the hens to resume laying eggs.

　　 Local farmers typically raise Langya Chickens in a free-range manner, with relatively extensive management practices. The primary feeding method involves free foraging supplemented with minimal feed, occasionally including rice bran, corn, or bran. Each chicken consumes 20.2 kilograms of concentrated feed annually, averaging 55 grams per day.

　　Each chicken consumes 20.2 kilograms of concentrated feed annually, averaging 55 grams per day.

　　 Currently, relevant departments in the county are exploring techniques for purifying and preserving the Langya Chicken breed to further optimize this unique and superior variety.

　　Jiaonan Langya Chicken

　　Jiaonan City Langya Town Agricultural Service Center

　　10106543

　　Chicken