Originally kept by the Venda people of Limpopo, the Venda chicken is an alert, hardy, and resilient indigenous South African breed. While considered a dual-purpose bird, the Venda is primarily valued on farms for its natural pest control abilities, especially its habit of removing ticks and flies directly off livestock—much like the Boschvelder.
This breed is exceptionally tough and highly predator-aware, often flying up into trees for safety. Vendas are natural free-rangers and thrive when kept alongside cattle and other farm animals. However, while they’re incredibly effective at keeping pests in check, they can be hard on gardens due to their constant scratching. Their scavenging ability is impressive—they’ve been known to eat everything from seeds and scraps to lizards and small rodents.
Vendas start laying at around 5 to 6 months of age, and the hens are known to be excellent brooders and mothers. On average, they will produce 180 to 200 large, light beige eggs per year.
A typical Venda should display a red single comb and wattles, with mottled plumage consisting of black, white, and occasional touches of brown.
Greenhills Country Farm currently supplies Black-and-White Venda chickens, though on rare occasions, some of our birds may show a few brown feathers, which is a natural and harmless variation.
★★★★★
“Excellent Venda chickens with strong health and active behavior. The birds adapted quickly to our free-range setup and are doing extremely well.”
— Sipho M., Johannesburg
April 2026
★★★★★
“Very impressed with the quality of the Venda chickens. Healthy birds, smooth delivery process, and professional communication throughout.”
— Amanda T., Durban
March 2026
★★★★★
“Our Venda chickens are hardy, calm, and perfect for our small farm. Great breeder with excellent customer service.”
— Pieter R., Bloemfontein
February 2026
★★★★★
“Beautiful indigenous chickens with strong immune systems and excellent adaptability. Highly recommend Greenhill Country Farm.”
— Rebecca K., Port Elizabeth
January 2026
★★★★★
“Healthy and active Venda chickens exactly as described on the website. The birds settled in immediately after arrival.”
— Daniel S., Polokwane
December 2025