Everyone knows what a chicken is, the photo of which is next. But not everyone is familiar with the details of its existence. A chicken is a bird that lives on human farms. Thanks to her life, a person receives meat and eggs. These are healthy foods. Also thanks to these birds get feather and fluff. So what is chicken? Description further.
What types of chickens are there?
By type of hens are divided into breeds, which are mainly grown for meat or to obtain a large number of eggs, so the following groups are distinguished:
- Breeds that are intended for the production of eggs.
- Bring the same amount of meat and eggs.
- Hens that are designed for meat production.
- Small breeds - for decoration.
- A bird that is used in cockfights.
Accordingly, simple hens that carry eggs are small in size and begin to hatch early. If this is a breed of birds, which is intended for the production of meat, then chickens are large and quickly gain weight during growth. After you determine what chicken is, you need to learn more about the species.
Andalusian blue
Andalusian blue, appeared in Andolusia, belongs to the type of laying hens, in 12 months such a bird can lay 170 eggs. The plumage is blue in color, some individuals may have black or white color feathers. The scallop of the roosters stands straight, the hen hangs down, the legs and beak are light blue in color.
Hamburg breed
The Hamburg breed is a small-sized specimen with an elongated body. The rooster has a scallop in the form of a rose, large earrings. Females have practically no scallop. The colors are white, black, black in combination with gold and silver with white additives.
Italian Chicken (Leghorn)
The size of the bird is average, in females the scallop is small in roosters - large. The lobes are white, a yellow beak, high legs. This breed appeared in Italy, mainly the color of the pen is brown and gray. Males have a beautiful black tail with a touch of green. The bird of this breed belongs to laying hens.
Minorca
Minorca is a chicken breed that belongs to laying hens. The body is small, the color of the pen is black. Beak and legs are light black, but earlobes are white. The crest is large in roosters, in females - of medium size.
In order for the laying hens to give a large number of eggs, they need a special diet, heat and special nests, which should always be clean.
Breeds of chickens for meat production
Currently, more than 200 breeds of this bird are known. In addition, chickens are used for egg production. Many breeds were specially bred thanks to the fruitful work of breeders. These hens are meat, and for small periods of time individuals gain weight, as they lead a sedentary lifestyle.
The most popular breeds for the production of meat are faverol, pomfret. The bird of the Brama breed is large, feathers grow on its feet. Chickens can weigh up to 5 kg, and males - 6.5 kg. Birds of this breed gain weight very quickly.
Breeds that produce both meat and eggs
Such chickens are mainly grown by amateurs, since with the correct content of the bird, you can not only eat eggs, but also sell them. After the number of eggs per day in chickens is reduced, they can be used as a source of dietary meat. These are such breeds as Poltava and Adler silver.
Due to the fact that these birds were specially bred, crossing the best representatives of laying hens and chicken meat breeds, they live long and do not require special conditions in the content.
Broilers
These birds are specially bred to produce large quantities of meat for short periods of time. Therefore, individuals of this breed are mainly intended for poultry farms and farms. A large number of these birds are raised here.
Thanks to the individuals of this breed, all outlets get the right amount of chicken meat.
Individuals designed for cockfights
These breeds are specially bred - the bird's body is small, lean, and the legs are strong and long. Thanks to these signs, birds are selected for participation in battles. Such fights are popular in Asia.
Special breeds of chickens that are not afraid of frost
For countries in which there are very severe frosts, breeds of birds that have additional plumage - faverol, landrass and hercules were bred. Chickens of these breeds can be grown in different regions of Russia.
Conditions for chickens
Chicken houses are being built to keep poultry. This is a room in which a bird can hide from the weather, and a cage for walks, which is fenced. For chicken meat breeds, you can build cages from a grid with doors.
In the chicken coop, the floor needs to be covered with sawdust and straw, the main condition is to often remove chicken droppings. Since parasites multiply rapidly, it is necessary to carry out cleaning and processing with insecticidal preparations.
Air temperature should be 11-22 degrees, moderate humidity. If the chicken coop is cold, then more feed will be needed. If it is very hot, then the chickens will be carried less. Therefore, compliance with the temperature range is important for the productive life of birds. Ventilation in the form of a hood or window is also required.
In the chicken coop, the light should be dim, a 60 V lamp is suitable, while it must be hung over drinking bowls and feeders. The area where the nests and perch should be in the twilight. If you turn on too bright a light, the bird will be nervous and irritable.
It should be remembered that observing a certain temperature and lighting in the chicken coop are very important components when breeding these birds. In the room where the hens live, there should be feeders, drinking bowls, perches and nests.
Perches
Perches are reiki around the perimeter of the chicken coop at a height convenient for the bird to easily climb onto it. Do not forget that, sitting on a perch, chickens empty the intestines. In order to have less cleaning, you can place perches in one part of the chicken coop, and put boxes for excrement under them. It’s easier to clean.
Jacks
In order for the chickens to lay eggs, a warm and darkened place is needed. Kuras build nests, mainly wooden boxes, they are placed in a warm corner without drafts.
Drinking bowls and feeders
They can be bought or made, mainly on poultry farms using devices sold in the distribution network. In subsidiary and household households, people make these feeders and drinkers themselves. The main condition is that it is convenient for the bird to eat from the feeders. And also - so that they do not roll over and wash easily.
Bird feeding
Layers need to be fed special feeds that are sold in stores. They eat mixed feeds well, but do not forget about special additives that increase the number of eggs per day.
These feeds contain all the vitamins necessary for poultry, be sure to make sure that there is fresh clean water in the drinkers.
For chicken meat there are other compound feeds that contribute to the rapid growth of poultry. Providing proper nutrition and observing all conditions for keeping birds, you can get the necessary amount of meat and eggs, which are enough for sale.
After we have learned in more detail what chicken is, it is worth choosing the breeds of these birds more carefully, depending on the purpose.