Quick Take
- What looks like a severe physical deformity on this chicken is actually its most prized and marketable trait, and the reason why flips conventional thinking on its head. See why the legs are prized →
- A single bird can fetch a price that rivals a luxury handbag, yet the buyers aren't who you'd expect. Check the market value →
- The Dong Tao's most extreme physical trait isn't a mutation or accident, and its true origin challenges assumptions about how animal breeds are shaped. Explore the breed's origins →
- These chickens carry legs so massive they seem to defy basic mobility, and yet the reality of how they move might surprise you. Discover how they move →
Chickens are surprisingly diverse animals with many different breeds. Each breed has unique traits that make it stand out. One example is the Dong Tao chicken, a breed native to Vietnam. This YouTube video from Happy Farm shows a video of these chickens.
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The Dong Tao chicken is a rare breed, and one bird can sell for hundreds of dollars.
©Hoang Quoc Phuong/Shutterstock.com
About the Dong Tao Chicken
The Dong Tao chicken, or literally the dragon chicken, is one of the strangest breeds you will ever see. As seen in the video above, they are famous for their enormous legs. While their legs may seem swollen from an injury or disease, they are actually perfectly healthy and the result of genetics. Dong Tao chickens are an indigenous Vietnamese breed that originated around the village of Đông Tảo in northern Vietnam. These chickens are relatively rare and have quickly become a delicacy due to their high price. The legs themselves are considered a delicacy, which puts them in high demand. With roosters reaching roughly 12 to 13 pounds, there is plenty of meat for the dishes in which they are used. So, how did their legs become so large?
The large legs of Dong Tao chickens are due to genetics rather than human modification. This breed has massive bones in its legs, specifically the tarsometatarsal bones. These are the bones that make up the lower leg shank, formed by the fusion of the metatarsal and distal tarsal bones. While their bones are thick, their muscles and tendons are also enlarged to an unusual size. This trait is the result of both natural and selective breeding. Chickens with larger legs have existed in the region for a long time, and humans have simply continued to select for the trait. It’s similar to dog breeds, where natural traits occur but are enhanced through selective breeding. Although it may seem difficult to live with such large legs, these chickens are still able to walk and function relatively well. Their muscles and bones are strong enough to allow them to walk without many issues. At most, they may simply be slower than other chickens.
