Branca

Branca is a Portuguese native chicken breed or variety whose name means "white" in Portuguese. It is one of the local poultry types associated with traditional rural flocks in Portugal, alongside better-known names such as Amarela, Pedrês Portuguesa, and Preta Lusitânica. Branca chickens are generally described as medium-sized, clean-legged birds with white plumage, red facial features, and a practical farm build rather than the extreme shape of an exhibition specialty. Their background is tied to small-scale egg and meat use in village and family farm systems.

Keepers interested in Branca chickens are usually working with heritage poultry, local food production, or conservation of Portuguese genetic resources. The birds suit free-range or semi-free-range management in mild to warm climates, with ordinary shelter, predator protection, and supplemental feed during dry seasons or laying periods. As with many regional breeds, flock identity depends on careful sourcing and avoiding unplanned crossbreeding. Buyers should look for breeders who can explain their stock's origin, because a white chicken is not automatically a Branca in the breed-preservation sense.