Black-bone Chicken: A Comprehensive Analysis of Rare And Nourishing Poultry

1. Origin and history of black-bone chicken

Black-bone chicken, also known as black-bone chicken, silk-feathered black-bone chicken or Taihe chicken, is a rare poultry breed unique to China, and its history can be traced back to the Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, black-bone chicken has been regarded as a nourishing product since ancient times due to its unique medicinal value, especially suitable for physical weakness, postpartum conditioning and recovery after illness.

The name of black-bonechicken comes from its unique black characteristics - black skin, bones and internal organs, and even muscles are dark. This special trait is caused by gene mutation, which leads to melanin deposition, making it unique among many poultry.

2. Distribution area of black-bone chicken

Black-bone chicken originated in Taihe County, Jiangxi Province, China, so it is also called "Taihe black-bone chicken". Nowadays, with the promotion of breeding technology, black-bone chicken has been widely raised in many regions across the country, such as Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Fujian and other places, where large-scale breeding is carried out. In addition, black chickens are also raised on a certain scale in Southeast Asian countries (such as Thailand and Malaysia), but their quality is still best in China.

3. Differences between black chickens and ordinary chickens

① Appearance differences

- Feathers: The feathers of black chickens are silky, soft and fluffy, while the feathers of ordinary chickens are relatively stiff.

- Skin color and bones: The skin, muscles, bones and even internal organs of black chickens are black, while the skin and bones of ordinary chickens are white or yellow.

- Crown and beak: The crown of black chickens is purple-black, and the beak is short and curved, while the crown of ordinary chickens is mostly red and the beak is straight.

② Nutritional value

Black chickens are rich in various amino acids, vitamins (such as B vitamins, vitamin E) and trace elements such as iron, zinc, and selenium. Their protein content is higher than that of ordinary chickens, but their fat content is lower. In addition, black chickens are rich in melanin, which has antioxidant and immune-enhancing effects.

③Medicinal value

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that black chickens are mild in nature and sweet in taste. They have the effects of nourishing yin and kidney, replenishing qi and blood, regulating menstruation and stopping leukorrhea. They are often used to treat anemia, physical weakness, and postpartum weakness. Although ordinary chickens also have a tonic effect, their medicinal effects are far inferior to those of black chickens.

4. How to raise black chickens

①Raising environment

Black chickens are highly adaptable, but they are best grown in a warm and humid environment. The farm should choose an area with high terrain and good drainage to avoid moisture and water accumulation. The chicken house needs to be well ventilated and lighted. Pay attention to cooling in summer and keep warm in winter.

②Feed management

- Basic feed: mainly corn, soybean meal, wheat bran, etc., with appropriate addition of fish meal and bone meal to supplement protein and minerals.

- Green feed: Vegetable leaves, forage, etc. can be fed to enhance the digestion ability and immunity of black chickens.

- Special supplements: To improve the nutritional value of black chickens, Chinese herbal medicines such as astragalus and angelica can be added to the feed to enhance its nourishing effect.

③ Disease prevention and control

- Regular disinfection: Chicken houses and feeding utensils need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to prevent the growth of bacteria and parasites.

- Vaccination: Black chickens are susceptible to Newcastle disease, avian influenza and other diseases, and need to be vaccinated according to the immunization program.

- Observe health status: Sick chickens should be isolated and treated in time to avoid group infection.

5. Precautions for raising black chickens

① Avoid over-intensive breeding: Black chickens have strong activity ability, and overcrowding can easily lead to stress response, affecting growth and egg production rate.

② Control light exposure time: Appropriate light can promote the growth and development of black chickens, but too strong light can cause pecking (pecking each other's feathers).

③ Keep drinking water clean: Black chickens are sensitive to water quality and need to provide clean and fresh drinking water to avoid intestinal diseases.

④ Reasonable grouping and feeding: Black-bone chickens at different growth stages (chicks, young chickens, and adult chickens) should be managed in groups to improve breeding efficiency.

Conclusion

As a traditional nourishing rare bird in China, black-bone chickens not only have unique edible and medicinal value, but their breeding industry also brings considerable benefits to the agricultural economy. With people's pursuit of healthy diet, the market demand for black-bone chickens continues to grow. Scientific feeding methods and strict quality management are the key to ensuring the quality of black-bone chickens. In the future, the black-bone chicken industry is expected to further move towards scale and standardization to provide consumers with better quality products.