Kampung Chicken Myth

To learn more about the breed - Agricultural Magazine

Whenever you hear the term 'Kampung Chicken' - what comes to mind? You probably have a vision of chickens running free in 'kampung' settings foraging and living freely under the sun. The fact is far from the truth. Well, many of us have been duped with these terminology loosely used by most poultry farmers and marketeers to associate it as premium chickens. 

Kampung chicken simply is the breed name of the poultry which is the local breed of chicken in the SEA region, mainly Malaysia and Indonesia. No doubt, it is a hardy breed, and will literally eat anything and everything. 

Some are bred, raised and processed in Mass Industrial Farms, that's not practising any standards or methodology that ensure the chickens' health, hygiene and wellbeing. Most of us don't even know where the source of the 'kampung chickens' are from and how they are being raised. It is NOT unless specifically stated - to be antibiotic or hormone free. We have made assumptions on the condition of how they are being raised. All we know is we are buying the breed of chicken name 'kampung chicken'. 

Some even go as far as selling fake Kampung Chickens. Here's an article that basically warns consumers' of dubious practices of chicken sellers. - by Says.

Back in 2013, sellers used yellow dye to colour the pink skin of plucked broiler chickens to make them look like the naturally-yellow plucked kampung chickens. This year, sellers are colouring the feathers! WAK chairman Dr Azhar Kasim alleged that consumers are being cheated into buying broiler chickens with feathers dyed to make them look similar to those of kampung chickens. 

 - CiliSos

It is vital that we know what we are buying as consumers and to learn where our food source comes from. We are paying premium for 'Kampung Chickens' that may or may not deliver the health benefits that we are promised. Choose wisely, know where your food come from. 

HIJOU is launching our very own Open Range Kampung Chicken within the next quarter. More info to follow soon!