Breeding rare chickens pays
Farmer’s hobby yields unexpected income
BAGAN SERAI: The look of her friend’s “weird” pet chicken drove a farmer in Selinsing here to breed and rear the animal which has now become her source of additional income.
According to Rosmah Mohd Yusof, 44, among her pet chickens are the Serama chicken, Bahamas chicken, Guineafowl (ayam mutiara), Batam chicken, Sabung chicken, Gajah chicken and Kampung chicken (original breed).
The mother of five also breeds and sells rare chicken species such as the Poland Jambul chicken and the Selasih chicken.
“I bought the odd-looking chickens from my friend. I had been keen on them.
“Starting with only a pair, I now have hundreds of rare chickens as I like those peculiar species,” she said.
Rosmah said she never thought that breeding chickens of peculiar species could generate additional income for her as one could be sold for up to RM20,000.
“The Poland Jambul chicken is usually bought by those who like decorative chickens, not for fights or to eat but because it is beautiful. I sell a grown fowl for at least RM2,000.
“I was also offered RM20,000 for the Selasih chicken but I did not sell it as it was hard to get. It is not only unique but it also has a lot of nutrients,” she said.
Rosmah said she had no intention of becoming rich through breeding decorative chickens of certain species, adding that she did it out of interest.
“It is my hobby. I don’t promote or advertise about the chickens. The villagers are usually the ones who spread word about it,” she said.
Besides decorative chickens, Rosmah also breeds other livestock such as the normal Kampung chickens, ducks, Serati ducks and more than 300 goats.
“My dream now is to expand the pens and cages for the livestock. I need a higher capital for that because it costs more than RM2,000 a month for animal food.
“I also appeal to the relevant departments to provide me knowledge and guidance so that I can rear the livestock systematically and thus, make it a main source of income,” she said. — Bernama