The ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research (formerly, Project Directorate on Poultry) was established on 1st March 1988 at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The Institute originated from All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Poultry Breeding, an All India Network project launched by the ICAR during IV five-year plan with the objective of augmenting commercial poultry production and achieving self-sufficiency in the country.

The Institute is working through its Head Quarter in Hyderabad and Regional Station at Bhubaneshwar, 24 AICRP centres located in different states of the country. The primary research focus at the Institute has been towards the application of quantitative genetic principles to enhance productivity of various chicken germplasm with special emphasis to meet the needs of rural and tribal people of the country. To support the core research programme, research on nutrition, health, physiology and molecular genetics has been made an integral component. In addition, a sizeable number of externally funded projects are also being carried out at the Directorate to achieve the Institute's primary goals and objectives. The institute has developed many high yielding chicken varieties for backyard and intensive farming, to name a few, Vanaraja, Gramapriya, Srinidhi, Janapriya, Vanashree, Aslibro, Krishibro, Krishilayer etc. In addition, Athulya, a commercial layer variety and seven location specific chicken varieties were developed at AICRP Centres. The Institute was further strengthened by addition of Regional Station, Bhubaneswar from July 2020 to carryout research on ducks.