Dangyang Shuanglian Chicken

Dangyang Shuanglian Chicken

The Dangyang Shuanglian Chicken is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　The Shuanglian Chicken is mainly produced in Shuanglian Township, Dangyang City, Hubei Province. It was developed through the crossbreeding of Yunyang Large Chicken with local small-sized chickens, followed by conscious selective breeding. The breed has since expanded to Dangyang City and neighboring counties and cities such as Yuan’an, Yichang, Xingshan, Jingmen, and Jiangling.

　　Physical Characteristics

　　　　This breed is of medium size with a well-proportioned body; the shoulders and back are broad and flat, the chest is deep and wide, and the abdomen is full. The plumage color on the rump is mostly yellow or bluish, generally without feather attachments. Roosters usually have reddish-brown or light brown feathers, while hens are mostly mottled yellow or yellow. The Shuanglian Chicken is known for its large size, superior quality, tender meat, high egg production, and better growth rate than ordinary laying hens. At 60 days old, its weight is 14 times that of an average chicken, and it reaches basic maturity at 180 days, weighing between 3–4 kilograms. Roosters typically begin crowing at 138 days on average, and hens start laying eggs at around 240 days. With improved feeding management and selective breeding, the average laying onset age for hens has been reduced from 210 days to 170 days. The male-to-female ratio is 1:9 to 1:12, with fertilization and hatching rates both exceeding 95%. Each hen lays an average of 164 eggs per year, weighing about 51.9 grams each. Eggshells are mostly yellow, about 0.4 mm thick, and composed of 55.4% albumen, 32.8% yolk, and 11.8% shell.

　　Development Prospects

　　　　The Shuanglian Chicken is a high-quality dual-purpose local breed in Hubei Province. As early as 1958, it was exhibited under the name “Shuanglian Chicken” at the National Agricultural Exhibition. Shuanglian Township, where the breed originated, is located in the southwest of Dangyang City. The terrain slopes from northwest to southeast, and the area has a subtropical continental monsoon climate. The main crops are rice, along with barley, wheat, cotton, and oilseed crops. In addition, the region has good vegetation cover, with shrubs, bamboo forests, and trees providing shade around farmhouses, offering favorable feed conditions and an ecological environment for the breed’s development. As one of the dual-purpose local chicken breeds, it grows relatively quickly under extensive rural management, with good egg and meat performance. Its meat and eggs are flavorful and palatable, and market prices remain stable. Raising this breed has become a smart choice for rural farmers seeking to achieve prosperity through breeding, and the development prospects are very promising. The Dangyang Shuanglian Land Development Project was among the first batch of national investment projects in 2001. The project area features hilly terrain and is located in Shuanglian and Yanhe villages, Wangdian Town, with a total construction scale of 118 hectares. Upon completion, it can add 71 hectares of arable land. The total project budget was 3.58 million yuan. In 2006, parts of the project area were adjusted and the implementation plan revised. In August 2006, the provincial Department of Land and Resources issued an approval for the changes, and in September, the construction contractor was selected through bidding. Construction officially began at the end of September, and the project is now largely completed. A total of 136,800 cubic meters of earthwork have been leveled, 34,936 meters of earthen ridges built, 11,321 meters of both ‘du’ and ‘nong’ level irrigation channels constructed, 1,020 meters of field roads built, 2,855 meters of existing field roads repaired, 5,440 meters of 1-meter-wide production paths newly constructed, 3,875 camphor tree seedlings planted, and 84.64 acres of grass sod laid for slope protection. Currently, the project submission and acceptance procedures are being prepared.