Dong Tao chicken
Dong Tao chicken (Vietnamese: gà Đông Tảo), also called Dragon Chicken, is a rare Vietnamese chicken breed with enlarged feet, that originates from the village Đông Tảo in Khoái Châu District near Hanoi. Dong Tao chickens are valued as a delicacy in Vietnam, and they were once bred exclusively to be served to the royal family and mandarins. They are difficult to breed as their large legs make hatching difficult and they are also sensitive to changes in temperature. Hens often break the eggs with their bulky legs, so eggs are usually kept in an incubator. It takes eight months to one year until the chickens are ready for slaughtering at three to five kilograms of weight, although the males can reach six kilograms. Its meat may be priced at 350,000-400,000 VND per kilogram.
| Life Span | 5-10 years |
| Weight | 2-5 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Dong Tao chicken
Finding a responsible Dong Tao chicken breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells chickens commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Dong Tao chicken. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Dong Tao chickens appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for a Dong Tao chicken breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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