If you have an idea or have seen a Malay chicken, you will know it is a powerful, magnificent, tall bird. If you love to add this beautiful and captivating chicken to your flock, check out this full Malay chicken guide and learn all the info you need about this breed.
Malay Chicken General Profile
| Egg Production | 20 to 100 eggs per year |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Skin Color | Yellow |
| Standard Weight | 7 to 9 lbs. |
| Life Expectancy | 5 to 8 years |
| Temperament | Broody, Fierce, Active, Independent |
| Minimum Coop Space | 6 square feet |
| Status | Critical |
Behavior
The character and behavior of Malay chickens are distinctive, just like their outward look. They may get into arguments easily, especially when confined; things worsen.
The roosters are likely to be hostile and intolerant of other chooks approaching their hen. To prevent your roosters from harming other chickens, keep them in groups of two or three and never maintain one male with the hens.
Malay chickens, especially the male ones, are tough, active, and lively. They are known for their strength and longevity. They need regular physical activity to preserve muscle strength and feather firmness.
Personality
Malay chickens cannot function properly in isolation since they are too big and require a significant amount of space to move freely. Their coop will need to be spacious enough to house all of them, and because they can fly, put their house or space with some sort of barrier. They thrive best in warm environments as opposed to chilly ones.
Malay chicken is not the breed to get if you are looking for a loving companion or if it is your first time owning a pet.
Malay chickens can be polite toward people and even loyal to those they know, but due to their naturally violent character, they are not an ideal breed to have as members of a flock that contains other breeds, nor are they a type that should ever be around children.
Appearance
Malay chickens have many distinctive qualities that make it easy to identify them when they are in a flock.
- Their crow is a raspy, rapid, and unvarying sound that is evocative of a roar.
- They tend to be bald on the neck and chest, and their wattles are not very large.
- Their comb has the appearance of a berry and is short and dense.
- Their yellow beak is quite short, wide, and curved at the end.
The drooping forehead of the Malay chickens contributes substantially to the vicious and snarling appearance of their face, which is a defining characteristic of this breed.
Malay chickens are fierce, especially when they are roaming around with their massive height of 90cm and large legs; other chickens will be wary of them. In terms of color, many Malay chickens have red and black feathers; these are called Black Breast Red varieties. But you can also find a lot of white and spangled Malay chicken varieties on farms.
Standard Weight
Although Malay chickens are not as huge as Jersey Giants, they are still considered big chickens because they weigh more than standard chickens, which are only around 5.7 pounds. Male Malay chickens weigh up to 9 pounds, while their hens are around 7 pounds.
Broodiness
Malay hens tend to be broody; however, they are poor layers due to their long legs that make it hard for them to sit and cover eggs.
But Malay hens are good mothers when they can produce eggs or if you try to let them incubate the eggs of other chickens. However, Malay roosters are different from hens because they are aggressive, so try to separate your male and female Malay chickens if your hens have laid eggs.
Where Did Malay Chicken Come From?
If you have an idea about Malays, you might know that Malay chickens have Asian roots. They have been around for a very long time, and aside from Malaysia, you may find some Malay chickens in some regions of India and Indonesia.
But because of their great characteristics and features, people brought Malay chickens to Europe during the early 1800s, where they had a major growth in their population. And after a few years, when Malay chickens grew its popularity, they made their way to the United States, where people call them a great ornamental chicken breed.
7 Malay Chicken Varieties
Presently, the National Chicken Council recognizes seven varieties of Malay chickens.
- Red Pyle
- Spangled
- White
- Black
- Mottled
- Black-Breasted Red (BBR)
- Wheaten Hen
Although they are all Malay chickens, you can’t possibly see them in one field or poultry farm because some are rare. The BBR is the most common variety of Malay chicken you will see since it is easy to breed, and many poultry farms sell them.
To help you get an image, see below the color mixes of these seven varieties so you can easily identify them when you see them.
| Variety | Color Mix |
| Red Pyle | Red + Brown + White |
| Spangled | Black + Red + White |
| White | Pure White |
| Black | Pure Black |
| Mottled | Black + White |
| Black-Breasted Red | Red + Black |
| Wheaten Hen | Dark and Light Brown + White |
Spangled and mottled Malay chickens are probably the ones that are really rare to find or breed, but they are worth it because of their beautiful color and feathers.
Uses of Malay Chicken
Because of their strength and height, Malay chickens were originally bred for cockfighting in earlier years. They perform well and fight, which is why many people breed them.
However, since cockfighting is not common nowadays, Malay chickens are mostly used for ornamental purposes rather than for fighting, egg production, and meat.
Furthermore, Malay Chickens are also used to breeding other chickens because of their vigorous strength; they add good health and vigor to other chicken breeds. And, since Malay chickens don’t have much use in egg production and meat, they are rarely bred nowadays.
Egg Production
Quantity
Malay hens are not really good layers; some strains lay good, but most are not and only lay eggs seasonally. If you are planning on raising a flock for egg production, Malay chickens may not be a good option for you. Most of these chickens only lay around 80 to 100 eggs a year, but some, although rarely, lay up to 120 annually.
Another reason why Malay chickens can’t lay many eggs is because of their size and tight feathers that hinder them from properly brooding their eggs. They even break some eggs before they even hatch because of their large legs.
And take note again, although Malay hens are good mothers because they love brooding and taking care of their chicks, Malay roosters are not father figures. After all, they lack sympathy toward their chicks.
Size and Color
Although Malay chickens are known for their height and size, they only lay medium-sized eggs which are just about right if they are for consumption. As for their egg color, Malay chickens produce brown eggs, but there are light brown eggs at times.
Malay Chicken Raising and Care Guide
Raising and taking care of Malay chickens is easy because they are not sensitive and they don’t require extreme attention. You only need to keep these things in mind for a healthy flock:
Temperature
When they reach adulthood, Malay chickens develop into robust birds that are huge, confident, and full of life. On the other hand, because they have few feathers and none of the downy fluff that other birds do, they do not have enough natural protection to withstand long-term exposure to cooler conditions.
Because of this, they are not suggested for use in regions that experience severe winters. The care of Malay chicks requires a lot of attention, and they can’t stand it when it’s chilly outside or when it’s damp and cold all the time.
Coop Space
Due to their explorative side and tall height, Malay chickens should have a good-sized space to roam around freely. It is only right to keep the size of their living area in mind because, as previously mentioned, they hate confinement. Give them ample space if you want your Malay chickens to be healthy and happy.
Diet
Malay chickens are heavy eaters, so you need to be generous when feeding them; around 170 to 220 grams of feed may be enough. Make sure they also have access to clean grass to snack on it whenever they are hungry. Don’t forget to also give them clean water or access to fresh water because it will keep them healthy and hydrated.
You should include grit, and high protein feeds in their diet because their muscles need those. And if you are an avid chicken lover, you may know that you should never feed your chickens with chocolates and beans.
Health Care
Since Malay chickens are easy to raise, you don’t have to worry that much about their health care because they are not really sensitive. You just need to ensure they are well-groomed, especially their feathers, and make sure they get their vitamins.
Additionally, a regular deworming regimen aids in keeping them healthy as they develop, so make sure to always deworm them. Healthy birds are encouraged by having access to free roam on new grass and clean air.
Taming
Handling a chicken carefully while it is still small is the most effective approach to tame it. This also helps your chickens become accustomed to being around people. If you have mature hens that need to be tamed, try giving them food out of your palm on a daily basis; however, this strategy might not work so well with Malay birds.
Malay chickens have the potential to be domesticated; however, in general, they are uninterested in people and have a cool demeanor.
Feeding the chickens in the hours leading up to sunset on a consistent basis is a smart move that can help you train the chickens to consistently return to the coop every evening.
Summary
In conclusion, Malay chickens are not good breeds you can raise for the first time because of their temperament and personality. But if you are up for the challenge, then we hope this Malay chicken guide gives you all the details and tips you need for raising your own flock of beautiful Malay chickens.
