Arab Chicken Market in Souq al-Shuyoukh draws crowds as winter breeding season begins

DHI QAR — As temperatures cool, the “Arab Chicken Market” in Souq al-Shuyoukh is drawing large crowds of buyers and sellers, particularly on Friday mornings. Poultry breeding increases toward the end of summer, a period less suitable for raising chickens, and the market is known for its native, non-hybrid breeds that produce fresh, organic eggs distinct from those of commercially raised birds.

Traders bring chickens, ducks, and geese from across Dhi Qar Governorate, including Nasiriyah, while farms in Rifai district help meet demand when local supply runs low. Due to their quality and limited availability, native chickens sell for about 4,500 dinars per kilogram (around $3.19), nearly double the 2,900 dinars ($2.06) charged for commercial chickens.

Vendors said the market now offers several breeds, including Kuwaiti “Afrak,” Brahma, and Abu Rgeiba chickens, as well as Egyptian ducks and geese and local turkeys. Prices range from 10,000 dinars ($7.09) for a rooster to 15,000 dinars ($10.64) for a laying hen, 30,000 dinars ($21.27) for an old Iraqi duck, and 20,000 dinars ($14.18) for an Egyptian drake.

“Arab chickens differ from commercial chickens,” said seller Razzaq Mohammed. “They are raised for breeding and eggs, while commercial chickens are fattened quickly with protein feed, making them heavy and unable to move. Arab chickens are active and can even fly short distances.” He said one hatchery can produce more than 500 chicks, compared with natural incubation, which yields about ten.

Mohammed added that most native chickens come from Rifai district, which also supplies ducks and geese when Souq al-Shuyoukh’s stock is low. The sales season runs from October to March, when breeding and egg production peak.

Another seller, Ali Mazhar, said prices fluctuate based on breed and season. “With the arrival of winter, more people raise Arab chickens because of the cooler weather. In summer, they tend to sell them due to the heat,” he said. “Arab chickens are strong and disease-resistant because they’re raised in orchards and yards, unlike commercial chickens raised in closed farms.”

Vendor Mohammed Taha described the Friday market, known locally as the “Souq al-Waqfa,” as a vital gathering point for traders from across the region. “We sell Arab chickens, ducks, and geese here,” he said. “We hope the municipality will support these hardworking people — this market has become a source of livelihood for many families in Souq al-Shuyoukh.”