02/23/2026
Introduction to the Indio/Polaco Gigante
Have you ever seen a chicken that looks like a mini dinosaur? That's the Indio Gigante for you! These incredible birds come from Brazil and are the tallest chickens in the world. Our roosters can stretch out to over 42 inches from beak to toe, and it never gets old watching people's faces when they see them for the first time. We've had our flock of Indio Gigantes since 2016 and fell so in love we added the naked-neck Polaco version in 2026. Our lines come directly from imported stock we brought in from near São Paulo, Brazil, just before an Avian Flu outbreak made it almost impossible to get birds from most countries. Getting them here was a huge, expensive headache, so we really don't recommend trying to import unless you have someone who knows the ropes. Even though they have gamebird roots, we find them to be gentle giants. They'll stand their ground to protect their family and their turf, but they aren't bullies. We can even keep our roosters together since they grew up as buddies, but you still have to be careful when adding anyone new. They're not aggressive towards people at all—in fact, they're super curious and will follow you all over the yard, hoping for a snack. Because they grow so incredibly fast, you have to watch out for crooked toes and leg problems, especially in the roosters who can sometimes develop "Perna Bamba," or wobbly legs. These birds need space! They don't thrive cooped up and need plenty of room to stretch those long legs, which helps prevent a lot of physical issues. For roosts, think wide and low to the ground. Honestly, most of ours prefer to just sleep on the floor, so in the winter, we make sure they have a deep, cozy bed of shavings to keep warm. To support their rapid growth, we start them on extra calcium carbonate (it absorbs better than oyster shell), vitamins, and minerals right around 3 weeks old. We use a 22% medicated chick starter in the brooder, then switch to a 16% protein feed to slow their growth down to a healthier pace. It's also important to raise their feeders as they get taller so they're eating at head level—this really helps their posture and prevents back problems. These guys are slow to mature and will keep growing until they're about 18 months old. They also feather out very slowly, so they don't handle cold well. If you're raising chicks in the winter, keep them out of drafts and rain. Even though they tower over other chicks, they can be clumsy teenagers, so be careful raising them in a mixed flock. They can get picked on or trampled before they really find their feet. On the plus side, the hens are great seasonal layers of big, tan eggs, and they're wonderful, broody mothers. The Polaco Gigante is simply the naked-neck version of the Indio. They’re the same bird in almost every way, except the Polaco has that classic bare neck and way fewer feathers. They can look a bit bald all over, which really makes their dewlaps stand out when they're grown. Right now, our breeding pens have Polaco roosters over our Indio hens, so the chicks can hatch out with or without the naked neck. From what we've learned from breeders in Brazil, it's best not to breed two Polacos together, as the chicks can lose some of that signature height over generations due to the Turken genes. We're also really excited about a group of juveniles we have growing out right now from Rare Rooster Acres' Colossus and Valero lines. They should be ready for the breeding pens by the end of the 2026 season! Once they are, we'll have a dedicated pen for pure Indio Gigantes, keeping them separate from our Polaco-cross pen. So, if you're holding out for a pure Indio, your best bet is to wait until this fall when we'll start hatching from that new group. We just love having these giants on our homestead. If you want a bird that will make every visitor do a double-take, this is the one! They're also big enough to be excellent table birds; we've processed a few roosters that were nearly the size of a small turkey. Of course, we can't guarantee any specific chick will reach a certain height. While we breed for health and height, the reality is that most won't hit that magical 40-inch mark. We're very selective and only keep the best birds for our breeding program, culling for things like crooked toes, poor growth, leg problems, or lack of vigor. We encourage you to appreciate each bird for its own unique qualities and potential.
