Description of the 8 best breeds of color broilers, rules of maintenance and nutrition
The varieties of colored broiler breeds are very diverse. Many farmers choose broiler breeds as they are the most profitable. In addition to getting a lot of meat, they also produce eggs no less than other chicken breeds. A distinctive feature of broilers is their ability to quickly gain weight; by the third month of life, they reach 900 g.
Popular breeds of colored broilers
Every farmer knows about the most popular breeds. In his chicken coop, there is likely to be at least one pair of broiler birds. This interest is justified by high productivity. After all, they are egg and meat breeds. It is extremely beneficial to contain them.
It is necessary to choose a breed of chicks, focusing on productivity indicators and possible conditions of keeping. The larger the bird, the more space it needs.
RedBro
The breed was developed in Great Britain. Nowadays, it is often grown in the USA and France. Chickens have bright red feathers. Egg production ranges from 16 to 30 dozen per year. Birds of this breed are unpretentious in care, do not require special food. They also have a strong immunity to bacteria and viruses.
Master gris
French broiler breed. They are one of the largest chicken species. Able to reach up to 7 kg of weight. For slaughter, chicks are raised for only 2 months, by which time they reach up to 2.5 kg. Chickens begin to lay eggs from 4 months of age. Annual egg production is 30 dozen.
The birds themselves are speckled, white feathers interspersed with gray and black feathers. The massive feet are yellow and have no plumage. The tail is completely black.
Hungarian giants
Perhaps one of the most unpretentious birds. They are suitable for beginners in animal husbandry. The birds have a good feather cover, the color is brown, the legs are powerful, yellow. Chickens are frost-resistant, unpretentious in food. Giants breed naturally, chickens have a well-developed incubation instinct. In addition to good weight gain, they produce about 20 dozen eggs per year.
Coruel chickens
The color of this breed is very interesting. The feathers are black, on the chest there are dark cherry-colored feathers, the beak is yellow, the area around the eyes is red. Adult roosters weigh 5 kg, and females weigh 4 kg. The breed has a well-developed instinct for hatching eggs, therefore they are suitable for natural reproduction. Egg production is average, about 12 dozen per year.
Important! The survival rate of chicks is only 70%, this should be considered when buying.
Foxy chick
One of the best breeds in terms of characteristics. The birds are brown. The size of the rooster reaches 7 kg, and the females 5 kg. The egg production of hens is high, about 300 eggs per year. The breed is unpretentious in care and food. Birds gain muscle mass quickly. Chickens survive 100%. Foxy Chick has the best productivity and survival rates.
Nacked neck
If you translate the name of the breed, you get "naked neck". This is a justified name, since the birds do not have feathering in the neck area, it is naked and red in color. For the first time these chickens began to be raised in Hungary and England. At the moment, many farmers prefer them. Adults reach 4.5 kg. These birds are bought because of their good egg production. They produce large eggs weighing 60-65 g.
Naked hens are not afraid of severe frosts and tolerate cold winters well.
Tetra
The birds are brown. They have a wide sternum, powerful yellow paws. They are distinguished by high egg production. Laying hens produce eggs from the 21st week. In the first year, one hen lays up to 25 dozen eggs. More in the following years. Roosters gain weight up to 6 kg, and chickens up to 5 kg. They belong to meat-and-meat breeds. They require a special diet enriched with protein and calcium. They are needed to gain body weight and strong bones.
Sasso
French look with red feathers. Adult roosters weigh 7 kg, and hens 4 kg. The birds themselves are of short stature, have a wide sternum and strong legs. The legs are yellow, they have no plumage. The breed has a strong immunity to chicken diseases. Chick survival rate is 98%. In addition to meat, chickens produce about 200 eggs a year.
Features of keeping such birds
Broilers require the same care as other breeds. They are suitable for cages and open chicken coops. Birds need to provide optimal conditions for keeping:
- nests for laying eggs;
- specialized food for broilers, enriched with protein and calcium;
- insulated room, protected from draft;
- it is recommended to install protection against rodents;
- cleaning is carried out every 2 days;
- disinfection is done once a year or more often;
- monitor the temperature regime, in summer it should be 20-25 ° С, in winter not lower than 5 ° С;
- in the place where chickens are kept, there must be free access to drinkers and feeders.
In addition to general care measures, it is advisable to inspect birds for ticks and diseases. Also check the chicken coop for ticks. In spring and summer, it is recommended to carry out pest control.
It is necessary to set traps for rodents so that they do not disturb the nests of chickens and do not destroy eggs.
Productivity
Weight gain and egg production directly depend on the quality of nutrition and care. The better the feed, the greater the weight gain. This is an important indicator for broilers. Many breeds gain up to 3 kg by the 4-5th month of life. This is a good meat indicator. As soon as the chicken gains 2.5 kg, it can be given for slaughter.
If left until adulthood, the quality of the meat decreases slightly. It gets tougher. However, when cooked properly, it does not differ from young chicken.
Bird care affects the number of eggs. It is better to protect the laying hens from unnecessary stress, in which case the egg production is greatly reduced. You also need to conduct a preventive examination against ticks and diseases. A sick bird lays fewer eggs. For laying hens, the same food is left as for meat individuals. But you can add more vegetables to your diet.
Important! Broiler chickens are easy to care for, they can be raised by novice farmers.
What do they eat?
Feeding broilers is the basis for successful rearing. Most often, farmers and producers buy specialized feed for broilers.They are enriched with useful minerals, are balanced, contain some medicinal substances. They help prevent many diseases.
If there is no desire to buy ready-made feed, then they are made independently. This will require the following components:
- chopped corn 0.4 kg;
- wheat poultry 0.2 kg;
- oatmeal 0.2 kg;
- barley grating 0.1 kg;
- sunflower husk 0.15 kg;
- low-fat cottage cheese 0.2 kg;
- fish meal 0.2 kg;
- yeast 2 g
All ingredients are mixed, whey is added. Knead the mass and feed the chickens. One individual needs 30-35 g of feed. This must be taken into account when preparing. Young animals are fed 4-5 times a day. It is recommended to prepare food before each meal. It must be fresh to avoid causing health problems.
Colored broiler care
Broiler care involves a few simple steps. Conditions for adults and chicks are different. Bird care includes:
- diet;
- body weight measurement and weight gain calculation;
- cleaning the chicken coop;
- creation of temperature conditions not lower than 5 ° С for adult birds and not lower than 25 ° С for chicks;
- air humidity should be at an average level;
- carry out the prevention of ticks and infectious diseases;
- there should be no more than 10 individuals per 1 square meter.
On too large an area, chickens spend a lot of energy and do not gain weight.
Possible growing problems
When growing broilers, they face problems:
- chickens can peck each other due to lack of nutrients;
- if sufficient nutrition is not provided, broilers will not be able to gain weight;
- low weight gain is observed with a large walking area, birds spend a lot of energy;
- due to high humidity, infectious diseases occur;
- egg production decreases due to tick damage and stress.
