Chickens, as well as other domestic birds, such as geese, ducks, pigeons and guinea fowl, have been bred in Greece since ancient times. Hundreds of archaeological finds from all over Greece show domestic poultry of all kinds, while ancient texts refer to their properties and ways of cooking. Turkeys were introduced a few hundred years ago. The lack of study, description and selective breeding of domestic poultry is noticeable during the two centuries of the modern Greek state. In contrast to the rest of Europe where numerous breeds have been preserved or developed, in Greece there are no described breeds with national or international recognition, despite the advancement in zootechnics. Rare attempts to study poultry in Greece remained at the stage of intention or were not completed.
Greek bibliography contains minimal references to domestic poultry, which are limited to superficial findings on individual characteristics and do not constitute a complete zoological description. Of interest is the citation of the criteria for breeding domestic chicken by Rainoldos Dimitriadis, which aimed at not improving them, because the opposite was considered economically unprofitable and made chickens more sensitive. Laconic descriptions of domestic poultry are also included in foreign sources, such as Keller 1911, for geese and turkey in Samos, as well as by Vezzani 1929, for the chicken of Rhodes. Also, numerous old photographs contain recordings of mainly domestic chickens and other poultry.
Unimproved domestic poultry have some common features such as a relatively wild and independent nature, the ability to survive in the countryside, the ability to fly longer distances, the instinct to lay eggs and raise chicks, smaller size and greater adaptability to local conditions.
In the 21st century, the conservation of domestic birds is growing in popularity. Poultry, due to their small size, low maintenance costs, and compatibility with the suburban and sometimes urban environment, are considered to be the easiest species to maintain by many who wish to contribute to the preservation of domestic breeds. However, there are problems in accessing and obtaining genetic material with guaranteed local origin, due to imports of foreign breeds, the spread of commercial hybrids even in the most remote parts of the country and the uncontrolled crossings in most domestic flocks. The practice of mixing domestic chickens from different geographical areas is also problematic because of the perception that if they have the characteristics of native stock, they are a single entity. This approach does not take into account their morphological and other differences; it stems from a lack of information and erodes distinct populations.
The growing interest in native poultry proves the importance of field research conducted for many years by members and associates of the Amalthia Network. Field research has significant difficulties in locating and accessing genetic material free from foreign influences. Often breeders of distinct populations are elderly and uncooperative, while flocks are difficult to study when kept in isolated locations, secluded spaces or farms with the birds scattered widely during free ranging.
Despite the rapid decline of the old populations, a number of flocks have been identified that meet the locality criteria based on their phenotype and empirical traditional knowledge. These are usually found in rustic farms with undetermined genetic material, which cannot be classified, as they vary morphologically, although they possess primitive traits. Occasionally homogeneous native flocks which are products of selective breeding are found. Specifically, a small number of old chicken populations have been identified in areas such as: Evros, Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, the Pieria Mountains, Elasona, Thessaly, Trifylia, Limnos, the province of Apokoronas in Crete, Lesvos, Aegina and Amorgos. Old goose farms exist in Thessaly and Eastern Macedonia, while guinea fowl are found in mountainous Fthiotida. Finally, pigeon species such as "Voutes", "Dunekia" and "Papagalakia" are bred by hobbyists, while in many mainland and island areas old populations of edible pigeons can be found.
The traditional populations found in the 21st century represent nuggets of the original populations. Most of them possess rare genetic material, have a limited geographical distribution and are the product of long-term adaptation to the environment or the result of human selection. The rapid reproductive rate of poultry allows even small populations to increase fast, provided there is the will and proper knowledge. At the same time, genetic identification is required, with the aim of identifying and describing distinct domestic populations as indigenous.
