About Qingyuan Partridge Chickens

The Qingyuan Partridge Chicken (Qingyuan Zongji) is a highly regarded indigenous Chinese breed originating from the city of Qingyuan in Guangdong Province. It holds a high status, even being selected as one of China's "Top ten outstanding livestock and poultry germplasm resources." It is celebrated specifically for its excellent meat quality and desirable appearance in the South China market.

The breed's distinct morphology is famously summarized by locals using the phrase "3 Yellow, 2 Thin, and 1 Partridge." The "3 Yellow" refers to its characteristic yellow skin, yellow beak, and yellowish legs/shanks. The "2 Thin" refers to its thin head and thin legs. The "1 Partridge" refers to its partridge feather pattern or brown feathering. Physically, it is a light-bodied, active bird with short, unfeathered legs, well-suited for free-range life.

The Qingyuan Partridge chicken is highly prized for its exceptional meat, which is valued as a delicacy. As a slow-growing breed, it takes a long time to mature—typically 130 to 160 days to reach market weight—which directly contributes to its superior flavor, tender and smooth texture, and strong "chicken flavor." The meat is noted for having a moderate amount of fat and a crispy, golden skin. As a dual-purpose bird, its focus is on quality meat rather than high egg volume, with hens laying only around 80–95 eggs per year. Due to its high adaptability and strong disease resistance, it remains an important foundation stock in yellow-feathered broiler breeding strategies.