Many have shared that taking care of these tiny chickens and collecting their eggs daily gives them a sense of being “real farmers.”
The Rise in Popularity of Rutin Chickens
Fitting in the palm of an adult’s hand and weighing only about 50 grams, Nguyen Chien Thang’s (51, Cau Giay) rutin chickens are crowded around a food tray, pecking away. Looking at these beloved pets, Mr. Thang shared: “I currently have 22 rutin chickens in a self-designed cage in my living room. After a tiring day at work, seeing them brings me joy. They are adorable; when they are small, they are cute, and when they grow up, they are round and charming.”
Mr. Thang is designing another chicken coop in the bathroom to prepare for more rutin chickens.
A rutin chicken seller shared that this animal originates from Thailand. It is a hybrid between a quail and a gô chicken. The name ‘Rutin’ comes from the rutin vitamin, also known as vitamin P, a type of flavonoid found in citrus fruits, some vegetables, and the eggs of this particular chicken breed.
As he enthusiastically collects the olive-brown or light yellow eggs, sometimes speckled with sparse black spots, into a plastic basket, Mr. Thang happily exclaims: “This breed is easy to raise and lays a lot of eggs! I have five adult laying hens, and for the past five months, they have been laying five eggs every day without fail. Taking care of them is simple, too; I feed and change their water in the morning, and when I get home from work, I collect the eggs. I only need to clean their coop once or twice a week, spread straw for bedding, and sprinkle some microbial fertilizer on top to prevent any foul odors.”
Holding a rooster with a crown pattern on its head, Mr. Thang shared: “The rooster’s feathers are brighter and fresher-looking than those of the hens. The hens’ feathers are quite similar to those of quails. I’m incubating the eggs for the second time now. In a few days, when the chicks hatch, I will give some to my friends so they can raise them together for fun. Many people have seen the video of my chicken coop on social media and messaged me, asking for a pair of rooster and hen because they find them too cute.”
According to a survey by Dan Viet reporters, typing “Rutin Chicken” into the search bar on social media brings up numerous related groups and pages, with an average membership of tens of thousands of people. Many accounts suggest that raising this breed is ideal for “healing” purposes. “You only need to keep a few because if you have too many, they can get noisy. Adding some miniature landscapes to their enclosure and witnessing their growth and daily egg-laying truly helps alleviate life’s pressures,” shared a social media user.
Bui Manh Ha (30 years old), a rutin chicken seller in Ha Dong, shared that this breed is relatively inexpensive, with an average price ranging from 80,000 to 100,000 VND per chicken, depending on its size. “For week-old chicks, the price is only around 30,000 VND each. If the owner raises them from a young age, the chickens will be more attached to them,” said Mr. Ha.
Selling Thousands of Chickens Monthly
Quickly catching rutin chickens and placing them in a box for delivery to customers, Mr. Ha, a seller in Ha Dong, shared: “There are months when I sell over 1,000 chickens. The peak season is during the summer when parents want their children to put down their phones and engage in something productive. During those times, I can sell 100-200 chickens daily.”
Rutin chickens are becoming popular pets among Vietnamese youth.
Mr. Ha added that customers usually buy six chickens at a time, including two roosters and four hens. “In fact, the natural ratio of rutin chickens is already around 30% roosters and 70% hens. So, I always advise customers about this natural ratio and suggest they buy according to it for optimal egg-laying and hatching results,” he explained.
When asked about his customer demographic, Mr. Ha replied: “My customers come from various age groups, from students to office workers and housewives who buy chickens for their children to care for. I have customers from all over the country, from the North to the South.”
However, Mr. Ha usually only accepts orders from Hue to the North. He shared that to ensure timely delivery and maintain the chickens’ quality, he prefers to deliver within 48 hours of receiving the order. For customers in the South who wish to purchase rutin chickens, he recommends reputable farms in their region.
Pointing to the beautifully decorated coop with greenery, small stones, and a wooden fence, Mr. Ha continued: “Coops come in many styles. Some people prefer glass enclosures, while others opt for wooden ones, and those with more means might order a custom-made, luxurious coop. Many customers have shared with me that they utilize all the available space in their homes for rutin chicken coops. Even though they don’t live in rural areas, taking care of these chickens gives them a sense of being ‘real farmers’ right in the city.”
Rutin chickens have become popular among office workers as they require less time and money for upkeep. With just 1 million VND, one can own a pair of rutin chickens, along with a coop and other decorative accessories. Their primary diet consists of cereals and chick crumbs since their beaks are small and cannot handle regular chicken feed like rice or corn.
Once a trending pet in China, rutin chickens are now capturing the hearts of Vietnamese youth. Typically, rutin chickens are sold in pairs, with prices ranging from 250,000 to 300,000 VND.
