Dong Tao chicken

Dong Tao is a Vietnamese breed of chicken; it is considered very rare, famous for its delicious meat and stands out among its relatives with huge "dragon" feet. In order to understand how rare Dong Tao are, suffice it to say that they are endemic to a small commune 30 kilometers from Hanoi. That is, they are not grown anywhere else. At one time, these birds were the exclusive food of the royal court.

Dong Tao chickens are also called Dragon chicken or Elephant chicken.

Adult birds of this breed can reach a weight of up to six kilograms. The bird is in high demand, but due to the scarcity, the cost can reach up to $2,500 for a pair of Dong Tao. Nowadays Dong Tao chicken can be sold as gifts for the Vietnamese New Year. It takes about 8-12 month for the chicken to be ready for the market.

Dong Tao chicken are also popular pets in Vietnam. The main purpose of Dong Tao chickens is meat and eggs.

Female Dong Tao chickens are usually of white color or white and brown. As for roosters, they are usually pretty bright and multi-colored. The chicken feet are covered with red scales; that is why they received their other name (Dragon chicken) because they resemble dragons.

The breeders state that in spite of the scary look, Dong Tao chickens are quite friendly and calm.