About Giriraja Chickens

Giriraja chickens are a synthetic dual-purpose strain developed in India by the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal, and Fisheries Sciences University in Bengaluru. It was created by crossing high-yielding exotic pure line birds with local Indian breeds (desi birds). The goal was to combine the ruggedness and hardiness of native chickens with the superior growth rate and egg production of commercial breeds, making it perfectly suited for the challenging tropical and backyard farming conditions of India.

The Giriraja is a medium to large-sized chicken with a robust build, strong legs, and a prominent single comb. Its most distinctive visual trait is its multi-colored plumage, which helps it blend in and protects it from predators when free-ranging, a feature that makes it resemble a local desi bird. The plumage is typically a mix of brown, black, white, and red feathers. As a dual-purpose breed, its productivity is much higher than that of local varieties. Hens are good layers, producing approximately 150 to 200 medium to large brown eggs per year with thick shells that resist breakage. For meat production, the birds exhibit rapid growth, with roosters achieving an average weight of 3.5 to 4.5 kg by about six months of age, yielding flavorful and tender meat that is highly valued in local markets.

The Giriraja is known for its calm, docile temperament, which makes it easy to handle and manage for both experienced and novice farmers. It is a highly adaptable and sturdy bird, capable of acclimatizing to various climatic conditions. Due to its excellent scavenging ability, it thrives in free-range and backyard rearing systems, supplementing its diet by feeding on insects, green foliage, and kitchen waste, thus requiring less expensive commercial feed. The breed also exhibits higher resistance to many common poultry diseases compared to commercial exotic strains.