Native chicken vs broiler: growth, meat and eggs
Growth and price from FAO, PNS and PSA.
Reserve nowA broiler is a meat chicken bred for fast growth: in confinement it can reach 2.0 kg live weight at 5 weeks, while a native male often weighs no more than 1.0 kg at 20 weeks (FAO). In June 2026, Cebu farmers got ₱230.01 per kilo live weight for native chicken and ₱150.00 for broiler (PSA). Want the slow-grown bird? See our native chicken for sale in Ronda, Cebu.
Native chicken and broiler compared
| Item | Native chicken | Broiler |
|---|---|---|
| Live weight | Males often ≤ 1.0 kg at 20 weeks | About 2.0 kg at 5 weeks |
| Earliest slaughter, free-rangePNS/BAFS 262 | 90 days | 52 days |
| Eggs per hen a year | 40–60; Darag about 110 | Raised for meat |
| Hatching | Hens go broody, hatch their own | Incubator and hatchery |
| Starter feed protein | Commercial starter to 1 month | 20–23%, 0–4 weeks |
| Farmgate, Cebu, Jun 2026 | ₱230.01/kg | ₱150.00/kg |
Sources: FAO Poultry Development Review (weight, eggs 40–60, hatching), PNS/BAFS 262:2018 (slaughter age), DOST-PCAARRD (Darag), DA-RFO 3 and ANR-1317 (feed), PSA (farmgate price per kg live weight).
How each is raised
Native: house and range
Free-range birds go out from 30 days old, with at least 1 m² of range each and a diet of at least 50% grain plus forage and insects (PNS/BAFS 262:2018).
Native hens hatch their own
Most native hens go broody and raise their chicks; nearly all commercial strains need artificial incubation (FAO).
Meat, eggs and price
In most countries, meat and eggs from native chickens are preferred over commercial broilers and layers, and buyers pay a premium for them (FAO). In an Iloilo study cited by PIDS, birds of 500–1,000 g were most in demand (PIDS, 2015). Native birds are also more heat-tolerant and resistant to bacterial and protozoan diseases and parasites than commercial broilers or layers (FAO).
Native hens lay 40–60 eggs a year in village flocks, commercial layers over 300 (FAO); Darag hens lay about 110 eggs of about 41 g (PCAARRD). Only farms that meet PNS/BAFS 262:2018 may label chicken “free-range”.
Prices by month: native chicken price per kilo. Feed by age: chicken feeding guide. Strains: Philippine native chicken breeds. Raising to sell: native chicken business. Hatching your own: chicken breeding.
Want eggs? See egg price per tray and egg sizes, or reserve native eggs. For a store or eatery: wholesale native chicken and eggs.
Gepanaga’s Farm in Ronda opens in April 2027. Reserve free-range native chicken: a vet health certificate with every batch, NMIS slaughter on request, a 30% deposit for seasonal reservations. Delivery in Ronda and southwest Cebu; Cebu City by arrangement.
Questions
What is the difference between native chicken and broiler?
Broilers are bred for fast growth in confinement and can reach 2.0 kg at 5 weeks; native males often weigh 1.0 kg or less at 20 weeks and are raised on range (FAO).
How long does it take to raise a broiler?
A broiler can reach 2.0 kg live weight at about 5 weeks (FAO). Free-range broilers may not be slaughtered before 52 days (PNS/BAFS 262:2018).
How long does it take to raise native chicken?
Free-range native chicken may not be slaughtered before 90 days (PNS/BAFS 262:2018).
Why is native chicken more expensive than broiler?
It grows slower, and buyers pay a premium for native meat and eggs (FAO). In June 2026 the PSA farmgate price in Cebu was ₱230.01 per kilo for native chicken and ₱150.00 for broiler.
Do broilers lay eggs?
Broilers are raised for meat. Egg farms use layer strains, which can lay over 300 eggs a year (FAO).
Sources: FAO Poultry Development Review · FAO poultry gateway · PNS/BAFS 262:2018 · PSA OpenSTAT · DOST-PCAARRD · Alabama Extension ANR-1317
