Congjiang Small Xiang Chicken

Congjiang Small Xiang Chicken

　　According to the *Guizhou Province Livestock and Poultry Breed Chronicle*, the Small Xiang Chicken is primarily produced in counties such as Congjiang in Guizhou. It is a small-sized meat-type chicken breed. The birds are small in stature, well-proportioned, and have dense feathers. They have small heads, single crests, orange-red irises, red earlobes, white skin, blackish-brown beaks, and gray or bluish-black shanks and claws. The hens are usually covered in yellow-mottled feathers, with some having speckled, black, or white feathers, and their skin is entirely blackish. The roosters have deep red feathers, tall crests, long wattles, and well-developed tail feathers that are dark greenish-black. Adult weight: roosters 1400 grams, hens 1300 grams. Raised in free-range systems with minimal management, the meat is fragrant, tender, and delicious. It is highly favored by consumers, commands a high price, and enjoys stable market demand.

　　 The Congjiang Small Xiang Chicken is mainly characterized by its small size, aromatic flavor, and dark-colored features. One variety has black skin, black bones, and black meat; another has black skin, black meat, and white bones; and there is also a variety with black skin, white meat, and white bones. The Xiang Chicken’s meat is fine-textured, exceptionally flavorful, and rich in protein, essential amino acids, trace elements, and other nutrients. Its nutritional and medicinal value is gaining recognition. During the 1996 Guizhou Provincial Survey of Local Livestock and Poultry Breeds, it was officially named the Congjiang Small Xiang Chicken.

　　 The Congjiang Small Xiang Chicken is an excellent food for women recovering from childbirth or for those who are weak due to prolonged illness. When stewed slowly with tonic herbs, eating just three to five pieces can help restore health quickly.