Best Chicken Breeds for Free-Range Farming in the Philippines

Selecting the appropriate chicken breed, or the animal’s genetics, is one of the five essential requirements for operating a successful poultry farm. In the Philippines, the free-range chicken industry has evolved from traditional backyard practices to a robust sector supplying premium, healthy products. Choosing the right strain determines whether a farm will excel in meat production (broilers), egg laying (layers), or both (dual-purpose). The selection of strains or breeds should always be based on market requirements and preferences.

The Philippine National Standard (PNS) defines the system as one where chickens are not housed in confined cages but are allowed to roam in open or outdoor fields, where they follow their natural instincts to forage for grass and insects. The success of this system relies heavily on hardy, resilient breeds.

I. Native and Heritage Lines: The Local Champions

Locally available strains and breeds are recognized by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) as suitable for cage-free egg production. These birds have natural adaptability to the Philippine environment and possess the intense, rich flavor prized by consumers.

A. The Native Chicken Portfolio

Native-type chickens have developed unique forms and characteristics suited to specific locations and are the product of selection over at least five generations. The native chicken was crucial in the industry's inception, as the first free-range stocks were adapted to the local native chicken setup when the technology was introduced to the Philippines.

Locally available native-type chickens include:

• Paraoakan: This is a large game fowl found in Palawan and the Western Philippines. It is one of the native breeds currently being protected and multiplied for their genetic strain.
• Darag: Predominantly found in the Central Philippines, this breed is also a focus for protection and propagation.
• Banaba: This is a native line specific to Batangas that has existed for centuries. Some experts are focusing research on the Banaba chicken, believing it to be a promising source of local meat if managed under high-level technology and processes.
• Other Native Breeds: The list also includes Joloanon, Camarines, Bolinao, Boholano, and Zampen.

Native chickens are often characterized as being 100% free range and can roam and eat what they desire, such as worms and grass, often in a native style.

B. Popular Heritage and Dual-Purpose Breeds

Heritage breeds, which have retained their original characteristics, are widely popular in free-range systems because they are adaptable to roaming environments.

• Rhode Island Red (RIR): The RIR is arguably the most popular free-range chicken in the Philippines. It is listed as both a heritage layer line and a pure broiler type. The RIR was the first free-range chicken to gain popularity in the country. One free-range farm confirmed that RIR and the Black Australorp are the two popular breeds used in their operation. The RIR is commonly raised for both breeding and meat type.
  • Breeding Consideration: RIRs generally do not brood their eggs, meaning farmers who raise them for production must invest in artificial incubators.
• Black Australorp: This breed is also commonly used in free-range farming. It is listed alongside RIR and Plymouth Rock as a common Free-Range Chicken (FRC) breed in the Philippines.
• Barred Plymouth Rock (BPR): This breed is listed as both a pure broiler type and a heritage layer line.

II. Commercial Hybrids for Maximized Production

Commercial hybrid breeds are often developed for high output (eggs or meat) in confinement but have been successfully adapted to the free-range system, particularly by larger commercial farms.

A. High-Yield Layer Strains

While free-range layers generally produce slightly less than their caged counterparts (around 250 to 270 eggs a year in free-range systems compared to up to 400 eggs in engineered confined systems), these breeds are chosen for efficiency and brown egg output:

• Dekalb Browns: All Seasons Nature Farms, a commercial free-range operation, uses Dekalb Browns for their layer stock. The Batangas Free Range Chicken Farm has also relied on the Dekalb line for egg production.
• Dominant Chickens: This is another brand name for free-range chickens commonly raised.
• Other Hybrids: The list of available commercial layer strains includes Leg horns (brown and white), Hy-line Brown, Shaver Brown, Bovans Brown, Lohmann Brown, ISA Brown, Babcock, and Hisex Novo.

B. Fast-Growing Broiler Strains

These strains are selected to reach market weight quickly under free-range conditions, which means harvesting them between 60 to 75 days.

• Sasso Type and Hubbards: These are two major hybrid broiler types used in free-range farming. Both breeds are sometimes sourced internationally, as the technology and initial stock for free-range chickens in the Philippines originated from a French company that marketed the Sasso breed. All Seasons Nature Farms uses Sasso or Hubbards for their meat production.
• Cornish: This pure breed is also listed as a meat type suitable for free-range systems.

III. Specialized and Niche Breeds

Farmers may choose specific breeds to enter niche markets or to improve genetic traits through crossbreeding.

• The Broiler Flavor Secret: Regardless of whether the breed is native or a commercial hybrid, its quality taste—being mas malasa—comes from allowing the chicken to grow to its full term, typically 70 to 75 days, as mandated by the Philippine National Standard (PNS) for organic production.
• Hardy Crossbreeds (Shamo and Asil): Some farmers intentionally crossbreed birds like the Rhode Island Red with extremely hardy breeds such as Asil (Ail) or Shamo to create vigorous chicks that can withstand the weather conditions in the Philippines. Shamo chickens are described as strong and sturdy.
• Bantam Chickens: Bantam chickens are small or miniature chickens. They are known for being brave and having a temperament comparable to fighting cocks. They are characterized as strong and sturdy chickens in a small body and consume a little amount of food, making them cheap to produce.
• Fancy/Ornamental Breeds: Breeds like the Silkie Chicken and Naked Neck Chickens/Turken (which is also dual-purpose) are raised for specialty markets, sometimes sold for much higher prices than meat or layer chickens.

Ultimately, the farmer's breed choice is the result of experience and reliable sourcing. New farmers are strongly advised to purchase chicks from trusted, legitimate breeders to ensure the genetic quality and integrity of their initial stock.