Giriraja

Giriraja is an Indian dual-purpose chicken developed for backyard and semi-intensive poultry systems, especially in Karnataka. The name is widely associated with improved rural poultry that can produce more meat and eggs than many unimproved village chickens while still coping better with local management than highly specialized commercial birds. Giriraja chickens are often colorful, sturdy, and suited to smallholder flocks where families want both table birds and eggs. They represent a practical development approach rather than a purely ornamental breed.

Small farmers may choose Giriraja for scavenging ability, growth, and household income, but the birds still need shelter, clean water, vaccination where appropriate, and feed support for best results. They are not a substitute for management; they are a better fit for low to moderate input systems than many narrow commercial strains. Breeders and extension programs should be clear about the source of chicks, expected performance, and whether the birds will breed true in later generations. Buyers raising Giriraja for rural production should plan predator protection and age-appropriate feeding from the start.

Colors: Barred, Birchen, Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Columbian, Crele, Cuckoo, Duckwing, Gold, Gold Laced, Laced, Lavender, Mille Fleur, Mottled, Partridge, Penciled, Porcelain, Red, Silver, Silver Laced, Spangled, Splash, Wheaten, White