Country Chicken Naatu Kozhi Rearing in Tamil Nadu

Naatu kozhi (country chicken) rearing is a traditional backyard and semi-intensive poultry practice in Tamil Nadu, where indigenous chicken breeds including Aseel, Kadaknath (introduced from MP), Chittagong, and native TN breeds are raised on free-range or semi-open systems. The Tamil Nadu indigenous breeds are characterised by high disease resistance, flavourful dark meat with lower fat, and adaptability to heat. Naatu kozhi is a premium product — priced 3 to 5 times higher than broiler chicken — and is central to festival cooking, post-partum nutrition protocols, and Chettinad cuisine. The Tamil Nadu Livestock Development Agency (TANLDA) and KVIC support women SHGs in naatu kozhi rearing through chick distribution programs. The Kadaknath black-feathered breed from Jhabua has been popularised in Tamil Nadu for its medicinal reputation and low cholesterol content.