Today, almost every villager contains not only farm animals, but also poultry. To create a small farm, mini-meat chickens are very well suited , the maintenance and breeding of which is associated with minimal costs. After reading this article, you will learn about the main features of this bird.
Brief History of Origin
Mini-meat breed of chickens was bred in Russia. The breeding work was carried out by employees of the Zagorsk Institute of Poultry. For those who do not know, we will clarify that he is in the Moscow region. The new breed quickly gained popularity among domestic farmers, and today it is breeding in many European countries. On the territory of such states as England and France, mini-meat chickens, the breeding of which took on an industrial scale, almost completely replaced the stock of ordinary breeds. Such popularity is explained not only by good meatiness, but also by excellent egg production.
The main features of the breed
Most modern farmers have already managed to make sure that mini-meat chicken is economically viable. It is unpretentious to the conditions of detention and does not require a large amount of feed. On average, about 130 grams of feed per day is spent on one individual.
In appearance, these chickens resemble ordinary ones, but with shorter legs. These birds are characterized by excellent egg production, they have tasty meat. By analogy with other rocks, they have a small leaf-shaped crest. The mini-meat breed of chickens has a well-developed body, covered with dense plumage.
Advantages and disadvantages
These unpretentious birds grow quickly enough. They are not picky about food, and you can keep them in cages and aviaries. Mini-meat chicken carries relatively large eggs. This calm bird has no habit of digging in the ground, which is very important for farmers practicing livestock. Therefore, such hens are justifiably considered universal.
Despite all the above advantages, these birds have several significant disadvantages. So, short-legged mini-meat chicken in rainy weather clings to the wet ground with its stomach. Therefore, in order to avoid the development of various diseases in such weather, it is better not to let the bird out for a walk. In addition, the lack of properly balanced feed can cause paw problems. This is especially true for chickens. When planning a chicken coop, hens of different colors should be separated. They can not be crossed among themselves.
What to look for when buying an incubation egg of mini-meat chickens?
It is advisable to acquire an egg from a mature, well-developed layer that has not reached the age of three. Roosters and chickens should belong to the same breed, but not be consanguineous. Of no small importance is the appearance of the egg itself. It should have an even shell, on which there are no roughness, bluish points, cracks and faults.
When choosing a farm specializing in the sale of hatching eggs, it is recommended that you carefully read the reviews of other buyers. It is advisable to deal with those farms that are located near your farm. Vibration and temperature changes occurring during the transportation of eggs, significantly reduce the chances of getting chicks.
Breeding Features
It should be understood that, given the proper conditions, the survival rate of mini-meat chickens will be quite high. After the appearance of the chicks in the room in which they are kept, it is necessary to maintain a certain temperature. The thermometer should not fall below 35 degrees. In each subsequent week of life of chickens, the temperature in the house should drop by a couple of degrees. With proper maintenance and care, the survival rate of young animals is 100%.
Subtleties of content
Those who firmly decided that the maintenance of mini-meat chickens should be a matter of their whole life should carefully prepare. Before purchasing birds, you need to equip a warm chicken coop. If necessary, its walls can be sheathed with a special insulation. There should not even be a hint of drafts in the house.
Inside the chicken coop should reign clean. It is she who guarantees the good health of the bird population. Regular cleaning will be the best prevention of various parasitic and infectious diseases. Every six months it is necessary to carry out a full cleaning of the room, during which the cells in which the bird is kept are recommended to be doused with boiling water and rubbed with household soap. In addition, disinfection with a solution of lysol will not interfere.
The floor of the room, which contains mini-meat chicken, should be covered with a litter that absorbs excess moisture well. As a similar litter, wood sawdust or straw can be recommended.
How to feed such chickens?
The diet of these birds is not much different from the menu of ordinary village layers. Ideally, mini-meat chickens should be fed with special compound feeds developed taking into account the characteristics of this breed. In the diet of four-week young animals, you can enter the grain mixture with the addition of meat and bone meal and crushed egg shells. Chicks can be fed with cottage cheese, kefir, dandelions and chopped herbs.
The chickens that are released for a walk are independently found in the land of larvae. Periodically, the diet of birds can be supplemented with fishmeal or chalk. In the warmer months, one of the evening feeding, consisting of a mixture of cereals with food waste, is sufficient for the birds that are on the walk. Do not forget about drinking bowls. They should always have clean drinking water.
What is the productivity of mini meat chickens?
Despite their miniature size, these birds are quite weighty. So, the average weight of one such chicken is about 2.7 kg, rooster - about 3 kg. The excellent taste of meat is due to the presence of a uniformly distributed fat layer between the muscles. That is what makes the meat of mini-chickens especially tender and extremely tasty. Regardless of the type of cooking, it will still be juicy.
Egg production of such chickens reaches 170 pieces per year. The average weight of one egg, covered with a strong brown shell, is about 60 grams.
Popular varieties
One of the most common varieties of the breed are P11 birds. These miniature, but quite active and cost-effective chickens with red plumage are distinguished by good health and high egg production. They are calm, quiet and get along well, so they can be completely safely kept in cells. One chicken consumes about 120 grams of feed per day. These individuals reach puberty by 24 weeks of age. Egg production lasts up to 64 weeks. On average, one laying hen can lay about 170 eggs per year. This breed does not have a very developed hatching instinct, so an incubator will have to be used to replenish the stock.
The next popular variety is a smaller copy of the white Leggorn, known as B33. These birds have a powerful yellow beak and a small rounded head, decorated with a leaf-shaped crest. They are ideal for farmers who plan to get the main income from the sale of eggs. These white fast-growing chickens perfectly absorb nutrients from feed. They can equally well be kept in cages and in a traditional chicken coop. They have such a calm character that several roosters coexist freely in one room.
Those who plan to receive tender poultry meat and eggs with minimal financial investments can be recommended to pay special attention to such a variety as white mini-meat chickens. These birds perfectly adapt to almost any conditions of detention and do not require much space for walking. In laying hens, the instinct of incubation is practically not developed, therefore, it will be necessary to incubate chickens in an incubator. Particular attention should be paid to feeding these chickens, because they have the so-called dwarf gene that affects metabolic processes. Their diet should be well balanced. The absence or excess of one of the necessary components often causes chicken disease. In addition, improper feeding helps to reduce egg laying hens. On average, over a year such a chicken gives about 250 eggs. In the first months, they may be somewhat small, but over time, everything stabilizes.