Kadaknath (Karinkozhi)

കടകനാഥ് മധ്യപ്രദേശിലെ ജൗബ,ധാര്‍ തുടങ്ങിയ ഗിരിവര്‍ഗ പ്രദേശങ്ങളില്‍ ഉരുത്തിരിഞ്ഞ ഇനം മുട്ടക്കോഴിയിനമാണ് കടക്കനാഥ്. ഇതിനെ നാട്ടുകാര് “കാലാമസി” കറുത്ത മാംസമുള്ള കോഴി എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു. ശരീരം മുഴുവന്‍ കറുത്ത തൂവലുകള്‍ നിറഞ്ഞ ഇവയുടെ ഇറച്ചിക്കും എല്ലിനുപോലും കടുത്ത കറുപ്പു നിറമാണ്, ഇവ സ്വാദിഷ്ടവും, ഔഷധമൂല്യം ഉള്ളതുമാണ്. പ്രകൃത്യാ തന്നെ നല്ല ആരോഗ്യം നിറഞ്ഞ ഇവ സ്വതന്ത്ര ജീവിതം ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നു.
രാവിലെ കൂടു തുറന്നാലുടന്‍ പുറത്തുപോയി തീറ്റ ശേഖരിക്കുന്ന ഇവ വൈകുന്നേരത്തോടെ കൂട്ടില്‍ മടങ്ങിയെത്തും.പൂര്‍ണ വളര്‍ച്ചയെത്തിയ കരിങ്കോഴി പൂവന് മൂന്നര കിലോയോളം തൂക്കമുണ്ടാകും. ഒരു ദിവസം പ്രായമുള്ള കോഴികുഞ്ഞിന് നീലിച്ച കറുത്ത നിറവും പുറത്ത് കറുത്ത വരകളും കാണും . പിടക്കോഴികള്‍ മനുഷ്യര്‍ ഒരുക്കിവെച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന കൂടുകളില്‍ എത്തി മുട്ടയിടും. കരിങ്കോഴി ഇറച്ചി ക്കും മുട്ടയ്ക്കും ഒട്ടേറെ ഔഷധഗുണമുണ്. ആയുര്‍വേദ മരുന്നുകളില്‍ ഇവ ചേര്‍ക്കപ്പെടുന്നുണ്ട്. മുട്ട ഇളം തവിട്ടുനിറത്തിലാണ്. കടക്കനാഥിന്റെ ഇറച്ചിയില്‍ കൂടിയ അളവില്‍ കരോസിന്‍ അടങ്ങിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. ആന്റി ഓക്‌സിഡന്റുകളും കൂടിയ അളവില്‍ കണ്ടുവരുന്നു.മുട്ടയില്‍ കൊളസ്‌ട്രോളിന്റെ അളവ് നാടന്‍ കോഴികളെ അപേക്ഷിച്ച് കുറവാണ്. ഇറച്ചിക്ക് ഔഷധമൂല്യം കൂടുതലാണ്.

The Kadaknath is an Indian breed of chicken. is local to the Madhya Pradesh area, where it is known as "Kali masi" ("fowl having black flesh"). The Kadaknath is popular mainly for its adaptability, and the good-tasting black meat, which is believed to infuse vigor.  Its colour stems from the deposition of melanin pigment. Due to the meat's alleged medicinal properties, it is in high demand.  The tribals value the breed for its cultural as well as its health values and also consider it sacred. The bird is high in iron and amino acids and low in fat. It tolerates extreme heat and cold climatic conditions and requires minimal management inputs. The breed is disease resistant and is valued for the quality and flavour of its black meat. It is also locally known as Kali masi because the bird is black inside –out – skin, feathers, legs, meat, blood, etc.                

This leads to a scramble to secure a 'kadaknath' by hook or crook from Adivasis, who do not hesitate to scan the forests to get some from the few surviving in the wild. The tribals' belief that it infuses vigour has led to a huge demand for 'kadaknath' meat, said to be rich in protein and having low fat. Its medicinal properties also led to its indiscriminate killing. Very few survive in the wild and the 'kadaknath', which used to give the wake-up call to tribals till the 1980s, is mostly confined to government-supervised poultry farms, says local journalist Manoj Bhanpuria. Kali Masi was earlier found in plenty in Katthiwada and Alirajpur blocks, part of the undivided Jhabua district. But now it is found only in Jhabua. The state government, a few years ago, set up a Rs 418 crore 'Kadaknath yojana' to save this bird from extinction. Under this scheme, nine blocks in Jhabua district were selected for poultry breeding of Kadaknath with financial help and assistance to 500 BPL families, Bhanpuria says. The implementation of the scheme through public participation has not yet yielded the desired results. "Most of the birds are now found only in government-approved poultry farms," Bhanpuria says and adds that if proper care is not taken, Kali Masi would be seen only in zoos.

Medical Properties:

Kadaknath meat is unique as it is black in color and has several medicinal properties to cure various ailments. In recent times the popularity of Kadakanth is growing mainly because of the taste combined with medicinal values. The meat is black in color due to the large melanin content, a genetic condition called "Fibromelanosis". Kadakanath blood in often used in the treatment of chronic disease in human beings and the meat is considered as an aphrodisiac. Kadaknath has special medicinal value in homeopathy and a particular nervous disorder. Research has shown that the Kadaknath species has lower cholesterol than normally available white chicken and also contain high levels of essential amino acids as well as hormones that are required by the human body. Kadaknath chicken has many kinds of amino acids (18 kinds of amino acids including the 8 essential amino acids for human body), Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, niacin, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron, nicotinic acid, etc. Laboratory tests clearly show that the Kadaknth chicken contains certain hormones, blue pigment and amino acids required by the human body and are considered to be very useful to increase blood cells and hemoglobin. Presently there are abundant clinical experiences has indicating Kadaknth Chicken Meat to effectively treat woman's ailments like sterility, menoxenic (abnormal menstruation), habitual abortion, blood leucorrhoea, metrorrhagia, and sickness after giving birth to offspring. This black meat is also know to be useful in cure of pulmonary problems – tuberculosis (TB), heart diseases, neurasthenia ( a condition of nervous debility supposed to be dependent upon impairment in the functions of the spinal cord), and children osteomalacia ( a condition marked by softening of the bones).

Egg:

The eggs of Kadaknath chicken can be used effectively to treat severe headaches, headaches after giving birth, faintness, asthma and nephritis (acute or chronic inflammation of the kidney). The eggs are also an ideal nutritive, especially for old people and high blood pressure victims, since the cholesterol content is lower and free amino acids are higher than that of other kinds of birds. Both the meat and eggs are reckoned to be a rich source of protein (25.47% in flesh) and iron.

Origin:
Type: Large Fowl
Place of Origin: India
Size: Heavy
Rarity: Common
Purpose: Meat & Egg

Egg Facts:
Egg Laying: 3 / WK
Egg Color: Brown
Egg Size: Big

Fancy Features:
Comb Type: Single Comb
Crested: No
Feathered Legs: No
Number of Toes: 4

Suitability to Backyard Life:
Hardy In Winter: No
Setter/Broody: Yes
Personality: Peaceful, Friendly, Easily handled