Roosterman Roosterman 38 | Page 28

28 Livelihood How to improve the native chicken M ajority of small and marginal farmers raise native chicken in their backyards. The native chicken are nondescript, mongrel birds that have evolved from jungle fowls interbred with domesticated ones brought into the country by early Chinese, Spanish and Dutch traders and settlers. The native chicken have adapted themselves to adverse conditions in small farms – poor and scanty feeds, inadequate shelter, sudden changes of weather and rampant diseases. The birds are generally left to fend for themselves. As a result, they have acquired unusual hardiness These native birds supply the family with a few eggs and, occasionally, meat for home consumption, for barter or for sale. Their meat and eggs are claimed to be Roosterman No. 38 Thanks for sharing Roosterman.