About

CFO's Specialty Breeds Chicken Program was developed to meet the evolving ethnic markets while bringing Ontario into alignment with the national Chicken Farmers of Canada specialty breeds chicken policy. The program specifies that two different types of specialty breeds chicken are included under this program: Yellow chicken and Silkie chicken.

CFO works closely with sector stakeholders to continuously gain a better understanding of the diverse demands and requirements of the multi-ethnic marketplace for ‘head and feet on’ chicken. The insights generated are used to create a relevant and impactful value proposition that supports increased sales of Specialty Breeds chickens.

Supporting the program is a marketing campaign that promotes the product to consumers including through POS (point of sale material) retail outlets. The resulting branding unifies the market and gives confidence to purchasers that the chicken is locally produced on Ontario family-farms and is consistently of high quality. CFO’s development team works with retailers that market primarily to the Asian communities and distributors that work with this market to bring consistent branding and appeal to more than 84 supermarkets in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and surrounding areas.


Quota Calendar

CLICK HERE to download the Specialty Breeds Quota Period Calendar for A-170 to A-183.
What are eligible specialty breeds of chicken?
  • This program is aligned with the national Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) Specialty Production Policy that identifies which specialty breeds are deemed "designated".
  • Silkies and Yellow chickens and a number of other specialty chicken breeds grown in British Columbia (BC) are the current "designated" specialty chicken breeds that may be grown under this program.
  • Specialty breeds are designated by CFC and listed in Schedule 4 of the Canadian Chicken Licensing Regulations. Any person interested in bringing in a new breed to the Specialty Breeds list will require CFC approval and CFO consent. Breeder flock for hatching egg purpose will be subject to OBHECC (Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg & Chick Commission) regulation.
Who is eligible to participate?

Participants must: 

  • Be a Canadian citizen and permanent resident of Ontario.
  • Be the beneficial owner of lands and buildings suitable for the production of specialty breeds of chicken.
  • If an approved applicant requires time to build such a facility, they have a period of 12 months from the date their application is approved to complete the construction and as an interim measure, may produce specialty chicken in a non-owned facility that meets CFO policy and regulations.
Interested Applicants include: 
  • Persons who are interested in growing designated specialty breeds of chicken and interested in becoming a farmer-member of Chicken Farmers of Ontario.
  • Existing farmer-members who are interested in growing these specialty breeds of chicken.
What is the application process?
  • Those interested in participating in the program are required to complete and submit an application digitally by clicking here. 
  • The program has been designed to be an annual process. As the first year will be a transition, please contact CFO office (specialty.breeds@ontariochicken.ca) for the applicable deadlines.     
  • An applicant is encouraged to apply to produce a minimum level of production of specialty breeds of chicken of around 5,000 birds per quota period.
Approved Applicant
  • The approved applicant will be authorized to grow and market specialty breeds of chicken and will be associated with a Specialty Breeds Allotment (SBA) representing the number of kilograms it is authorized to grow.
  • The Specialty Breeds Allotment (SBA) is specific only to the particular farmer-member to whom it is associated. The SBA does not grant any ownership rights to the farmer-member to whom it is associated.  SBA is not tradeable, transferable, rentable and may not be pledged as security for indebtedness, and has no financial value attributed to it.
  • Approved farmer-members who have been associated with an SBA must comply with all applicable CFO Policies and Regulations and have regulatory obligations as existing farmer-members who are allottees of basic quota. Compliance includes but is not limited to:
    • Pass barn inspection
    • Pass workplace safety inspection 
    • Complete On-farm Food Safety Audit and all mandatory corrective actions requested 
    • Complete Animal Care Program Audit and all mandatory corrective actions requested
    • Adhere to scheduled and random inspections or audits by an appointed inspector of the Board or CFC (Chicken Farmers of Canada)
Basic Quota Units and Rights
  • A farmer-member may hold both basic quota and Rights (Specialty Breeds Allotment), but only if they currently are allotted a minimum of 14,000 basic quota units.
  • Every Right must be grown first, and any chicken other than specialty breeds grown under a basic quota allotment will not be counted against the CFC Specialty Breeds Chicken Quota allocation.
  • Basic quota allotments and Rights production must remain segregated, as production may not occur in the same barn.
Digital Business Services
  • CFO is committed to providing excellent customer service digitally in all aspects of the Specialty Breeds Chicken Program.
  • Approved participants are required to have the means to communicate digitally via email and to submit all forms once they are all made available on-line. CFO staff will be pleased to assist new farmer-members in the transition to digital business services.
  • Quota Period Calendar: A quota calendar of 12-week cycle has been developed for Specialty Farmer-Members given its longer cycle, please click here to access.
Suggested Minimum Live Price (set per live kg)
Ontario Specialty Breeds Chicken 
  • Yellow Taiwanese Chicken: Frey's Dual Purpose, Shondon TC
Age in Days Week $ Price/kg
Age up to 62 Less than 9 weeks $3.64
Age 63 - 84 9-12 weeks $3.70
Age 85 and above Over 12 weeks $3.72

Updated as of A-183
Review will be conducted every 2 quota periods.
Fees and Levies
  • The number of Rights granted is subject to all CFO and CFC fees and levies.
  • At this time, the CFO producer licence fee is $0.0160/kg and the CFC levy is $0.0057/kg.
  • The Board has established a "Sector Development Service Charge" annually per kilogram for each SBA held, payable electronically within 30 days to CFO after the farmer-member has received payment for the chicken marketed.
  • For CFC, a "specialty chicken licence" is required and will be issued by CFC following the receipt of $100 (subject to CFC changes). This licence is valid for 5 years, similar to the Market Development licence.

News

  • 01/16/2023

    Virtual Specialty Breeds Meeting - January 16, 2023

    English
  • 08/31/2022

    Specialty Breeds Quota Period Calendar for A-183+ with 12 Week Cycle

    English
  • 01/06/2022

    Virtual Specialty Breeds Annual Meeting Presentation – Nov. 24, 2021

    English
  • 02/24/2021

    Specialty Breeds Quota Period Calendar for A-170 to A-183.

    English
  • 07/22/2020

    Virtual Specialty Breeds Consultations

    English
  • 11/22/2019

    Growing Together, Inaugural Specialty Breeds Workshop

    English
  • 11/22/2019

    Specialty Breeds Workshop 2019

    English
  • 11/27/2017

    Chicken Farmers of Ontario Launches New Specialty Breeds Chicken Program to Support Growing and Diverse Consumer Markets

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