The World’s Smallest Chicken Is Taking the Chinese Pet Scene by Storm

The World's Smallest Chicken?

Ever pondered what it might be like to have a fist-sized chicken as a pet?

Introducing the rutin chicken, a small hybrid bird that has become extremely popular in China.

These cute animals are highly sought-after pets that lay tiny eggs.

However, what is a rutin chicken exactly? What are the requirements for maintaining these small birds?

China's New Tiny Pet Craze: Meet the Rutin Chicken

Rutin chicken, a domestic hybrid dubbed ‘the world’s smallest chicken', has become incredibly popular in China lately, fueling a veritable pet craze.

Technically, the rutin in chicken is not a chicken at all. It's actually a hybrid of a quail and a partridge, but people have affectionately nicknamed it the "world's smallest chicken," and the name has stuck. To be fair, it's fitting!

These birds are about the size of an average human fist and weigh only around 50 grams. They're incredibly cute, and their compact size makes them perfect for relatively small enclosures. Think cozy living spaces complete with lights, plants, stairs, and even dollhouse-like sleeping quarters. 

Rutin chickens get their name from rutin, also known as vitamin P—a flavonoid found in citrus fruits and various plants. Interestingly, rutin is also present in these charming birds' eggs!

Beyond their unique nutritional profile, rutin chickens are renowned for their prolific egg production, further contributing to their popularity. However, be aware that their eggs are smaller than quail eggs, roughly the size of a five-cent coin. Fortunately, these feathered friends lay eggs for approximately 300 days each year.

While their small size makes rutin chickens more suitable for apartment living compared to standard chickens, they do require more care than cats or dogs. Maintaining the proper temperature is crucial. 

Adult chickens thrive in temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, while chicks need a warmer environment of 35 to 38 degrees Celsius.

Smell is a common problem with chickens, and routine maintenance is no exception. Fortunately, there are solutions available in the form of herbal litter. Options like rice husk, wood chips, tea stalks, sawn wood, and soy flour, combined with biological ferment, create a fermentation bed that can automatically decompose chicken droppings.

The popularity of rutin chicken in China has surged in recent years. A quick search on Douyin (TikTok) reveals thousands of videos from devoted enthusiasts. Many showcase elaborate terrariums equipped with heat lamps and various comforts for the birds, while others highlight the chickens themselves or the daily ritual of collecting their eggs.

Mini-chickens are widely available on online shopping platforms like Taobao, with many snatching them up simply because they are the trendiest pets money can buy.

As for the real  world’s smallest chicken  , that title goes to the pompous-looking Serama breed.

Frequently asked Questions

What is a Rutin Chicken?

A rutin chicken is not technically a chicken but a hybrid bird resulting from crossing a quail and a partridge. Despite this, they are widely known as "the world's smallest chicken" due to their size, resembling an average human fist and weighing approximately 50 grams. They are incredibly popular in China as pets because of their cuteness and manageable size.

What Makes Rutin Chickens Popular?

Rutin chicken has surged in popularity due to a combination of factors. Their diminutive size makes them suitable for apartment living, appealing to those with limited space. Moreover, they are exceptionally cute and lay numerous miniature eggs, comparable in size to a five-cent coin, adding to their charm and desirability as pets. Their consistent egg production further contributes to their appeal.

What Are the Care Requirements for Rutin Chickens?

While relatively low maintenance compared to traditional chickens, rutin chickens still require specific care considerations. Maintaining optimal temperature ranges, between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius for adults and 35 and 38 degrees Celsius for chicks, is crucial. Additionally, managing odor is essential, as chickens naturally produce waste. Fortunately, solutions like herbal litter systems incorporating rice husk, wood chips, tea stalks, sawn wood, and soy flour combined with biological fermentation can effectively decompose the chicken droppings, minimizing odor issues.

Conclusion

Rutin chickens have taken China by storm, captivating hearts with their petite size and charming personalities. These quail-partridge hybrids, aptly dubbed “the world’s smallest chicken,” offer a unique pet experience, laying miniature eggs comparable in size to a five-cent coin. Their popularity stems from their cuteness, suitability for apartment living, and consistent egg production.

While rutin chickens require specific temperature ranges and careful litter management, their appeal lies in the delightful routine of caring for them, collecting their tiny eggs, and watching them thrive in well-equipped terrariums. Their popularity reflects a growing trend towards unique and unconventional pets, showcasing how even the smallest creatures can capture our imagination.

What started as a niche phenomenon has blossomed into a nationwide craze, demonstrating that sometimes the smallest things can have the biggest impact.