Kadaknath Poultry Farming Farming in India 2026
Rear the premium black native chicken prized for dark meat and high market price
Overview
Kadaknath is a hardy native black chicken breed from Madhya Pradesh, famous for its black meat, bones and blood and valued for taste and perceived health benefits, which let it sell at a premium far above ordinary chicken. It holds a geographical indication tag linked to its home region. Being a desi breed it tolerates local climate, resists disease better than many commercial birds and can be reared in low cost backyard or semi intensive systems, making it suitable for small farmers, tribal households and rural entrepreneurs. It is a dual purpose bird giving both meat and eggs, though it grows slower and lays fewer eggs than commercial broilers and layers. The high price per bird and per egg can offset the slower growth, but profit depends on disease control, feed cost, chick survival and finding buyers who pay the premium. Treat any income figures as indicative.
Climate
Kadaknath is a hardy native breed that adapts well to the warm and varied climate of central and much of India, tolerating heat and local conditions better than many exotic breeds. Like all poultry it still needs protection from extreme heat, cold drafts, heavy rain and damp, with shade, ventilation and dry litter in the shed. Good airflow and protection from sudden temperature swings keep birds healthy and reduce stress and disease. In hotter areas, fans, shade and cool clean drinking water help, while in colder spells chicks especially need brooding warmth. Its adaptability is a key reason it suits backyard and semi intensive rearing across many states.
Soil
Kadaknath needs no land for cropping, only a clean, dry, well ventilated shed and, ideally, a fenced run for semi intensive rearing. The shed should have a dry litter floor, raised slightly to avoid waterlogging, with adequate space per bird, feeders, drinkers and roosting space. For chicks you need a brooder area that can be kept warm. A predator proof fence or netting protects birds from dogs, cats, wild animals and birds of prey. Backyard rearing uses simple low cost housing, while a commercial unit needs a properly designed shed, biosecurity arrangements and equipment. Keep the site clean and easy to disinfect to prevent disease.
Planting & Spacing
Start by taking training from a Krishi Vigyan Kendra, veterinary or animal husbandry department, and buying healthy chicks or hatching eggs from a reliable government farm, recognised breeder or research institute to ensure they are genuine Kadaknath and disease free. Begin with a manageable flock so you can learn brooding, feeding, vaccination and disease control before scaling up. Brood chicks under warmth with clean water and starter feed, vaccinate as advised against common poultry diseases, and gradually move them to grower housing or a run. Many farmers keep a breeding flock to hatch their own chicks. Build numbers steadily as survival and management improve, rather than buying very large numbers at once.
Varieties
Kadaknath itself comes in recognised colour types, commonly the jet black, the golden and the pencilled, all sharing the typical black meat, bones and internal organs caused by extra pigment. The pure breed is what carries the premium and geographical indication identity, so the key choice is sourcing genuine pure Kadaknath rather than crossbred or look alike birds, which may not have the true characteristics or value. Authentic stock comes from government poultry farms, recognised breeders and research institutes in its home region and other states. Always verify the source and purity, because the breed's whole market advantage rests on being a genuine pure Kadaknath.
Care & Management
Good care centres on clean housing, balanced feed, clean water and disease prevention. Provide age appropriate feed, from starter for chicks to grower and layer or finisher feed, supplemented by foraging in semi intensive systems which lowers feed cost. Keep litter dry, clean drinkers and feeders daily, and maintain biosecurity by limiting visitors, disinfecting and isolating new or sick birds. Follow a vaccination and deworming schedule advised by the veterinary department against diseases like Ranikhet and others. Protect birds from predators and overcrowding, give roosting space, and ensure brooding warmth for chicks. Regular observation to catch early signs of illness is the most important daily habit.
Pests & Diseases
The main risks are poultry diseases and predators. Ranikhet disease, fowl pox, infectious diseases and parasites can cause heavy losses, controlled by timely vaccination, deworming, biosecurity and clean dry housing. Chick mortality in the early weeks is a key concern, reduced by proper brooding warmth, clean water and good feed. Predators like dogs, cats, wild animals, snakes and birds of prey take free ranging birds, so fencing and netting are important. Damp dirty litter breeds disease and parasites. Buying birds of unknown health or mixing new birds without isolation can introduce infection. Prevention through vaccination, hygiene, biosecurity and genuine healthy stock is far cheaper than treating outbreaks.
Yield & Harvest
Kadaknath grows slower than commercial broilers, usually reaching marketable body weight over several months rather than weeks, so birds are typically sold for meat at a few months of age. Hens generally start laying at around five to six months and lay roughly in the range of 80 to 120 eggs a year, far fewer than commercial layers, though both eggs and meat sell at a premium. Output is measured in birds reared for meat and eggs collected, and the slower growth and lower lay are offset by the high price the breed commands. Survival, feed efficiency and reaching buyers who pay the premium decide the real return. Treat numbers as indicative.
Cost & Profit
Costs include housing, genuine chicks, feed, vaccination, labour and biosecurity, with feed being the largest recurring expense. The economic strength of Kadaknath is its high selling price for both meat and eggs, well above ordinary chicken, which can give attractive margins despite slower growth and lower egg numbers. Backyard and semi intensive systems with some foraging cut feed cost and suit small farmers. Profit is sensitive to chick mortality, feed prices, disease outbreaks and whether you can sell at the premium rather than ordinary chicken rates. Avoid suppliers promising guaranteed buy back at fixed high prices, verify the market yourself, and grow gradually as your management improves.
These are indicative ranges. Actual cost and income vary by region, market and management, so verify locally.
Market & Demand
Kadaknath meat and eggs sell to health conscious urban consumers, specialty meat shops, restaurants and hotels, online platforms, and through local demand in and around its home region, often at prices several times those of ordinary chicken. Live birds also sell to other farmers as breeding or rearing stock. The geographical indication tag and the breed's reputation for taste and nutrition support branding and premium pricing. Direct selling, online channels, tie ups with restaurants and producer groups help capture the premium rather than selling at common poultry rates. Because the whole advantage is the premium, marketing genuine quality birds to buyers who value them is as important as good rearing.
Subsidy & Support
Kadaknath poultry is supported under the National Livestock Mission of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, which offers capital subsidy for poultry entrepreneurship including parent farms, hatcheries and rural poultry units, with assistance released in stages through banks. State animal husbandry departments, tribal development programmes and rural livelihood missions also promote backyard Kadaknath rearing with chicks, training and support, and some states actively encourage the breed. NABARD provides bankable project models and refinance, and self help groups can access linked credit. Subsidy rates, unit sizes and eligibility vary, so confirm current National Livestock Mission terms and state schemes with your district animal husbandry office or the scheme portal before investing.
Where to grow it in India
Frequently asked questions
Why is Kadaknath chicken so expensive?
How do I make sure I buy genuine Kadaknath chicks?
How many eggs does a Kadaknath hen lay?
What is the biggest risk in Kadaknath farming?
Can Kadaknath be reared in a backyard?
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