Calling all Hmong (black meat) chicken breeders

[Papmike]

Yes, a lot of crossing has probably occurred here for good reason since the gene pool of imported birds in the US isn't large. I personally don't cross mine because it's not my culture and in that sense I don't consider it my place. I keep several lines for genetic diversity. There's plenty there.

I raise mine as meat birds. How fast they grow really depends on the flock and how they've been selected. If they are selected for fast growth, as mine are, they can be burchered at 4 months for a dressed carcass about 3-4 lbs depending on sex. They don't grow like broilers but they are very respectable meat birds. They lay great, but mine are broody so often their laying cycles are off and on constantly throughout the year.



Miss Lavender, I was very worried you'd be offended by what I wrote so thank you so much for that reply. The breed really needs people who are willing to be learn beyond the limited info that tends to get repeated by breeders who are looking for the next popular exotic chicken breed. I love when I meet new people who are into them for what they are!

16-20 weeks sounds good for these dual purpose Hmong, just like other breeds. Respectable size as well in my opinion. Information on the net is sparse on these birds, so this information is great. It really sounds like the "almost" perfect homestead bird.

 

[Papmike]

Does anybody know how these birds do in a colder environment at this time? I see that the posters on this thread are in warm/temperate environment. Thanks

 

[Ms Biddy]

16-20 weeks sounds good for these dual purpose Hmong, just like other breeds. Respectable size as well in my opinion. Information on the net is sparse on these birds, so this information is great. It really sounds like the "almost" perfect homestead bird.

Yes, an interesting thing about these birds is that sometimes they get butchered even earlier for a small almost squab sized serving that's very tender and good for smaller appetites, particularly when a new mom is following the traditional postpartum chicken soup diet.

I find 16 weeks good for me because around that time the young cockerels are starting to get hormonal. Once they start chasing pullets and having constant crowing contests my patience usually wears thin. I have a couple I'm about to harvest that are 20 weeks and they're going to be very nice. I weigh my chicks as they grow, just to make sure I'm not keeping any slower growers for breeding.

 

[Ms Biddy]

Does anybody know how these birds do in a colder environment at this time? I see that the posters on this thread are in warm/temperate environment. Thanks

They do perfectly fine in a cold environment, but if they're straight comb they're at risk of frostbitten combs. I know of at least 2 breeders in Canada.

 

[Chang1993]

I breed them year round because they could be on cold or hot environments here in CA, someone told me to cross them with Icelandic over and back to handle the colder weather. Does it really matter or not? Anyways I keeping them that way in. Not trying going bigger or thicker. I might try later in the year and maybe with cornish rock.

 

[Herr72]

Hi,

I am a newbie at breeding hmong and I am having a hard time finding much info on the breed. I have a bunch hatched out but I don't really know how to select for the breed. I'm torn between selecting for size/fibro characteristics and maintaining the diversity of the landrace. I was surprised how many colors I got from all back/pak lay colored chickens! Is anyone on the forums raising these still? I have eggs to trade too. I could really use more hens from a fresh line. I have had ok luck hatching in my sportsman, but I'm also interested in any insight about their hatching idiosyncrasies. I've had a consistent, though minimal, number failing to pip/zip but otherwise formed.

I have 2 roosters with 4 hens, and one (third) extra rooster who is hanging in my free range pen with ducks and banties. I need to pair down to two roosters, what characteristics should I look for in selecting my keepers?

I'm curious what anyone knows about the traditional uses for these chickens. I am raising them to sell for meat, are there particular holidays they are used for, and is there any special diet that would improve their quality or desirability? I have read and read and translated lots of pages but I still don't know much except that I've fallen in love with this breed! I have always stuck to ducks for my real breeding projects and these guys won my heart.

I'll get some pictures tomorrow. In addition to the breeders I've hatched out 25 chicks from 1-4 weeks old right now. I can't believe how fast they are growing.

I generally first breed for fibro, then straight comb,
tight feathering...etc

https://www.facebook.com/herrslittlefarm/photos/a.371194763242645/589718534723599

 

[Herr72]

I breed them year round because they could be on cold or hot environments here in CA, someone told me to cross them with Icelandic over and back to handle the colder weather. Does it really matter or not? Anyways I keeping them that way in. Not trying going bigger or thicker. I might try later in the year and maybe with cornish rock.

Over time they will adapt to the weather.

 

[Chang1993]

Over time they will adapt to the weather.

Cool, thats how I think that they will.

 

[SeaPony]

I'm in the PNW unfortunately. I have thought about picking up some other fibros but I'd rather keep these guys pure hmong. I missed buying some silver hmong in Ridgefield WA, they were posted and then taken down..in case you're still out there!!

I have hmong chickens. I should be hatching some hmong, shamo, Thai mixed babies in late spring. I can separate and hatch out pure hmong in the summer too. I am located in Washington as well

 

[BrandonLis]

I know this thread is not as active as it once was, but it’s the only and longer thread revolving Hmong chickens. I hope your guys’ Hmong chickens are still doing well for you all. I just left the pigeon hobby to embrace poultry again. Being Hmong myself, this Hmong breed chicken does hit home. It’s a breed that comes with a story, a story that is very closely knitted with the history of the Hmong people. Throughout history, the Hmong people have faced ethnic cleansing, ethnic discrimination, generational trauma, constantly on the run, a people without a homeland (country), and have adapted to new cultures while maintaining their cultural identity at the same time—as the Hmong (Hmoob). This Hmong breed precisely mirrors that story. Because the Hmong were constantly trying to survive from one Asian country to the next, forced to forsake their villages and farms to new lands, and faced one of their horrifying eras in Hmong history with the major disruption of the Vietnam War leading to the Secret War that the US CIA was involved in—the Hmong chicken breed still persevered and gain resilience alongside the Hmong people. The Hmong, including myself, take so much pride in this breed because it’s the only breed of chicken Hmong people have actually created. The breed was bred to face natural challenges with the changing environments, be independent, fend for themselves, forced to become a forager, and have natural instincts to be diligent and alert. It wasn’t until Hmong people arrived to the US (1975-1980s), that color, size, and combs became a selective breeding feature that could now be considered leisurely—and not just breeding for its survival instincts. This breed, as many of you have accurately mentioned, is a very adaptable and landrace breed. There are no standards of this breed, but characteristics and traits that contribute to its existence and appearance. Crosses are utilized to gain an individual breeders’ goal to selective breed for desired traits that they want to see in their flock of Hmong chickens. Although, this can lead to arguments of if this is truly a Hmong chicken, or just a Hmong chicken with more than several different breeds in its blood. Nevertheless, it’s a breed of chicken that has a long history. I’m only focusing on the Hmong chicken breed and a few Indio Gigantes (not crossing). I’m currently trying to specialize in a more muscular built bird, mainly fibro-melaninistic, single combs, and sturdy Hmong chickens with the standard colors of silver, silver penciling, pumpkin, and also new colors of lemon and rare colors of self-white—without utilizing other breeds of chickens to achieve those qualities. Although I’m very certain my Hmong chickens already are not 100% Hmong chicken, I’m confident that the majority of them have a massive amount of Hmong blood in them.

Here’s some of my birds that will be stock birds for next spring 2026.