Lianshui Grass Chicken

Lianshui Grass Chicken

　　【Lianshui Grass Chicken】 Mainly distributed in towns such as Gaogou, Yixing, Donghují, Hongyao, and Zhuma in Lianshui County. This area lies at the junction of the northern subtropical and warm temperate zones, featuring a warm temperate monsoon climate with distinct seasons, an average annual temperature of 14°C, a long frost-free period, abundant sunlight, and plentiful rainfall—conditions highly suitable for raising grass chickens (free-range chickens). Lianshui has long been honored as the "Home of Chinese Grass Chickens," where the breed has a long history of local cultivation and is unique to the region. These chickens have a moderate body size, small heads, pointed beaks, slender legs, and small, sharp, elongated claws. Their feathers display a mix of colors, with about 80% being blackish-brown, 5% white-clawed, 10% bluish-clawed, and 5% yellow-clawed. Their lower legs feature six thin, toothpick-like bones. The chicken skin is thin, smooth, and tight with a yellow hue. The comb is thick, and the feathers are glossy, smooth, and clean. The muscular stomach (gizzard) is 3.2 to 3.5 centimeters thick—about the size of a child’s fist. During the fattening period, the chickens are fed a unique insect found only in the towns of Gaogou, Yixing, Donghují, Hongyao, and Zhuma in Lianshui, known as “purple-headed brown” (紫头褐). This insect has a purple head, a grayish-brown body, and resembles a smaller, sturdier version of a grasshopper with shorter legs. The typical breeding cycle for Lianshui Grass Chickens is around one year—from spring hatching to winter slaughter. September and October mark the fattening period, coinciding with the autumn harvest. As night falls, chicken farmers hang electric lamps beside rice fields and place handmade nylon nets underneath, often catching over 5 kilograms of “purple-headed brown” insects each night to feed the chickens. Thanks to this diet, the chickens grow quickly, develop firm muscles, and are more resistant to disease. The eggs laid by Lianshui Grass Chickens are also exceptional. Fed largely on the wild “purple-headed brown” insects, the eggs have shells that are reddish-purple in color, with sizes ranging from 5 to 8 centimeters in length and 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter. Each egg weighs between 55 and 60 grams and is rich in protein, fat, vitamins, and essential minerals such as calcium, iron, and potassium. Lianshui Grass Chicken suits various cooking methods—stir-frying, stewing, and is especially well-suited for cold dishes and salads. Nearly every part of the chicken is edible and packed with trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, and more. Every 100 grams of Lianshui Grass Chicken meat contains 8.3 to 10 grams of protein, 86 to 100 milligrams of calcium, 110 to 120 milligrams of potassium, 100 to 120 milligrams of vitamin A, 24.58 to 28 milligrams of vitamin E, along with high levels of carotene, riboflavin, and minerals such as manganese, iron, zinc, and magnesium, making it extremely nutritious. With its uniquely pure flavor, rich nutrition, and safety for health, Lianshui Grass Chicken is revered by locals as a “healing remedy.”