The most common way of housekeeping is breeding chickens - birds that are undemanding to living conditions and always supply their hosts with fresh eggs and nutritious meat. Pockmarked laying hens are the most common among the rest, and are considered the most productive at home. In particular, we are talking about the Dominant breed, which is an improved version of the standard laying hen.
Breed Dominant: external characteristics
This breed, bred in the Czech Republic, is characterized by attractive external characteristics, which can be shortly described as “volumetric plumage and massive body”. Due to the short paws, these pockmarked hens look squat. The wings fit snugly to the body, thereby visually increasing its volume. The head is small enough with red earrings and a comb. In addition to the pockmarked, this breed is grown in black, gold and even blue colors.
Features of the breed Dominant
Pockmarked laying hens (Dominant breed) are characterized by very strong immunity. When pathogens enter the chicken coop, they either do not get sick at all or are easily cured. This feature is only in the hands of beginner farmers who are not always able to provide the feathered herd with the right conditions.
Puffy chickens of the Dominant breed, actively grown in more than 30 countries, are characterized by high egg production: about 300 eggs per year with an average size of 60 grams, which is the highest rate among these birds. Rush start relatively early, from the fifth month of birth. Characterized by a complaisant disposition. Farmers do not need to build high enclosures, since such a breed of birds will not fly over high fences. For maintenance, you can use both cells and pens.
In the care of chickens-pock (photo in the article) are undemanding, vitamins and minerals that are not received in feeds are easily mined by nature themselves. Unlike ordinary laying hens, they are able to withstand extreme weather conditions, and therefore have gained particular popularity in cold climatic zones.
Ryaba hen: breed Pushkinskaya
The ideal village chicken is called the Pushkin breed, characterized by a motley-black color, unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention, and high egg production. In addition, such pockmarked chickens (the photo fully conveys all the attractiveness of such a breed) are completely unable to fly. By nature, they are very calm, with the approach of danger they do not fuss like the rest of the species, but cling to the ground. Very tame and easy to catch.
The advantages of the Pushkin breed are:
- unpretentiousness to the conditions of feeding and maintenance,
- high stamina
- almost complete (95%) safety of the adult population,
- good hatchability rate - 84%.
These pockmarked chickens got their name in honor of the place where they were bred: the city of Pushkin, the Leningrad region. External signs of this breed are:
- long, full-necked neck,
- a small head
- leaf-shaped hanging crest,
- striped-motley color with a white swell.
The average weight of the chicken is from 1.8 to 2 kg, the rooster is about 2.5 kg. Annual egg production is from 220 to 230 large, with a beautiful yolk of eggs. The meat is characterized by a beautiful presentation and high taste. Layers perfectly adapt to any conditions of the house, do not need a certain type of feed, light mode and temperature. Chickens are characterized by a high percentage of survival, rapid growth and unpretentiousness.
Plymouthrock - breed of pockmarked chickens
Such a breed of chickens as Plymouthrock is perfect for households. A universal bird that allows you to get high-quality eggs and excellent meat.
Outwardly, hens are characterized by beautiful plumage and a dense compact physique. They have a large body, wide back and chest. The tail is short thick, high comb. Beak and legs are yellow in color. The plumage is striped, partridge, fawn, black and white.
The most popular among farmers is pockmarked chicken (breed Plymouthrock) due to the elegant appearance. White birds are actively bred in industrial production. The weight of the chicken is about 3.5 kg, the average cock weighs up to 5 kg. The annual egg production is 190 eggs.
Pockmarked hens are unpretentious in food, need street walking, where they can feed on grass. Easily acclimatized. Almost never fly over fences. They are characterized by a high instinct of incubation, therefore they are convenient in households without an incubator. The bird is quite curious, not shy, can come close to a person, easily gets used to it.
Hungarian chicken Ryaba
Real chicken ripples can be called birds of the Hungarian breed, characterized by a beautiful motley color, large body weight and high egg production. The most attractive is the Hungarian Giant - a fast-growing, easily gaining muscle mass species.
The bird is massive, stands out for its rich lush plumage, which well conceals the general shape of the body. The chickens have a small tail, a deep chest, and a large belly. Layers are characterized by a high maternal instinct: they themselves form the clutch, and carefully incubate it. Perfectly take care of their offspring.
Any house with a small walking area is suitable for keeping such hens. The good condition of the feather cover makes the bird feel good at any temperature. In winter, it will be enough to lay a high litter of hay.
About the breed Hercules
Relatively recently, a breed of Hercules chicken was bred, capable of competing with broilers and superior to them in meat quality. Already at the age of 6 months, pockmarked hens of this kind weigh 3 kilograms, and males weigh about 6 kg.
Hercules breed chickens are found in 5 feather colors: white, golden, silver, pockmarked and cuckoo (black-striped). The bird is friendly, can be successfully reared on the same yard with geese, ducks, turkeys. The annual egg production is about 200 eggs, characterized by a very high mass of yolk: 35 to 100.