Kedu or Ayam Kedu chicken is one of the traditional Indonesian breeds, native to the Kedu plains in central Java. It is believed that they derive from the crossing of the Java race and the Ayam Bekisar. Some people associate this race with black magic. They think that it can cure some diseases, especially mystical ones.
Characteristics
It is a breed of chicken of medium size and stiff feathers. The height of the rooster could reach 60 cm. And they have an average weight of 2.5 kg. The hen is a little lighter.
Breed varieties
The most common and popular variety is black, but they have other color variations: Ayam Kedu Kedu (black feathers and white fur), Ayam Hsian (partridge pattern feathers), and Ayam Cemani (black feathers), black fur and black meat). The Ayam Cemani is considered as a separate breed in Europe and North America and is known as Ayam Cemani.
Ayam Kedu chicken breed temperament
The Kedu is a very hardy dual-purpose breed that adapts very well to the varying environmental conditions of Indonesia. This resistance was achieved through the recombination of Mediterranean breeds (brought by the Dutch to Indonesia) by crossing these consistent egg and meat producers with native Indonesian varieties.
Egg production
Although the most common variety of Kedu is black, the color of its eggs is white. In Indonesia, this is the only hen that lays white eggs, while most native Indonesian chickens lay light brown eggs. Chicken is prolific too. It can lay up to 251 eggs a year. Due to the production of eggs, this chicken is suitable as laying hens.
Ayam Kedu Chicken History
The Kedu is a breed of chicken grown locally in the Kedu region of Central Java. Along with other Indonesian native races they were distributed in three provinces: Dukuh, Kahuripan, Sentono and Beji. According to the data, the population in early 1984 registered about 5,000 specimens of the breed, but by the end of the year, it increased to 8500 birds. This number drastically decreased in 1997 where only 2000 specimens were recorded.
On the brink of extinction
Observing the critical situation and the possible disappearance of the breed, the local government finally took the initiative to save this traditional breed from extinction. So I launched the conservation program for these impressive birds called “Makukuhan” calling on farmers, willing to recover the breed.
This group originally numbered 35 people. More than 1500 specimens were bred. Today the Kedu has been distributed throughout Indonesia and is gradually moving away from extinction.
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