The Ac chicken breed (or Ga Ac meaning “evil chicken”) is a Vietnamese breed known there for its health properties. There is little known about them but we’ll look at this unique, small breed and some of the mysteries around it.
History of Ac Chicken
| Class | ?Vietnamese/Fancy |
| Type | Bantam |
| Size | 3 lbs for roosters 1.5 – 2.5 for hens |
| Rarity | >12,000 breeding pairs in the world Rare |
| Purpose | Meat |
| Recognized Varieties | White feathers/black bone marrow |
The Ac chicken breed is thought to have been bred in the late 19th century. Their main use is for soups and medicinal concoctions.
According to the Vietnam tourism site, most restaurants there serve the soup made with Ac chicken for its bold taste and high nutritional level. I’m not sure if it is more nutritious than any other breed, but dark meat itself has a bolder flavor so I imagine the taste is strong.
There are thought to be less than 12,000 breeding pairs in the world today.
Egg Facts
| Egg Laying | 15 per year |
| Egg Color | White |
| Egg Size | Small |
The Ac hens begin to lay around the same age as most breeds, at 5-7 months.
In our research, we found they are poor layers as they only lay an average of 15 small white eggs a year.
Breed Features
| Comb Type | Single |
| Crested | No |
| Feathered Legs | No |
| Number of Toes | 5 |
The Ac chicken has white feathers, blue-gray to blackish skin, and black bone marrow. It reminds me somewhat of the Ayam Cemani breed in its black appearance.
It is similar in appearance to the Silkie breed.
Another striking thing about this breed is they have 5 toes instead of the typical 4 most breeds have.
Breed Characteristics
| Cold Hardiness | Probably (See below) |
| Heat Tolerance | Yes |
| Bear Confinement | Probably (See below) |
| Docile | Unknown |
| Setter/Broody | No |
| Personality | Unknown |
Since there is little known about this breed, it’s hard to say what its character is like.
Because they are a Vietnamese breed, we can assume it does well in hot, humid climates.
They also have some pretty cold winters there with temperatures dipping down to single digits so I would say they tolerate cold with protection.
Because it’s a tiny breed, I would think the Ac chicken would do well in confinement and be gentle enough to handle.
Summary
The small Ac chicken breed is also known as the Ga Ac Black Chicken in Vietnam. It means “evil chicken”. I think that’s probably because of its black bones.
According to iTourVN, Vietnamese culture associates anything with brown or black, earthy colors with health. This is probably why they have restaurants dedicated to just the one dish of “Black Chicken Soup.” It’s a soup made of herbs, mushrooms, and the Ac chicken.
They are not good layers or setters so their primary purpose is meat. There are thought to be less than 12,000 breeding pairs in the world today.
What a rare, mysterious bird the Ac chicken is. We are unable to locate anyone in the U.S. who sells the bird or the eggs.
Learn more about other chicken breeds on TFL.
As always, we’re here to help.
Great article! I grew up eating herbal chicken soup with Ga Ac purchased frozen from our local Asian stores in San Diego and Orange County. I’ve also wondered if they were bred anywhere else besides Vietnam or Asia. Specifically in the U.S.
Peter, Thanks for sharing with us. I wonder where the local stores got the frozen birds from? I’ve never had it but it sounds like something I’d enjoy.