In our country, hens of various breeds are bred. Some of them were bred in Russia, some abroad. In any case, when buying poultry, you should be aware of the advantages or disadvantages of this or that breed. Further in the article we will talk about the most popular of them. And let's start with Pavlovsky hens - the most original decorative breed in the country.
Crested beauties
Pavlovsky chickens are one of the oldest decorative domestic breeds. These are very unpretentious little chickens with an unusual exterior. Thanks to its beautiful appearance, this breed is so popular, not only in our country, but throughout the world. At the moment, there are only two of its varieties - golden and silver.
Breed history
Researchers have no consensus on the origin of these wonderful chickens. Some believe that they are descendants of representatives of the Persian breeds, others - Turkish, others are sure that this is a mixture of ordinary Russian chickens and kokhinkhin. In any case, this breed was first brought from the village of Pavlovskoye in the Nizhny Novgorod province to the All-Russian Acclimatization Exhibition. Hence its name. This event happened in 1878. And in 1899, the committee of the International Poultry Exhibition announced this species as the national decorative breed of Russia.
At the same time, two of its varieties were officially recognized - silver and golden. Later - in 1905 - black Pavlovsky hens were isolated into an independent breed. This variety is called the Siberian leggy.
After the revolution, the wonderful breed we are considering is almost completely bred in the country. It began to revive only in the 80s in Leningrad (VNIIGRZh). Modern farmers have appreciated the remarkable qualities of the breed, and today it can be purchased for divorce in hen farms.
Exterior
Appearance Pavlovsky chickens are, as already mentioned, quite peculiar. Especially charming is their large curled crest in the form of a helmet. The owners of a luxurious “accessory” are not only males, but also hens. The plumage of the representatives of this breed is bright, contrasting - black thick spots on a golden or silver background. In addition to the helmet, the spectacular exterior of the Pavlovsky hens gives a magnificent plumage on his legs, stretched back in the form of spurs.
The body of Pavlovsky hens (golden and silver) is well developed, characterized by massiveness, but at the same time quite elegant. Their tail is raised quite high and curled. The scallop and earlobes are practically absent. The heads of both hens and males are small, freely rounded.
Breed features
Pavlovsky hens (photos you can see on this page) - by nature, birds are dapper, very mobile and gullible. They are bred mainly because of their beautiful appearance. Of course, you can get meat and eggs from them. However, in the first case, breeding will be unprofitable due to the small size of the bird. An adult Pavlovsky cockerel weighs only about two kilograms, a chicken - no more than one and a half. Egg production in this breed is also not particularly large - about 180 eggs per year.
Care for Pavlovsky chickens
The Pavlovsky breed of chickens is also popular with farmers because it is unpretentious. Care consists primarily in proper feeding and maintenance. In general, Pavlovsky hens are bred in exactly the same way as a bird of any other egg-laying or ornamental breed. We will talk about the features of their content further.
What should be a barn
The barn for these chickens is not too high. They also do not need too much area. A shed of 3x3 m is enough for a dozen chickens. Its height should not exceed 2 m, otherwise the bird will be cold in winter. It is desirable to insulate the structure. The cheapest option will be a frame structure with walls laid with mineral wool. During its construction, it is important to ensure that there are no gaps or holes anywhere that the ferret could crawl into.
The floors of the chicken coop can be adobe or wooden on the logs. It will be cold on concrete hens. Floors should be covered with hay, straw or sawdust. Pavlovsky chickens are not very large and do not retain heat well. Therefore, it is better for them to equip a heated dwelling. Such low temperatures as ordinary chickens, they do not tolerate.
Be sure to make a window in the chicken coop. For normal development, the bird needs sunlight and fresh air. In one of the walls should be arranged manhole with insulated door. From its outer side, a small courtyard is fenced off.
How to equip a chicken coop
Perches, feeders and nests need to be done, guided by certain rules. In this case, it will be more convenient for chickens, and it will be easier for the owners to take care of them. Perches are usually set at a height of about 80 cm. Do not place them under the windows, otherwise the bird will get cold.
Nests can be nailed to walls near perches or simply mounted on the floor. The optimal size is 35x30x30 cm. Inside they are lined with hay or straw. It is advisable to put inside the blende - white egg-shaped stones. In this case, domestic hens will not peck the real ones.
Feeding troughs are best placed on the legs. If you raise them slightly above the ground, the chickens will sprinkle less food. Above, above each feeding trough, a “spinner” is installed. For its manufacture, two bars are taken and a pole is attached to them in such a way that it rotates around its axis. Next, the design is attached to the feeder from above. This simplest device is necessary so that the chickens do not climb into the feeder and do not leave droppings in it.
Feeding
Two-thirds of the diet of laying hens should be coarse feed - crushed, grain, bran, compound feed. Also these birds are fed with mash mats. To do this, rub carrots, beets, potatoes, apples into a bowl, cut nettles, cabbage, etc. Then add a little white bread and bran. The resulting mixture is salted and a little chalk and flour are added to it - fish or meat. There are also special mixtures designed to increase egg production. You can add them. In the morning and evening, the bird is fed with grain. Hookers give lunch. In addition, from time to time, chickens should throw leaves of cabbage, beets, carrot tops, nettles, etc. into the courtyard.
Reviews about Pavlovsky chickens
Of course, it is unlikely that anyone will breed this breed seriously to get eggs or meat. However, the reputation of the most beautiful in Russia - if not in the world - is still preserved for her. These are actually very effective poultry - Pavlovsky hens. Reviews about them are often just enthusiastic. Especially in women. These chickens are kept and bred usually precisely as ornamental. As for the complexity of care, most farmers agree that this bird is not only very unpretentious, but also friendly.
It is of interest to farmers that this breed is also the fact that it was revived recently. In 1988, at an auction in Italy, a couple of Pavlovsky chickens were sold for 2.5 million dollars! Of course, now that quite a lot of farms around the world are engaged in breeding, it costs a lot less - no more than 200-300 rubles per head. Therefore, to get a couple of these handsome men for their own pleasure and in order to cause envy and delight among friends and acquaintances, any summer resident can afford.
Some believe that breeding such a variety as the Pavlovsky breed of chickens is, in addition to everything else, also quite profitable. The fact is that chickens, hatching eggs and adult birds are very willing to buy. Therefore, many keep them for divorce and sale.
As for the peculiarities of care, then, despite its unpretentiousness, this bird, like any other living creatures, naturally requires attention to itself. As mentioned above, the barn for her will most likely have to be properly insulated. In addition, to reduce the risk of morbidity in the winter, many farmers advise giving these hens special supplements. However, in general, their immunity is assessed as very stable.
Other interesting domestic breeds
There are many varieties of poultry bred in Russia and known throughout the world. Further, in all details, we will consider what features differ and what the best domestic breeds of chickens are valued for. With the photos that will be presented in this article, it will be easier to evaluate their merits.
Moscow hens
Bred this breed in the farms of the Moscow region in the last century. Its ancestors are the brown Leghors, Hampshires and Yurlovskys. The Moscow breed of chickens was approved in 1980. This bird is bred for meat and for eggs. In addition, it is used for crossbreeding with hens of egg breeds during the breeding of hybrids. Received crosses are very high productivity. For example, from hybrids you can get about 250 eggs per year. Their meat is characterized by simply excellent taste.
Plumage Moscow domestic hens are very beautiful - dark with gold. In chickens, only the neck is yellow-brown; in males, a similar coloration is present on the back. The former can gain weight up to 2.3 kg, the latter - up to 3.5 kg.
Adler silver chickens
Breed of meat and egg direction, bred in the city of Adler by crossing several varieties: New Hampshire, Russian White, Yurlovskaya, May Day and White Plymouth Rock. Differs in high productivity and unpretentiousness. The growth of these chickens is average, and the body is compact, with good meat forms. The plumage of the Adler breed of chickens is light. Her tail is rounded with short plaits. The head of both hens and males is medium in size.
Adult hens reach a weight of 2.8 kg, roosters - up to 4 kg. Egg production in Adler chickens is slightly lower than in Moscow - about 180 eggs per year. Their meat has a light shade and is considered very tasty. Among other things, Adler hens are used as producers in breeding meat breeds. At the moment, they are considered very promising.
Pushkin chickens
By productivity, this variety belongs to the egg direction. The Pushkin breed of chickens was approved in 2007. The color of the feather in the hens is white, with black stripes, in the males - with dark spots. The tail is set upright, the legs are long, and the scallop is neat, erect.
The Pushkin breed of chickens is appreciated mainly for their unpretentiousness coupled with good productivity. From one layer per year, you can get up to 220 eggs. Adult roosters of this breed weigh 2.5 kg, hens - 2 kg. Despite the fact that too much meat cannot be obtained during breeding of this bird, they are also brought up for this purpose. The fact is that the carcass of an adult individual has an excellent presentation.
Kuchinsky anniversary
Another unpretentious and productive breed. Bred at the Kuchinsky hospital in the suburbs. Parent breeds were austrolorp, striped plymutrok, Livonian hens, brown leggorn. By productivity, the breed belongs to the meat and egg direction. The plumage of the body of the Kuchin’s jubilee red, the tail is raised black.
Chickens of the Yubileynaya breed are currently considered the most suitable for village breeding. However, you can keep them in the cells. These are very unpretentious birds that do not require too complicated care. One of their most interesting features is that they do not reduce egg production even at a temperature of +3 degrees. Therefore, they can be kept in unheated chicken coops. The only thing is that the litter must be made thicker (at least half a meter). When providing walking, these hens easily find food, leaving at the same time quite far from home.
It is possible to breed birds of this breed both naturally and with the help of an incubator. Anniversary chickens are born healthy and strong. Lunge in this breed is very small. Kuchin hens are caring mothers, they are willing to accept artificially bred babies.
The egg production of this breed is very good. But only if the birds are not overfed. Less laying eggs are laid when there are too many cocks. You need to know about this. For 13 chickens, only one cockerel is needed. Up to 220 eggs can be obtained from one Kuchin layer in a year.
These birds are bred for meat. They have it very tasty. Kuchin breed hens gain weight up to 2.6 kg, males - up to 3.7 kg.
Oryol hens
This is one of the oldest decorative breeds of chickens from all bred in our country. Nothing is known about its origin. According to one version, they brought it to Russia once upon a time from Persia. According to other researchers, the Oryol breed of hens was bred by none other than Count Orlov. In the 19th century, this bird was kept in many farms.
These hens are very beautiful, distinguished by their original color. In addition, they can be bred to get eggs, as well as meat. The body of the Oryol breed hens is high, and the legs are strong. Their plumage can be different. Most often, farmers breed white, chintz, scarlet, mahogany and black chickens. One of the hallmarks of the breed is the presence of a beard and thick tanks. A characteristic feature of their exterior is also considered a long neck. In this case, the back is very tilted towards the tail.
Males of the Oryol breed can reach a weight of 4 kg, hens - 3 kg. The average egg production is 150 pieces per year. In content, the Oryol breed of chickens is very unpretentious and tolerates frosty winters well. The disadvantages include, first of all, that its representatives rush pretty early. In addition, Oryol chickens very slowly feather.
Russian white hens
This breed was bred in Russia in the last century by crossing leggorn with local chickens. At the moment, it is not as popular as in the 60s. Basically, this breed is bred by farmers in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Russian breeders continue to work to improve it. From one Russian white chicken, you can get up to 230 eggs per year. Chickens of this breed do not hatch. They are bred only using incubators. The advantages of the breed include, first of all, resistance to such a common disease as leukemia. Russian white meat is tastier than leggorn meat. In addition, they better tolerate low temperatures. Most often, this breed can be found in small farms and on personal farmsteads.
Yurlovskie
A very interesting breed, bred in Russia in the 19th century. Productivity in Yurlovsky chickens is slightly lower than that of the bird considered above. In a year, one laying hen gives a total of about 160 eggs. A rooster weighs up to 3.3 kg, a chicken - up to 2.5 kg. This breed is appreciated mainly for the loud singing of roosters. Once upon a time, the price of them depended precisely on the quality of the voice. If the rooster sang until score 22, it was considered the best, and a lot of money was given for it. Individuals who “held the note” to score 18 were a bit cheaper. The rest of the cockerels were considered ordinary.
The exterior of these chickens is quite interesting. The plumage is black or black with silver. The legs are thick, very strong and at the same time quite long. Color they can have both yellow and black. Most farmers find this bird unpretentious in maintenance.
Popular overseas breeds of chickens (with photos)
Of course, in our country not only domestic chickens are bred. Very good productivity may differ and “foreign” bird. For example, the Breed Brown breed, bred in Germany, can be called quite interesting. At the moment, it is considered one of the most productive. One such chicken can carry up to 300 eggs per year.
Another interesting breed are the Leghorns. These hens were bred in Italy and brought to Russia at the beginning of the last century. From one layer, you can get about 250 eggs per year. At the moment, Leghorns are the most common breed in the world. Very often they are used to breed hybrids with high egg production rates. In Russia today there are more than 20 breeding plants engaged in the improvement of this species and the creation of lines combining with it.
Private farmers raising chickens for sale are also very fond of this breed. The fact is that leghorns tolerate the content in the cells well. The peculiarities of these chickens include the fact that in the first year they give much more eggs than local laying hens. Further, their productivity in this regard is significantly reduced. Therefore, they are slaughtered already in the second year of life.
How to choose the right breed
Thus, we have sorted out what features distinguish the best breeds of chickens bred in our country. As for decorative varieties, the choice here is simple. All that needs to be done is to find out how well one breed or another is being bought up. Well, of course, be guided by their own ideas about the beauty of the exterior of the bird. Ordinary breeds are selected taking into account several factors:
- In the direction of productivity. Most often in our time, farmers prefer to plant universal meat and egg chickens. Sometimes preference is given to the breed itself, sometimes to a hybrid. In the latter case, you can get more meat and eggs, but the bird will have to be bought periodically. The fact is that the high productivity of crosses does not pass to offspring.
- According to the conditions of detention. Some breeds of chickens are not well adapted to the cold Russian climate.
- By egg laying and weight. You should also pay attention to the taste of meat. Eggs in chickens can have different sizes, shell colors and even its thickness. Some breeds rush year-round; some take breaks during molting. This is also worth considering. In winter, egg production may or may not decrease; it all depends on the particular species and temperature. So the degree of insulation of the barn can also influence the choice.
In addition, before acquiring a breed, you should find out for which method of breeding it is intended. In large and medium-sized farms, chickens are usually kept in cages. Summer residents and villagers breed them on a free range. Well, of course, you should choose those breeds of chickens, reviews of which experienced farmers have positive reviews.