Rare European chicken breeds auctioned off in Bahrain

Cairo: Rare breeds of European hens were the focus of a recent auction in Bahrain, drawing poultry breeders in the kingdom and other Gulf countries.

Nineteen pairs of different breeds were sold during the event, which made its debut in Bahrain last month, according to manager of the Bahrain Poultry Auction Mohammed Khalaf.

A pair of the Russian Orloff hens fetched the highest bid of 300 Bahraini dinars at the auction, Khalaf told Al Balad newspaper.

He cited a high demand for a breed of French hens famous for laying many eggs and being able to bear the high temperatures in the Gulf.

The event, held on Thursday, was the sixth edition since the auction was launched on May 21. The seventh is scheduled for July 2 at 8pm via livestream on Instigram @bh_chicken_mazad.

The auction came into being in response to official calls for people to stay home as a precaution against the spread of the new coronavirus, according to Khalaf.

“In implementing this motto, we launched the mazad [auction] with the aim of helping people interested in poultry sale and purchase without having to go out. Payment is done through the Benefit Pay service,” he said.

Delivery personnel, Khalifa added, are available to take or hand over the poultry for the breeders’ safety.