Calling all Hmong (black meat) chicken breeders

[Chang1993]

There are several different types of Hmong. All are the result of hundreds of years of selective breeding and were passed down in Hmong families from father to son
Pak Lay/Pay Lay Hmongs have a more squat build with short legs, and are dual purpose. They're good layers of small cream colored eggs and many have fibromelanistic traits. This is the type you seem to have just based on their build.
Qaib Xiav Hmong I don't know a lot about, but I think they're mixed landrace meat birds???
Qaib Hmoob Hmongs have a lot of Oriental Gamefowl in them, and are bred more for their beauty, sometimes fighting and for meat. This is the type I have. Pictures below:
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@MissLavender
Thanks for that so people could understand between an ayam cemani and a hmong. Mostly, hmong are not as black as an ayam cemani. They have a blueish skin throughout with white meat. Some hmong even comes out frizzles or silkies with out no top hat or feathered feet. I think I still have some, but my uncle has a lot of them and they are breeding crazy around his property. For the fighting type are thai gamefowl to shamo and ganoi. Some hmong are white meat and skin because of the cross of thai gamefowl and other breeds.

 

[MissLavender]

I think mine might have some Thai game somewhere down the line.

@MissLavender
Thanks for that so people could understand between an ayam cemani and a hmong. Mostly, hmong are not as black as an ayam cemani. They have a blueish skin throughout with white meat. Some hmong even comes out frizzles or silkies with out no top hat or feathered feet. I think I still have some, but my uncle has a lot of them and they are breeding crazy around his property. For the fighting type are thai gamefowl to shamo and ganoi. Some hmong are white meat and skin because of the cross of thai gamefowl and other breeds.

 

[Ms Biddy]

Miss Lavender, there aren't a lot of good resources for learning about Hmong chickens and much of what gets posted online is misleading. To prevent more misinformation I want to clarify a few points.

There are several different types of Hmong. All are the result of hundreds of years of selective breeding and were passed down in Hmong families from father to son

I'm sure in some families fathers pass their chickens to their sons, but in many Hmong families the matriarch oversees the chickens and their breeding.

Pak Lay/Pay Lay Hmongs have a more squat build with short legs, and are dual purpose. They're good layers of small cream colored eggs and many have fibromelanistic traits. This is the type you seem to have just based on their build.

"Pak Lay Hmong" is the name one US breeder gave their personal project line of Hmong chickens. It doesn't describe any official type within the Hmong breed and doesn't mean similar colored birds are "Pak Lay." Because the name she chose sounds "authentic" people started repeating it like it was an official type. That's not the case.

Qaib Xiav Hmong I don't know a lot about, but I think they're mixed landrace meat birds???

Qaib xiav nqaij simply means blue skin chicken and is another name for a Hmong chicken.

Qaib Hmoob Hmongs have a lot of Oriental Gamefowl in them, and are bred more for their beauty, sometimes fighting and for meat. This is the type I have.

Qaib means chicken and Hmoob means Hmong. Qaib Hmoob means Hmong Chicken. It doesn't refer to any particular type, nor does it imply gamefowl influence. Qaib Hmoob are commonly mixed with gamefowl for a variety of reasons, typically to improve immunities and increase size for eating.

Although sellers have come up with a few catchy marketing names, there aren't actually official type names. I've learned this from breeders in the Hmong community who have explained to me that all variations of Hmong chickens are just called Hmong chickens, "Hmong is Hmong."

Your birds are very beautiful. I'm sure they'll bring you a lot of joy. They're also very tasty.

 

[Papmike]

Hi all,
Very interesting birds. It seems that since coming to the US there has been a lot of crossing with other breeds, as is custom in asia. I'm curious as to how fast they grow as a meat type bird. Is it in line with DP breeds? Thanks for the info in this thread.

 

[MissLavender]

Miss Lavender, there aren't a lot of good resources for learning about Hmong chickens and much of what gets posted online is misleading. To prevent more misinformation I want to clarify a few points.


I'm sure in some families fathers pass their chickens to their sons, but in many Hmong families the matriarch oversees the chickens and their breeding.


"Pak Lay Hmong" is the name one US breeder gave their personal project line of Hmong chickens. It doesn't describe any official type within the Hmong breed and doesn't mean similar colored birds are "Pak Lay." Because the name she chose sounds "authentic" people started repeating it like it was an official type. That's not the case.


Qaib xiav nqaij simply means blue skin chicken and is another name for a Hmong chicken.


Qaib means chicken and Hmoob means Hmong. Qaib Hmoob means Hmong Chicken. It doesn't refer to any particular type, nor does it imply gamefowl influence. Qaib Hmoob are commonly mixed with gamefowl for a variety of reasons, typically to improve immunities and increase size for eating.

Although sellers have come up with a few catchy marketing names, there aren't actually official type names. I've learned this from breeders in the Hmong community who have explained to me that all variations of Hmong chickens are just called Hmong chickens, "Hmong is Hmong."

Your birds are very beautiful. I'm sure they'll bring you a lot of joy. They're also very tasty.

Wow!!! Thanks for the info, and thank you for correcting me! The last thing I want to do is spread misinformation, especially on a type of bird that I love so much!

 

[Ms Biddy]

Hi all,
Very interesting birds. It seems that since coming to the US there has been a lot of crossing with other breeds, as is custom in asia. I'm curious as to how fast they grow as a meat type bird. Is it in line with DP breeds? Thanks for the info in this thread.

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.

Wow!!! Thanks for the info, and thank you for correcting me! The last thing I want to do is spread misinformation, especially on a type of bird that I love so much!

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!

 

[MissLavender]

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!

Not at all! I LOVE these birds, and want to learn everything I possibly can about them. In fact, I have considered ONLY keeping Hmongs from now on. I love their versatility, their intelligence, their hardiness, their temperaments, their disease resistance, their structure, their variety in coloring...I can't think of a single thing I don't love about these birds! My only hope is to do them the justice they deserve by preserving the breed and its qualities, so I am open to any information you have to share!

 

[Chang1993]

@MissLavender, I likes how your explanation about hmongs, my hmongs have as you told versatility to variety of colorings. Focusing on one breed at a time is more help than keep all kind of different breeds. I am now focusing on my AC, hmong/thai/AC cross, thai, turken, and polish project to get some unusual coloring, pattern, shape, and size.

 

[Ms Biddy]

Not at all! I LOVE these birds, and want to learn everything I possibly can about them. In fact, I have considered ONLY keeping Hmongs from now on. I love their versatility, their intelligence, their hardiness, their temperaments, their disease resistance, their structure, their variety in coloring...I can't think of a single thing I don't love about these birds! My only hope is to do them the justice they deserve by preserving the breed and its qualities, so I am open to any information you have to share!

I keep a small rainbow egg laying flock, but my larger main flock of birds is Hmong and they're all I breed now that I've had some time to see their strengths. I agree with you and will take it a step further and say I believe they are the best homestead meat bird we have in the US. Other breeds may be better in some individual traits, but my Hmong chickens are a complete package in terms of intelligence, appearance, breeding and parenting ability, predator awareness, health, vigor, growth and flavor. Store bought chicken is pale, bland and mushy by comparison, which some people may prefer. Now that my own tastes have changed there's really no going back plus I have no doubt it's healthier.

 

[Chang1993]

@MissLavender I like that since the birds are home grown and organic, not like store bought. I plan on building a 10 x 10 x 6 breeding pen and plant dwarf fruit trees for my chickens. Mostly the inportant is a lot of nesting box maybe 10 to 20.