Description of the tricolor chicken breed, living conditions and diet
Farmers and private owners are well aware of the tricolor chicken breed. The bird looks elegant because of the tricolor plumage, but interest in it is caused not by its appearance, but by the presence of high characteristics. In order to grow a bird with healthy dietary meat in the shortest possible time, it is worth knowing the characteristics of the breed, the subtleties of keeping and caring for it.
Historical reference
The tricolor broiler was not bred immediately, but as a result of long selection work carried out by French scientists. By crossing local breeds, they managed to obtain birds that quickly gain weight, the meat of which is of exquisite taste.
Tricolor chickens quickly became popular, spread throughout Europe, and were brought to Russia.
General characteristics of the breed
A distinctive feature of the tricolor breed is the tricolor color. The bird looks decorative thanks to the combination of feather color. Although the outlines of the body are smooth, the developed musculature of the broilers is outwardly noticeable. A chicken weighs 3-4 kilograms, a rooster 4-5 kg.
Appearance
The massive physique of the tricolor chickens and their rounded shapes look harmonious. The legs of the bird are high and muscular. The head is large, in proportion to the powerful body. The crest, beard and earrings are well developed, scarlet in color. The skin on the head is covered with sparse short plumage and has a pink tint. The iris of the eyes is bright, brownish-red. The plumage is dense, voluminous, with a small amount of down. Paws are long and strong. Their color is bright yellow, like the beak.
Color
The plumage of tricolor chickens looks decorative. The color includes a combination of three colors, which includes:
- white;
- the black;
- brown;
- beige;
- red;
- Gray;
- yellow.
Often there are individuals of white color interspersed with brown and black feathers. Reddish-beige birds with brown spots look spectacular. There are chickens with a contrasting black and white mane and bright red breasts.
Roosters of the tricolor breed are more elegant than hens. They are especially beautiful if emerald feathers are adjacent to a white neck.
Standard color is brown wings, beige-red neck and black tail.
Egg production of the breed
Although the tricolor breed is raised for meat, its egg production is above average. Chickens become sexually mature at the age of 4-5 months and from that time they are able to lay up to 300 eggs a year.This result can be achieved only with proper feeding and caring for the bird. Tricolor eggs with brownish shells and weighing about 60 g each.
When the temperature in the hen house drops below +10 ⁰С, the egg production of the breed decreases significantly.
Early maturity and taste of meat
Tricolor chickens are early maturing breeds. Already at the age of one and a half months, broilers can increase up to 3 kg of live weight. At six months, they have a body weight of about 5 kg.
The quality of the meat is high. In terms of its characteristics, it resembles the Redbro or Master Gray breed. Its fat content is low, its structure is fibrous. After heat treatment, the meat becomes soft and juicy.
Temperament
Tricolor chickens are calm birds that do not waste energy. They slowly move around the yard, sedately and phlegmatically looking for tasty things, doing excavations. The breed is non-conflicting, easily gets along with other relatives. They do not like to make noise and shout, which is important when neighbors live nearby. The bird quickly gets used to new conditions and owners. Calm temperament contributes to the fact that tricolor chickens can live in cages, in a confined space, in poultry farms.
It is difficult to scare birds, they practically do not react to the presence of people nearby. But in order for broilers to grow quickly and carry regularly, it is necessary to create a calm, friendly environment with normal conditions and proper nutrition.
Maternal instincts
The instinct of incubating eggs is one of the basic ones for most birds, including agricultural breeds. But there are species that do not show signs of this instinct. These include tricolor chickens. Chicks are obtained from her using an incubator.
Even if it is possible to put a brood hen on the eggs, there is no chance that she will not suppress them due to her large weight. Individuals that have reached a certain weight, it is more rational to send for slaughter to get meat than to wait several months before laying eggs.
Positive and negative sides
The nature and characteristics of the tricolor chicken breed allow us to conclude about its positive aspects:
- the bird is unpretentious, can grow successfully under normal conditions;
- undemanding to food;
- there is no need to invest large funds in its cultivation;
- young animals are gaining weight quickly;
- the funds spent on its purchase are quickly compensated;
- the meat is of excellent quality and delicate taste;
- high productivity and egg production of chickens;
- due to its stable immunity, the bird is not very susceptible to many viruses and diseases.
According to experts, tricolor chickens can be considered an ideal breed for growing in conditions of large poultry farms and personal subsidiary farms.
Its disadvantages include a weak incubation instinct. But this is easy to fix by hatching chicks with an incubator.
Features of keeping and caring for birds
The correct arrangement of the chicken coop, the place for walking, the organization of care and feeding of the bird is a guarantee of the early receipt of high quality meat.
Chicken coop requirements
The living space for tricolor chickens should be clean and comfortable, regardless of whether the bird is on the floor or in the cage.
The litter is kept dry by replacing straw or sawdust with new ones in time. Indoor humidity - not higher than 70%.
The air temperature should be set so that the bird is comfortable. For a normal existence in winter, it should not fall below 0 ⁰С, and in order for chickens to continue to rush - +15 ⁰С. Drafts in the chicken coop are unacceptable, they lead to a delay in the development of young animals and their death.
For good orientation in space, the birds are provided with normal lighting, especially since colored broilers are not distinguished by sharp eyes.
An additional fence should be made around the hen house to prevent other animals from entering it.
Walking yard
For normal life, tricolor chickens need a place to walk. To organize the courtyard, they enclose an additional territory on the leeward side of the hen house. From the south, the fence is made of a chain-link mesh. Its height for broilers should be at least 2 m. A canopy is installed above the walking area, which will create a shade in intense heat and protect the area from excess moisture in the rain. The soil should be periodically covered with sawdust, hay, straw, so that it does not turn into a swamp over time.
Feeders and drinkers
In order for the bird to always have access to water and food, drinkers and feeders are installed not only in the chicken coop, but also on the street, in the walking yard.
The trough has the shape of an elongated trough. Its material is environmentally friendly (metal, wood). The length depends on the number of livestock. To prevent fights and evenly distribute the feed, one chicken is allocated about 10 cm of a feeder. It is worth placing the containers above the floor so that the birds do not rake the food, but easily get it.
The drinker should have a device to allow the hen to drink and not to stain the water. Excess liquid flows into the sump and is later removed. Water is stored longer if its supply does not exceed 5 liters.
Molting period
The first juvenile molt occurs in chicks during the change of down to feathers at the age of 5 weeks. In the future, the pen change takes place annually, in the fall and ends in 1.5-2 months. During this period, chickens need feed rich in sulfur. Bone meal, clover, peas, and cabbage help support them during this period. The egg production of tricolor chickens is significantly reduced or stops altogether.
If the molt has not ended before the cold weather, it is worth creating the conditions for the bird so that it does not feel discomfort.
Planned herd replacement
At the age of two to three months, the hens gain the necessary weight and are sent to slaughter. If for some reason this did not happen, it makes no sense to keep an individual for more than six months, and the cost of feed will exceed the cost of the meat obtained. If there is a breeding herd, it is kept for a year and a half, after which a planned replacement is carried out.
How to feed chickens and hens
Chickens are fed strictly by the clock. Until the age of two weeks, they eat at least 6 times a day, up to the age of 5-6 weeks - 4 times. After that, the chickens are transferred to an adult three-time diet.
Youngsters are given food, prepared according to a special, balanced diet. It includes, in addition to grain mixtures, vitamins in the form of herbs, vegetables and special preparations. Along with drinking, chickens are given a decoction of chamomile in order to prevent infectious diseases.
Adult tricolor broilers are fed according to several rules:
- Formulas contain a high percentage of protein for muscle building;
- dry and wet mash, consisting of crushed grain, bone meal, steamed with skim milk or broth should be prepared for poultry;
- we must not forget about the need for tricolor plant foods and greens in the diet of chickens;
- salt, shells and chalk improve digestion.
Breeding features
Youngsters of the tricolor breed are most often bought when the chicks are one week old. It is possible to hatch chicks using an incubator, following the instructions.
Possible diseases and how to treat them
The tricolor breed is resistant to major diseases. With poor care, an outbreak of infection can occur:
- coccidiosis - transmitted through parasites, the bird has diarrhea, the body temperature rises;
- typhoid - a digestive disorder, treated with antibiotics;
- pasteurellosis - the bird becomes less active, the temperature rises, the color of its crest and earrings changes, treatment with sulfonamides;
- salmonellosis - timely vaccination of the entire livestock is required.
