Today, a lot of people are engaged in breeding poultry. With proper care for livestock, it can still bring a steady income. Hamburg chickens, which will be described later, are very popular with many farmers. This breed is characterized by a proud and majestic appearance, good egg laying and unpretentiousness.
A bit of history
The Hamburg
breed of chickens was bred by German experts seeking to create the perfect bird, which would show excellent productivity and could easily adapt to difficult climatic conditions. Thus, lunar talakshir, pheasant Yorkshire and
Spanish hens were taken for crossing
. The first mention of the breed dates back to 1740, but it gained worldwide fame much later.
General information about the breed
Hamburg chickens, whose photos look very attractive, have a slightly oblong medium-sized body. The chest is slightly elevated, which gives the silhouette a certain grandeur, and the head is slightly tilted down. Despite the small size of the body, the legs are quite strong. You can distinguish these chickens from representatives of other breeds with similar characteristics by their very magnificent and long tail.
The characteristic features of the Hamburg breed are:
- thin neck of small length;
- the scallop in its shape resembles a rose, which in roosters and hens differs in size;
- short, slightly rounded beak;
- brown eyes with a red tint;
- massive wings on a large scale.
The external characteristics listed above are characteristic of all individuals of this breed, so if you notice any differences, this indicates that the chicken belongs to another species of bird.
Plumage and color
Hamburg chickens, the standard of which is determined by many factors, have a very dense and thick plumage that reliably protects birds from the cold. Most individuals have a white head, neck and wing tips, and a motley body. However, it is worth noting that, depending on the variety of the breed, certain differences in the color of the hens are observed.
Similarities with other breeds
Hamburg chickens have much in common with representatives of some other breeds. For example, they are reminiscent of chintz Leningrad chickens with their unpretentiousness and endurance, and Russian white in size and egg production. As for the appearance and color, this breed is very similar to Leghorn Veandot, which is known worldwide for its highest productivity.
Productivity and egg production
Adult Hamburg
dwarf chickens grow up to two and a half kilograms, and the weight of roosters can reach 3 kg. As for egg production, hens begin to lay eggs already in four months, bringing 195 eggs a year, each weighing an average of 55 grams. In some cases, with proper care and proper diet, productivity can be higher.
What is needed to increase egg production?
According to experienced farmers, if you follow some rules and recommendations for the care and breeding of this breed of chickens, you can achieve higher egg production.
In order for one bird to carry 220 eggs each year, the following should be done:
- every spring should reduce the duration of daylight hours, and in the fall - increase;
- letting a bird walk in the summer should be at 5 in the morning;
- in winter, chickens should be let out if the air temperature is no more than 15 degrees below zero;
- in winter, the air temperature should be maintained at 10-12 degrees, which are considered ideal for this breed.
It is important to understand that the highest egg production lasts during the first year of life, after which it gradually decreases every year.
Breeding Hamburg Chickens: Care Tips
The Hamburg breed of chickens, the description of which was given above, is bred not only for the purpose of obtaining eggs, but also for meat. Many farmers choose this breed due to the fact that chickens grow very quickly and with proper care, only a few months after hatching begin to hatch.
In order for the chickens to be healthy and maintain their attractive appearance, it is necessary to create optimal conditions for them:
- the chicken coop should be clean, dry and warm;
- the room should be equipped with ventilation, lighting and perches of sufficient size;
- so that the bird does not get sick, the litter should be periodically changed;
- regardless of the time of year, chickens should be released on a free range. In the cold months, its duration should be no more than three hours, and in the summer it is better to let out for the whole day, while ensuring the bird free access to the chicken coop.
Failure to comply with these simple recommendations can not only lead to a significant decrease in productivity, but also to the development of various diseases that can cause complete extinction of the livestock.
What is better to feed?
Hamburg chickens should receive food three times a day. One individual for full saturation requires one hundred grams of feed. As for the diet, the optimal solution would be to use cereals mixed with soft feed. In addition, the bird must constantly receive vitamins and minerals, therefore, along with food, it must be given specialized additives. At the same time, it is important to understand that representatives of the Hamburg breed gain weight very quickly, therefore it is not recommended to overfeed them, since this negatively affects productivity.
Breeding Hamburg Chickens
This breed of chickens is completely devoid of maternal instinct, so if you plan to breed it, you will have to equip the incubator. If for some reason there is no such possibility, then in this case it is possible to lay eggs to layers of other breeds.
Hamburg chickens grow and develop very quickly, and in two months their plumage is already fully formed. However, for the bird to grow healthy, it needs to create suitable conditions. If done right, about 90 percent of the chickens will survive.
For the first time, a young enclosure with access to the chicken coop should be built for young animals. It must be large enough for the bird to move freely around it. This is very important because Hamburg chickens are very active and love to run a lot. Young birds need to be fed in small quantities every three hours. Combined feeds that are previously steamed, chopped boiled egg and green onions should be included in the diet. This diet should be maintained for two and a half months, after which the chickens can be transferred to normal nutrition.
Hamburg breed of chickens: advantages and disadvantages
Hamburg chickens are notable for their low maintenance and diet, as well as high productivity, which are their main advantages.
In addition to the pluses, you can also include:
- small size and low feed intake;
- high chick survival;
- rapid onset of egg production;
- high resistance to various diseases;
- quiet, calm and peaceful nature of the bird;
- attractive appearance of chickens, so they will be an excellent decoration of the yard.
The main disadvantage of this breed is that chickens do not hatch eggs, as well as the rapid termination of the productive period.
What do farmers say about hamburg chickens?
If you decide to farm and want to start with breeding chickens, then the Hamburg breed is best for this. It is very popular among many farmers around the world and has collected a fairly large number of positive reviews.
The vast majority of people involved in breeding and raising Hamburg chickens note their high productivity, unpretentiousness and high resistance to severe climatic conditions. However, if your region has very harsh winters, then the chicken coop must be insulated and equipped with a heating system, which is necessary to maintain the optimum air temperature in the house.
After the egg production of chickens is significantly reduced, they can be put on meat, which is of good quality and excellent taste. However, with proper care and use of high-quality feed, chickens will provide you with eggs for a rather long period of time. The most important thing is not to forget about the right diet and proper care for poultry, and then a good result is guaranteed.