Eesti Maakana Selts

Founded in 2021, Eesti Maakana Selts is a non-profit association based in Mälivere küla, Kohila vald, Estonia working on nature & wildlife conservation, heritage, science & research.

Eesti Maakana Selts is a non-profit association (MTÜ) in Estonia whose members keep, preserve and promote the Estonian native chicken, the maakana, a landrace breed considered to have survived in local populations for centuries. The association works on breeding for purity and conservation of the breed, keeping and documenting flocks, and explaining the breed's history and importance to the public. Its activities include supporting scientific research, such as a 2026 ancient DNA study of Baltic Sea region chickens for which members helped collect feather samples. Membership is open to people who keep Estonian native chickens and want to help conserve them. The association is based at Metsjõe talu in Mälivere village, Kohila parish, Rapla County, and operates across Estonia.