Description of the 14 largest breeds of chickens and rules for keeping large birds
Today there are many large breeds of chickens, each of which has certain characteristics. All of them belong to the meat sector and are distinguished by their impressive size. To achieve success in growing chickens, it is important to choose the right breed of birds and provide them with high-quality and complete care. It must be comprehensive.
The purpose of breeding large breeds
The main purpose of raising such chickens is to obtain quality meat. It has a high nutritional value and contains many proteins that are easy to digest. There are also many valuable components in the composition..
The meat of such chickens is used as the basis of the diet and is widely used in cooking. In addition, there are rare breeds. They are grown in breeding farms and stored in gene pools.
Main advantages and disadvantages
The key advantages of large chickens include the following:
- gourmet meat that is considered dietary;
- strong immunity - a long period of selection made it possible to obtain healthy chickens that are unpretentious and adapt well to external factors;
- unlimited reproduction is possible if there are several unrelated lines and the characteristics of the breed are preserved.
At the same time, chickens also differ in certain disadvantages:
- late ripening period - chickens give eggs only at 7-8 months, and gain the maximum weight after 1 year;
- low egg productivity - such breeds bring no more than 120 eggs per year;
- obesity tendency.
Popular breeds
Large chickens belong to the meat sector. With proper bird care, you will be able to achieve good results in raising birds and get a lot of dietary meat.
Brama
This is one of the more popular varieties. Birds are undemanding to care and give a lot of meat. However, they bring a lot of eggs. Bright feathers are considered a characteristic feature. They are light, partridge or dark.
The structure of the birds is considered knocked down. Their west is determined by color. Light hens reach 5 kilograms, dark - 7. Laying hens bring 130 eggs weighing 60 grams per year. Ripening occurs late - at 9-10 months.
Cochinchins
This breed is considered gigantic. The birds are a lot like the Brama breed. They produce delicious soft meats and healthy eggs. The birds are undemanding to care and are resistant to severe frosts. The birds are characterized by a calm nature.
Roosters are large in size and massive in body. The color is different - blue, fawn, white. In this case, the most popular option is black plumage. Roosters reach 4.5 kilograms, hens weigh 4. They give their first eggs at 8-9 months. Birds bring no more than 125 birds per year.
Jersey Giant
This is a young breed that was bred in America. It is characterized by fast growth rates. Already in the first year of life, the rooster is capable of reaching 5 kilograms. In total, it weighs 6 kilograms. Layers grow up to 5 kilograms. They produce 190 eggs a year.
Langshan
This is a popular breed that has become widespread. Today there are standards for these chickens, which differ in terms of productivity, feather color, and external features.
For meat breeds, the following features are characteristic:
- Adult birds weigh 3-4.5 kilograms. In rare cases, roosters grow up to 5.5 kilograms.
- The birds are characterized by a V-shaped body, a strong constitution and thick feathers.
- The meat tastes great. It is often used in expensive establishments.
Hungarian Giant
This breed is very popular in the world. It is distinguished by its external features. Feathered are characterized by bright red feathers. They are distinguished by developed thermoregulation. This allows the birds to easily adapt to climate change.
The average weight reaches 4-5 kilograms. However, there are also record holders who are almost twice the specified norms.
In addition, this breed is characterized by high egg production parameters, which reach 300 eggs per year. They are characterized by large dimensions and weigh 70 grams. Therefore, chickens of this breed are often bred on a large scale. The presence of the incubation instinct and excellent immunity are considered undoubted advantages.
Dorking
These birds are famous in the world. Their ancestors are Roman chickens, from which they managed to inherit a propensity for rapid development.
Chickens of this breed are characterized by different colors. At the same time, the most widespread are gray-golden shades. They are characterized by a black and white mane, a golden belly and a gray back.
Females weigh 3.5-4 kilograms, males - 5. At the same time, birds do not demonstrate high egg production. Stress factors, disturbances in the diet, and unfavorable external conditions lead to a decrease in the number of eggs.
Sasso - colored broiler
This is a hybrid breed that was developed by French scientists. Sasso has fighting roots, and this is evident in her appearance. There are a number of subspecies that differ in different feather color and low productivity.
Birds are capable of weighing 5 kilograms. They are distinguished by stable egg production. The birds bring up to 120 eggs per year. Moreover, their cultivation will take a lot of time and effort. Despite being omnivorous, birds need a certain mode of food consumption. Thanks to this, they develop better. Slaughter is carried out as early as 2 months.
Mechelen cuckoo, or Malin
The name of this breed is due to the original color of the feathers. Birds were bred in Belgium back in the 19th century. These birds are characterized by a number of features:
- Low body and short legs with thick feathers. The body is distinguished by powerful muscles and rounded shape.
- Attractive color. The feathers are covered with beautiful gray-white stripes. The result is a striped coat.
- Changeable disposition. Layers are usually friendly. However, sometimes they commit aggressive acts.
- High body weight. It reaches 4.5-5.5 kilograms. At the same time, the birds produce 130 eggs per year and develop rapidly.
Bress Galskaya
This famous breed is characterized by excellent taste qualities of meat. It was taken out in the middle of the 20th century. At the same time, the breed received official recognition in 1957.
Females weigh 3.5 kilograms, and males are capable of reaching 5 kilograms. Birds have a typical broiler physique, which is why novice farmers often mistake them for hybrids.
The birds are distinguished by white feathers. Their peculiarity is blue paws. Laying hens produce a lot of eggs - 250 pieces per year. Each of them weighs 85 grams. Another advantage of the breed is its calm nature.
Cornish
Many broiler hybrids have been bred from this breed. Chickens are characterized by widely spaced legs and a square body with pronounced muscles. Birds are fast developing. Adults weigh 3.5-4 kilograms.
Laying hens are characterized by a developed brooding instinct. They take good care of the chickens. However, sometimes birds are able to show fighting qualities.
Little John
This playful nickname was given to the pet by the owner. The cockerel lived in England and belonged to the Brama breed. The bird has grown to 66 centimeters. According to the owner, such results were achieved thanks to a special love for popcorn.
Big Snow
This rooster belongs to a rare breed of Whitesull hens. He lived in Australia and became a real record holder. A special body recorded its weight in 1992. The average mass of the breed did not exceed 10 kilograms. At the same time, Big Snow weighed 10.36 kilograms.
Orpington
These birds were named after the town in which they were bred. The birds are black and white. Their feathers should not be yellow. Roosters of this variety are capable of reaching 5 kilograms. Representatives weighing 7 kilograms were recorded.
Layers weigh 3-4 kilograms. For 1 year they produce 185 eggs weighing 60-63 grams. Young birds do not develop very quickly and require careful care.
Master Gray
Birds of this breed are valued for their meat and eggs. Feathered are distinguished by gray plumage. Around the neck there is a dark gray stripe resembling a necklace. The back and belly are light gray, while the scallop and earrings are bright red.
The birds are characterized by a strong body and massive legs. They are distinguished by developed muscles. In six months, hens grow up to 4 kilograms, roosters - up to 7. In favorable conditions, birds give up to 300 eggs per year..
Which one is better to choose?
When choosing a breed, it is worth considering the following features:
- average weight of birds;
- the appearance of birds;
- egg production;
- ripening terms.
Features of keeping and feeding large breed chickens
Raising large chickens is easy. In this case, it is worth considering certain features:
- Organize a spacious walk. A high hedge is not required as chickens do not fly.
- Set up nests and perches at a maximum height of 50 centimeters. If this is not possible, it is worth installing additional ramps.
- Control the laying process. Laying hens are capable of crushing or discarding eggs.
- Establish a clear feeding regime. Many breeds are prone to obesity.
Today, many breeds of large chickens are known, which differ in certain characteristics. Such birds belong to the meat sector.
To achieve good results in raising birds, it is worthwhile to properly organize a chicken coop and establish a feeding regime.
