The highly prized black chickens of the Hmong people are still selling well.

(Baonghean.vn) - Black chicken (also known as evil chicken) is a traditional breed of chicken raised by the Hmong people in the high mountains. During Tet (Lunar New Year), black chicken is a highly sought-after delicacy.

Initially, raising black chickens for the Hmong people was solely for family consumption and religious ceremonies, but nowadays, due to the fragrant, delicious, and firm meat, it is increasingly popular in the market.

According to some residents of Nam Can and Na Ngoi communes, in the past, black chickens were only raised separately by the Hmong people in high mountainous areas or in concentrated fields to avoid disease outbreaks. The black chicken breed is also well-suited to the high-mountain climate, so it thrives in its natural environment. However, in the past, the Hmong only raised them in small numbers. They were only brought home for slaughter during family ceremonies or Tet (Vietnamese New Year).

Lầu Vả Mềnh's black chicken farm, Ca Trên village, Na Ngoi commune, Kỳ Sơn district.

According to the Hmong people, some traders are currently selling many chickens similar to the black chicken breed in the towns of Muong Xen (Ky Son) and Hoa Binh (Tuong Duong), but these are not genuine black chickens. Upon closer inspection, these chickens have chestnut-colored skin and their meat is not as flavorful as that of the real black chicken.

Authentic black chickens must be black from head to toe, with the skin a solid black color when the feathers are parted. When butchered, the bones also have a black coating. It's difficult for inexperienced buyers to distinguish between the two types. Their prices also differ; hybrid chickens cost only 130,000 VND/kg, while genuine black chickens cost up to 170,000 VND/kg.

Black chickens primarily feed on natural foods, and this is one of the reasons why meat products from black chickens are so popular and trusted by many people.

By using only naturally available food, which has earned them the "clean chicken" brand, black chickens are sold at a much higher price than white chickens. Mr. Lau Pa Xo (Truong Son village - Nam Can), a household currently raising over 100 black chickens, said: "Black chickens are only suitable for corn and natural grasses. We never feed them growth-enhancing feed, so although the chickens grow a bit slower, we still maintain our brand."

In Truong Son village, many households still raise black chickens for Tet (Lunar New Year), such as Mr. Lau Cho Tua's family (raising 200 chickens) and Mr. Lau Cho Thai's family (184 chickens)... These families say that black chickens are normally in high demand, but as Tet approaches, traders from the lowlands flock to buy "clean" black chickens, making supply even more difficult. For example, Mr. Lau Pa Xo's family sold 25 chickens just a few days ago to prepare for Tet and will sell another batch in a few days to meet market demand.

Due to the high demand for black chicken meat, the supply has not been able to meet it, especially during Tet (Lunar New Year). The photo shows people selling black chickens in the Muong Xen town area (Ky Son district).

Na Ngoi commune currently has the largest number of black chickens in Ky Son district, with nearly 3,000 birds. Due to the mountainous terrain and readily available natural food sources, black chickens from villages such as Buoc Mu, Ca Tren, and Tong Khu are highly favored by consumers. Mr. Lau Va Menh (Ca Tren village), the household with the most chickens (512), said: “Normally, the price of black chickens only fluctuates between 170-180 thousand VND/kg, but during Tet (Lunar New Year), the price increases to 200 thousand VND/kg and we still can't keep up with demand. Although hybrid black chickens are widely available now, consumers still prefer and seek out authentic black chicken meat.”

Mr. Vả Mềnh's farm, located about 1 km from his house, is equipped with modern facilities for raising and caring for black chickens. From egg incubation to chick care, everything is done scientifically, resulting in fewer disease outbreaks. "The most important thing in raising this type of chicken is the food source and living space. Black chickens only eat corn and other readily available food in nature, and they need a large, airy space to live in," Mr. Lầu Vả Mềnh added.

Purebred black chickens are a breed of chicken that is black from meat to bone.

In the areas inhabited by the Hmong people, raising black chickens has become commonplace. From being confined to the Hmong community, black chickens have now become a widely consumed food due to the quality of their meat. Therefore, during the Lunar New Year, black chickens are even more popular than ever.

This is the chicken farming model of Mr. Lau Pa Xo's family in Truong Son village, Nam Can commune (Ky Son district).

Black chicken meat is also sold at local markets in the mountainous districts of Kỳ Sơn and Tương Dương.

Dao Tho - Ho Phuong