10 African Chicken Breeds

Poultry farming is a very important industry in Africa. Rural poultry produces a significant percentage of the meat and eggs consumed by the locals. While some of the most common African breeds are used to produce eggs and meat, others are used in a completely different way; for gaming. Cockfighting in Africa is a popular pastime that has led to many chickens being bred for the sport.

There are seven native African chicken breeds, including those raised for food as well as those for sport. Commercial farms use several more breeds for egg and meat production. However, these are not native to Africa. This article will look at chicken breeds that are native to Africa and used both for food production and sport.

Chickens as Food

1. Indigenous African Chickens

There are a few standardized breeds of chickens in Africa. However, the majority of the chickens that you will find raised by rural farmers don’t fall into any one breed. They’re actually a mixture of different chicken breeds that have been created over time by crossing many indigenous birds.

In Africa, the majority of poultry are not classified by breed. They are characterized instead by their distinctive traits such as frizzled or naked feathers, or their color. There is a lot of different genetics that are lumped into this category. However, there aren’t any breed standards, so all these chickens will be referred to as indigenous Africans.

2. Venda

Venda chickens have a similar coloring to other native African livestock such as goats and cows. The coloration is mottled and predominantly black, white, and brown with a few brown spots. They have a single beak and weigh between five to seven pounds when they reach full size. They can have five-toed feet, beards, or crests.

Venda, a region of northern South Africa is where the breed was discovered. The hens have large, colored eggs. They are also known to brood easily. Venda chickens are popular with farmers and show breeders alike. They have a hardy constitution, making them perfect for African environments.

3. Ovambo

Ovambos are smaller than Vandas and lack white coloring. They’re also darker and appear to be smaller. The feathers are always white. They come in a wide range of colors. The breed originated in northern Namibia, Ovamboland, and is now found throughout the entire continent.

These birds are aggressive despite their small size. They are also known for being very agile, and they have been seen to eat rats and mice that they catch. Ovambo chickens are able to fly, unlike many other breeds. They prefer to roost in the branches of trees so that they can avoid predators.

4. Potchefstroom Koekoek

The Potchefstroom Agricultural College created this South African breed. Professor Chris Marais developed the bird to be a dual-purpose breed that would produce excellent meat and eggs in a bird suitable for Africa. The white and black bars covering the birds’ bodies give them a very uniform appearance.

Potchefstroom Koekoek is a cross between a Black Australorp and a Plymouth Rock with barred stripes. It was also crossed with a White Leghorn. This hardy breed, also known as the Potch or Potch, doesn’t need much feed to produce large quantities of eggs. They weigh between five and nine pounds but are also known for their meat.

5. Boschveld

The Boschveld breed was created by crossing the Ovambo with three native African breeds, Venda and Matabele. They are primarily known for producing large, delicious eggs. However, they also have beautiful coloration and are very colorful.

Mike Bosch, a South African farmer, developed this breed. The breed was developed to be resilient to the South African weather, lay copious quantities of eggs, and show durability against parasites. Although they are primarily used for eggs, they can also be raised as meat chickens.

6. Naked Neck (Kaalnekke)

Naked Neck Chickens are believed to have originated in Malaysia centuries ago. This particular Naked Neck Chicken is considered to be a South African Breed as it has been around for so long in that region. They have developed traits that are not common among all Naked Necks.

They are especially popular among rural poultry farmers, as they do not have to spend so much energy producing feathers. This means that they can produce more eggs and meat per pound of feed. They also have around 30% fewer feathers than most other chicken breeds. This makes them easier to pluck for cooking.

7. Matabele (Ndebele)

Matabeles, the native African chicken breed, is a little-known species. Matabeles are large birds used to produce the Boschveld breed. That’s all the information we know about this rare African chicken.

Chickens for Sport

In Africa, chickens for sport are almost as popular as those for food. We do know a few of the breeds they raise for sports, but we don’t know much about them.

Some of the breeds that are raised in Africa for sports include:

8. Madagascar Naked Neck

9. Natal Game

10. Reunion Game

Final Thoughts

In addition to the breeds listed, there are many more in Africa. There is not much information about these localized breeds, as there are no standards in place. In Africa, many of the chickens are simply crosses of indigenous birds which have lived in the area for a very long time. This list includes the most popular and well-known breeds, including the sport birds that are not widely known.