A renowned dual-purpose breed, this common chicken lays up to 300 tinted eggs annually. Because of their small size, they are more commonly used for laying or even ornamental purposes rather than meat. Hens may or may not go broody.
Males are known to perform a food-related display called “tidbitting”, where they make cluck-like calls and bob and twitch their head and neck when they find food in front of a female. The hen will then either pick up the food off the ground or take it straight from the male’s beak.
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Red Jungle Fowl Chicken Breed Quick Info
Red Jungle Fowl Chicken Description
| Red Jungle Fowl Type/Size: | Standard |
| Feather Color: | Varies |
| Leg Type: | Clean |
| Leg Color: | Slate Blue/Gray |
| Skin Color: | White |
| Red Jungle Fowl Ease of Raising/Keeping: | Medium |
| Red Jungle Fowl Special Care Needs: | Yes |
| Is the Red Jungle Fowl breed a common, rare, or protected breed of chicken? | Common |
Red Jungle Fowl Use
| Meat | Yes |
| Eggs | Yes |
| Dual Purpose | Yes |
| Red Jungle Fowl Temperament: | Wild, active |
| Red Jungle Fowl Ability/Likelihood to Free Range: | Yes |
Red Jungle Fowl Egg Production
| Egg Color | Tinted |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Estimated Number of Eggs Per Year | 300 |
| Likeliness to Brood Eggs/Raise Chicks | Moderate |
Red Jungle Fowl Meat Production
| Dressed Weight Male | 3.25 lbs |
| Dressed Weight Female | 2 lbs |
Red Jungle Fowl Climate Tolerance
| Heat | Good |
| Cold | Moderate |
Red Jungle Fowl Age to Maturity
| Number of Months to Reach Full Size | 5 Months |
| Number of Months to Start Egg Laying | 5 Months |
| Number of Weeks/Months to Reach Meat Harvest Size | 4-6 Months |
Red Jungle Fowl Size at Maturity
| Male | 4.5 lbs |
| Female | 3 lbs |
Origins of Red Jungle Fowl Chicken
The Red Jungle Fowl is a big deal when it comes to the history of modern chicken. They are believed to be the ancestor of all common domestic chickens! They were domesticated over 5,000 years ago in Asia.
Today, they can still be found in the wild in Asia and the Caribbean.
Some Things to Know About Red Jungle Fowl Chicken
There are five recognized variations of this breed: the Indian, the Burmese, the Tonkinese, the Cochin-Chinese, and the Javan Red Jungle Fowl.
The breed shows strong sexual dimorphism, so the males and females are easily identifiable. Males are larger and have large red wattles and combs on their heads, with long feathers on their back forming a “cape.” The tail has long arching feathers that appear black but shimmer with blue, purple, and green in the sunlight.
Females have no fleshy wattles or combs on their heads. They camouflage with their surroundings because of their dull brown/gold coloring.
How Easy is it to Keep Red Jungle Fowl Chickens?
Red Jungle Fowl chickens retain some of their wild characteristics, so they prefer to be in free range rather than in confinement. Males have an anti-predator call, and females camouflage with their surroundings, making them great low-maintenance birds. This breed does better in hot, humid climates because of where they originated from.
These birds are wild and do not enjoy being handled, so they are great if you want independent chickens in your backyard but a poor choice if you’re looking for a pet chicken. They are very skittish, so it is best to look rather than touch.
Special Care and Considerations for Red Jungle Fowl Chickens
Like all chickens with a large single comb, Red Jungle Fowl roosters are at risk for developing frostbite in the winter. A swipe of vaseline on their combs can help to protect them from the cold.
Hens naturally know where the best place to lay their eggs is, so they may need extra training to go into the coop at night to roost and lay their eggs.
