Today, almost every homeowner is engaged in breeding households. The Kuban red breed of chickens, reviews of experienced farmers about it will be presented at the end of the article, refers to hybrids that are characterized by rather high productivity. Breeders deduced it taking into account the peculiarities of the Russian climate, so breeding is possible in almost all regions. A distinctive feature of the bird is its good egg production, which remains at approximately the same level regardless of seasonal factors. Let's take a closer look at what these hens are, what advantages and disadvantages they have in comparison with other breeds, and how to properly care for them.
A bit of history
If you believe the description of the Kuban red breed of chickens, then they relate to the egg direction. Were bred by domestic breeders by crossing Leggorn and Rhode Island relatively recently, but today a large number of farmers choose this particular bird. As you can guess from the name, the birthplace of the breed is the city of Kuban, which is located in the Krasnodar Territory. Today, chicken breeding enterprises are in full swing, and work is continuing to improve their characteristics.
Advantages and disadvantages
Let's dwell on this aspect in more detail. According to numerous reviews, the Kuban Red breed of chickens has both certain advantages and disadvantages.
Among the strengths are the following:
- good health;
- precocity
- simplicity in leaving and the maintenance;
- fast weight gain;
- excellent profitability indicators;
- good adaptation in almost any climatic conditions;
- excellent survival of young animals;
- calm and friendly disposition;
- high stress resistance;
- can do without free walking for a long time;
- quickly get used to new types of feed;
- large egg size;
- excellent taste of meat.
As for the minuses, though they are not many, but they are. Among the main ones, there are only two:
- relatively short period of egg laying;
- gradual decline in productivity.
Considering all the advantages and disadvantages listed above, it is safe to say that the Kuban red chicken breed, the feedback from the breeders about it is mostly positive, is one of the best for breeding with the aim of obtaining eggs. According to experts, today it takes the first place in productivity.
Breed standards
The main task of breeding when breeding new breeds of chicken of the egg direction is to achieve maximum productivity with minimal financial costs. As for poultry farming, this is one of the most profitable niches in agriculture. Initially, it was planned to use 4 lines at once to get new layers, but in the end it was decided to reduce it to three.
When choosing breeds, the following criteria were taken into account:
- shell density and color;
- size and marketability of eggs;
- protein consistency;
- size and shade of the yolk;
- egg nutrition;
- meat quality;
- presentation of the carcass;
- vitality;
- resistance to stressful situations;
- the ratio of the effectiveness of the spent funds and productivity.
If you look at the characteristics of the Kuban red chicken, you can see that it surpasses many other breeds that exist today. The poultry growing business is highly profitable and fully pays for itself in a relatively short period of time.
Appearance
After reading the description of the Kuban red breed of hens, you can find some resemblance to Loman Brown. The head is small with a large leaf-like crest, and the plumage is very dense and may have a red, brown or red color. Paws are powerful and strong. Among the distinguishing features is quite large carcasses. The bird is noticeably larger than other breeds of laying hens, which allows you to breed it not only for the purpose of obtaining eggs, but also send it for subsequent slaughter. The average weight of a chicken is 2, and that of a rooster is 3 kilograms. It should be noted that Kuban red meat is distinguished by excellent taste, delicate texture and high nutritional value.
As for the nature and behavioral characteristics, individuals belong to the category of phlegmatic people. They are very calm, nevertheless they are happy to learn about the world around them. But this is not even the main thing. Kuban Reds are characterized by high stress resistance, due to which good productivity is maintained regardless of adverse external factors.
Is it profitable to keep them?
The main advantage of this breed of chickens is egg laying. It is for her that many farmers partially or completely switch to breeding Kuban hens. One bird, on average, brings up to 250 eggs per year weighing about 65 grams, and with high-quality maintenance, good nutrition and careful care, you can get up to 340 pieces from each chicken. According to many experts, today no other breed is able to demonstrate similar results.
The possibility of fertilization occurs at the age of 4 months and the hens immediately begin to actively race. However, the first high-quality eggs with a well-formed shell are obtained only after 14 days. And at 6 months of life, they reach the largest size. Egg production of hens remains at a high level for two years. The meat has a great taste, but a little harsh. What is typical for a representative of all egg breeds. Carcasses have a good presentation, so they are well sold out at average market value.
Litter survival can reach 95 percent. Young individuals grow rapidly and gain weight. The breed reproduces well, and in order to achieve good results it will be enough to start one rooster for 10 females. Here, probably, many will have a question about how old chickens live. It is difficult to name exact numbers, since it all depends on many factors, among which the main ones are content and climatic conditions. But according to many experts, the average life expectancy is about 10-12 years. However, no one holds them so much, and after 3-4 years they are sent for slaughter. The live weight of chickens is from 2 to 3 kilograms.
As noted earlier, Kuban red is one of the best breeds that combines excellent productivity and relatively low maintenance costs. The bird has good health and very rarely gets sick, and is also highly resistant to negative environmental factors.
Content Features
Let's dwell on this in more detail. In order to regularly receive a large number of products, it is necessary to provide the bird with good conditions, as well as properly equip the chicken coop. Features of the content of Kuban red chicken are not distinguished by any special delicacies, but much attention should be paid to the temperature regime. According to experts, laying hens feel best at a constant air temperature of 17 degrees Celsius. The main difficulty in this case is that in the winter it is almost impossible to maintain it. Therefore, the farmer must carefully consider and adjust the heating system. It is also necessary to warm the room well in order to minimize heat loss and remove drafts.
It is undesirable to allow the temperature in the house to drop to two degrees below zero. In this case, there is a risk of frostbite of the ridge. This is not fatal, but egg production may noticeably decrease or the hens will cease to be carried at all. In extreme heat, from 25 degrees and above, the eggs will have a very thin shell, which will negatively affect their quality and ability to transport. Therefore, before you start a breed, you need to carefully think through everything, prepare the room and make good nests for laying hens, in which they will be warm and comfortable. If there is no way to adjust the temperature regime, then you should think about buying other breeds.
Care Features
Creating ideal conditions for raising chickens is far from all that is necessary to achieve high productivity. Any pets and birds need proper care, which is not taken into account by most novice farmers. As for the Kuban red layers, they are more demanding than other breeds. Even due to small errors, egg production can drop dramatically.
When leaving, you should adhere to the following recommendations:
- full cleaning of the chicken coop at least twice a year;
- whitewashing walls with lime every 2-3 years;
- in winter, the floor should be covered with a bed of dry sawdust or hay with a thickness of at least 20 centimeters;
- nests for laying hens of Kuban red breed should be above the floor at a height of 80 centimeters and have soft bedding;
- eggs should be collected regularly and at the same time, otherwise the bird may start to peck them;
- in the poultry house, cup drinking bowls with fresh water should be placed for chickens;
- To reduce the risk of developing diseases, the premises in which the bird is located are regularly ventilated.
Adhering to the tips and recommendations listed above, you can achieve high productivity from chickens and build a profitable business for their breeding.
Diet
This aspect should be given special attention. Feeding chickens should be full and balanced. Food is given twice a day, mainly at the same time. At the same time, it is desirable that the diet is half composed of such crops as rye, barley and wheat.
The bird also eats the following with pleasure:
- freshly cut grass;
- legumes;
- fresh vegetables;
- compound feed;
- bran;
- milk serum;
- wolf beans;
- wet mixers;
- eggshell;
- a piece of chalk;
- shell rock;
- bone flour.
When breeding Kuban layers, it is important to consider one important nuance. They have an increased metabolism, therefore, to prevent the development of vitamin deficiency and mineral deficiency, vitamin-mineral nutritional supplements must be included in the diet. In the spring-summer period, chickens must be given fresh grass, and straw can be stored for the winter. In the cold months, experts advise pouring a nettle broth into the drinkers to provide the wards with all the important nutrients.
You need to understand that not only a complete diet, but also the proper feeding of chickens is of great importance.
Therefore, the following rules should be followed:
- summer meals should be 2, and in winter - 3;
- the daily amount of feed per adult is 120 grams;
- between the main meals should be given fresh grass;
- wet mixers are removed from the feeders 30 minutes after the bird ceases to eat. Otherwise, they will turn sour and can lead to digestive upset or the development of other serious diseases that can result in death;
- water in drinking bowls is changed at least once a day so that it does not stagnate.
These are the basic rules for feeding highly productive chickens. But do not forget about the products themselves. They must be fresh and of high quality.
Breeding
Kuban red chicken is grown in an incubator. This is a very important condition on which the productivity of the bird depends. Females themselves are able to hatch offspring, but in this case there is a high probability that they will cease to race. The survival rate of young animals reaches 95 percent. It is better that they hatch in a natural way, but old laying hens need to lay eggs.
From the first days, chicks need good care. As with any other breed, they are placed in a cardboard box or brooder. The latter option is more preferable, since the equipment is equipped with heating elements, allowing to maintain optimal temperature conditions.
Feeding of young animals begins immediately after drying. As a rule, they give a hard-boiled and finely chopped egg together with an egg shell. In addition, the chicks need crushed crops, among which wheat and millet are considered the best. To increase survival, you need to regularly change the water in the drinker. It is recommended to pour a weak solution of potassium permanganate into it to reduce the risk of developing intestinal infections. On the second day, you can enter dairy products and fresh herbs in the youngsters menu.
Heating continues for 20 days after hatching, after which it can be turned off. During this time, the chicks will have time to grow normally and get stronger. If the offspring was obtained in the summer, then after reaching the age of two weeks, walking in the fresh air is allowed. Subject to the basic tips and recommendations, as well as proper care, young growth grows healthy and strong. It develops good resistance to negative environmental factors, and it demonstrates high egg production. How many years live chickens and maintain their productivity, has already been said earlier.
After hatching, it is necessary to cull the young. Poor offspring is considered in the presence of the following problems:
- extended umbilical ring;
- reddened or swollen joints;
- paws with developmental defects;
- too rare or thick down.
As practice shows, most of the pathology is associated with errors made during the incubation period, for example, non-compliance with the optimal temperature and humidity. Therefore, first you need to carefully familiarize yourself with the process. It makes no sense to leave chicks with any defects, since they will not grow normally and gain weight.
Diseases and pests
Let's dwell on this aspect in more detail. The big advantage of the breed, for which many farmers appreciate it, is that the chicks are already born with good immunity. Therefore, an adult bird is very rarely sick. The main health problems are caused by parasites, which in most cases appear due to improper maintenance and poor sanitation. Therefore, chickens must be periodically inspected for the presence of harmful insects, and if they are detected, take the necessary measures in a timely manner.
As they grow older, the bird begins to molt. This is not considered a disease, but is a completely natural process for the restoration of plumage. Its duration is about 6-8 weeks. It should also be borne in mind that aging negatively affects the productivity of chickens. Every year, indicators gradually fall, so many private farmers and industrial enterprises after 2-3 years send individuals for slaughter and rejuvenate the herd.
As for diseases, they are mainly caused by various infections. If you do not isolate patients in time and start treatment, then the entire population may die. The most common ailments are as follows:
- avitaminosis;
- pasteurellosis;
- alopecia;
- chicken pox;
- hepatosis;
- bronchial pneumonia.
Vitamin deficiency is treated by improving the quality of nutrition and entering vitamin complexes into the diet. Infectious diseases require the help of a qualified veterinarian. If the bird is attacked by ticks and fleas, then it should be bathed in ash. This is one of the most effective methods of controlling parasites.
Reviews
As mentioned earlier, the hybrid was introduced relatively recently. But today it is widely bred almost throughout the country. According to numerous reviews, the Kuban red breed of chickens is one of the most productive and egg-laying. At the same time, the bird has strong immunity, and is also unpretentious and easy to care for. Also a big plus is the high survival rate of the new generation. The figures are not overstated, but are real. And, of course, many breeders speak very well of good health. With proper care, livestock is very rarely sick.
Conclusion
Kuban red laying hens is truly the best work of breeders, which is the future of agriculture. The bird quickly pays for all financial investments and begins to generate stable profits, which do not decline throughout the year. Other breeds significantly lose to them in almost all respects. Therefore, if you are a beginner farmer and do not know which chickens to start your activity with, then the Kuban Reds will be an excellent choice for you.