Ghagus is a light country chicken of the Karnataka–Andhra Pradesh border country, kept for meat and eggs. Farmers in its home area simply call it desi; NBAGR suggests the name Ghagus may come from the bird's peculiar "ghegu" call (ICAR-NBAGR). It is registered as a chicken breed of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka (ICAR-NBAGR).
How to recognise it
- Size: smaller than Aseel or Kalasthi. Adult cocks weigh about 2.2 kg and hens about 1.4 kg in NBAGR's breed record (ICAR-NBAGR).
- Colour: brown or black, in patches. Cocks have shining bluish-black feathers on the breast, tail and thighs, and golden feathers on the neck (ICAR-NBAGR).
- Head: a pea or single comb of medium size, small red wattles and red ear lobes; in some birds the skin of the throat is loose and hangs down (ICAR-NBAGR).
- Skin and legs: white skin and yellow shanks (ICAR-NBAGR).
- Overall look: NBAGR describes it as looking like a mix of the Aseel type and the local egg-laying desi hen (ICAR-NBAGR).
What it is kept for
- Meat and eggs. NBAGR lists both uses (ICAR-NBAGR). In NBAGR's survey of village flocks in Kolar district, eggs were its main use (NBAGR survey).
- Eggs in villages. About 52 a year (45–60), of about 40 g with light brown or brown shells; hens start laying at 5–8 months (ICAR-NBAGR). The survey of 451 Ghagus kept by 21 families found the same 52 (NBAGR survey).
- Eggs on a farm. A selected flock at ICAR-DPR in Hyderabad lays 110–118 eggs a year, and its young birds weigh 1.8–2.0 kg at 5 months (ICAR-DPR).
- Good mothers. Hens usually go broody, and in NBAGR's record about 81% of all eggs set hatched (60–85%) (ICAR-NBAGR).
Where it is mainly found
NBAGR names Kolar and Bangalore districts in Karnataka and Chittoor and Anantapur districts in Andhra Pradesh (ICAR-NBAGR). These districts have been split since the breed was described, so its home area now spans Kolar, Chikkaballapura and the Bengaluru districts in Karnataka, and Chittoor, Tirupati, Annamayya, Ananthapuramu and Sri Sathya Sai in Andhra Pradesh. NBAGR's field survey of the breed was done in Kolar district (NBAGR survey).
Outside its home area, ICAR-DPR keeps a Ghagus flock in Hyderabad and sells its chicks (ICAR-DPR).
Looking for Ghagus chickens?
See chicken ads in the districts where Ghagus chickens come from, or search “Ghagus” in the Kattutharai app to find them near you. The seller names the breed and Kattutharai does not check it, so look at the birds yourself before you pay.
Chicken ads in its home districts, 1 Nov 2026:
Rearing tips
- Simple, shaded shelter. In the home tract, birds are housed in the open. Some farmers use the space under a dry-fodder stack built on stone pillars 1–1.5 feet above the ground, where birds shelter from the sun and from predators (ICAR-NBAGR). A raised, shaded night shelter works on the same idea: see how country chickens are raised.
- Small mixed flocks. A village flock averages 27 birds (10–60), and more than half of them are chicks (ICAR-NBAGR). Keep grown cocks apart so they do not peck and injure each other.
- Health. Vaccinate as your vet advises, keep the shelter clean, and keep newly bought birds away from your flock for a month: see keep chickens healthy.
Buying tips
- Check the signs: a light bird, brown or black in patches, with white skin, yellow shanks and a pea or single comb; cocks have a golden neck and a bluish-black breast and tail (ICAR-NBAGR). A tall, heavy bird does not fit the Ghagus record.
- "Desi" is a loose word. Farmers in the home area call Ghagus desi (ICAR-NBAGR), but sellers everywhere use the same word for any village bird. Crosses are common, the breed name in an ad is the seller's word, and Kattutharai does not check it. Check the signs yourself.
- Chicks from known hatcheries. ICAR-DPR in Hyderabad sells Ghagus chicks (ICAR-DPR). Buy from a government or registered hatchery where you can.
- Health and papers: ask which vaccinations the birds have had, and look for signs of sickness before you pay: see buying country chickens.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ghagus mean?
NBAGR suggests it may come from the bird's peculiar "ghegu" sound. In its home area, farmers simply call it desi (ICAR-NBAGR).
How many eggs does a Ghagus hen lay?
About 52 a year in village flocks, and 110–118 in ICAR-DPR's selected farm flock (ICAR-NBAGR, ICAR-DPR).
Is Ghagus a meat bird or an egg bird?
Both. NBAGR lists meat and eggs, and in Kolar's village flocks eggs were the main use (NBAGR survey). For many more eggs, look at an improved variety such as Gramapriya.
Next
Compare Ghagus with Kalasthi, the meat bird of the old Chittoor, Kadapa and Nellore districts, and with Aseel. Read Country chicken in South India: breeds, buying and care for buying, care and bird flu, and browse chickens for sale.