Chickens of the Tsarskoye Selo breed

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The Tsarskoye Selo breed of chickens, a productive and adapted to domestic conditions, was bred on the VNIIGZh farm. The new tribe was obtained by crossing several breeds - Poltava clay, Broiler-6, New Hampshire.

Chickens of the Tsarskoye Selo breed

Characteristics of the breed

Description of the appearance of the Tsarskoye Selo breed:

a body with strong muscles and large muscle mass;
the back is wide, the chest, peritoneum and abdomen are developed, so the bird looks massive;
the head is medium in size, rounded;
the neck is elongated;
earrings, comb and lobes of red or scarlet color;
legs are strong, long, gray-yellow tone;
the beak is small, curved at the tip, yellow.

The plumage is unusual and dense - it is brighter in males, paler in females. All feathers are striped, with alternating light and black stripes. On the tail of males and females, a black tone prevails.

Some individuals contain grayish or resinous blotches all over the feathers.

The cost

This breed is bred in several farms in Russia - Golden Feathers, Oktyabrevskaya bird and Smolenskoe courtyard.

The price for one hatching egg is 50-60 rubles, the grown young - from 300 to 600 rubles, depending on age and season.

Temper

Has a calm, balanced character, easily tolerates stressful situations and does not reduce productivity. Roosters, just like chickens, are supportive of the owner, small chicks and adults of other colors. The livestock can be safely kept in a common courtyard with representatives of other breeds.

The only thing that breeders note is a showdown within the tribe between males. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly distribute the number of males in the herd in order to avoid fights for the championship.

Productivity indicators

In terms of productivity, this breed belongs to the meat and egg group with high decorative qualities.

The first clutch of hens is carried out at the age of 5-6 months. About 180-200 eggs can be laid per year, which are distinguished by their large weight (59-60 g) and a thick dark brown shell.

If they are provided with a good and balanced diet, they will run well during the winter season.

The weight of a rooster at the head age is 2.8-3.2 kg, of a chicken - 2.2-2.5 kg. The meat has a good taste, juicy, practically does not contain fat.

Advantages and disadvantages

Based on the description, the main advantages of chickens are:

relatively good performance indicators;
resistance to stressful situations and sudden changes in weather conditions;
good survival rate of chicks - about 95%, adult chickens - 90%;
increased immunity against many diseases;
has high decorative qualities;
good hatching instinct - in one season a hen can breed 2-3 offspring

Among the shortcomings, the need for balanced feeding is distinguished, otherwise productivity indicators are significantly reduced.

Breeding features

It is important to find a healthy female for breeding.

For natural breeding, you should adhere to some rules:

in order to get good offspring, it is necessary to select a healthy female with a calm character, which rushes for two years;
eggs should be medium in size, without cracks and defects, not too sharp or dull, at the age of 5-6 days they are laid in an amount of - 13-15 pcs. under one hen;
the optimal time for laying eggs is late April or early May. The chicks will appear in 20-21 days, by which time the heat will stabilize, which will greatly facilitate their care and provide them with good conditions for growth.

Incubation

Natural reproduction is not always justified, so many breeders resort to the incubation method (all material requirements for breeding new offspring are standard).

Eggs are placed in an incubator, the temperature is set to 40 ° C, every week it is lowered by 1 ° C. Every day, the testicles need to be turned over several times a day so that they warm up evenly.

Care

After 10 days of keeping at home, the chicks are taken out into the fresh air. Walking under the sun strengthens the immune system, has a beneficial effect on the growth and development of young animals

After three weeks, they are placed in a cardboard or wooden box, previously covered with a rag, straw or sawdust. For quick drying and high-quality heating, a lamp is installed at a height of 50 cm.

The optimum temperature in the first days is 32 ° C, the next day it is lowered by 2-3 ° C and so brought to 19 ° C. Daylight hours are 21-22 hours a day.

After 1.5 months, the grown individuals are transferred to a general diet and maintenance regime for adult chickens.

Feeding

Nutrition for chickens in the first three weeks should be correct and balanced, because during this period of time, the risk of their death is high.

an hour after birth, the chicks are given a finely chopped boiled chicken egg;
on the second day, they are additionally fed with chopped green onion feathers;
after a week, the chicks can be fed with low-fat cottage cheese, small cereals, grated boiled carrots;
starting from 14 days, chickens need food with a high protein content, so they are offered meat and bone or fish meal, broth cooked on meat or fish, mash of boiled root vegetables, vegetables;
to normalize calcium in the body, eggshell powder is mixed into the feed;
at the age of 1.5 months, the grown chicks are transferred to the diet of adults.

To eliminate the risk of cannibalism among young animals, they need to be fed often - at least 5-6 times a day.

In the first days, they are soldered with a nutrient solution of glucose - 50 ml is diluted in 1 liter of water. Then water is served at room temperature.

Maintenance of adult chickens

The productivity, growth and health of Tsarskoye Selo chickens depend on the conditions of keeping and feeding.

Poultry house

The chicken coop must be properly equipped

Basic requirements for the habitat:

temperature in winter - 15-19 ° С, in summer - 12-13 ° С;
humidity not higher than 70%, which is ensured by good ventilation (daily ventilation through windows, doors);
dim lighting with blue or IR lamps for at least 10 hours a day.

Before you put the herd into the hen, it must be carefully prepared.

Disinfect all surfaces (walls, ceiling and floor) with a solution of colloidal sulfur (2%) or hydrated lime. After whitewashing, sew up the bottom with any material that will close the cracks and protect the chicken coop from the penetration of various rodents - carriers of infections and parasites.
Then a litter of straw, hay, sawdust or peat is laid.Laying is carried out on a sunny day, otherwise the material saturated with dampness will quickly become moldy and become a source of fungal and other diseases.
Feeders and drinkers are installed on the floor at the rate of 4 and 3 cm per individual, respectively. A basin with ash, sand or dried clay is placed next to it. Dry baths will provide protection to chickens from various parasites and will help preserve the decorative effect of the feather cover.
Along the entire perimeter of the room, perches are arranged at a height of 40-50 cm so that the chickens can fly freely on them. In secluded places with dim lighting, nests are placed at the rate of 1 box for 3-4 hens.

The optimal amount of space in the chicken coop for one individual is 50 m³.

Place for walking

A walking yard is one of the most important conditions for the proper keeping of chickens. The plot is fenced at a height of 1.5 m. 1-2 m² is enough for one bird.

To provide chickens with fresh greens in summer, the area is sown with clover, barley, wheat or other grasses in early spring.

The walking area is sprinkled with shells, gravel and pieces of chalk - the chickens eat all this with great pleasure, saturating the body with calcium and other microelements.

Feeding

Productivity indicators largely depend on the diet of the bird.

The basis of daily feeding is compound feed, which can be purchased at a specialized store or prepared at home.

It is necessary to mix crushed wheat or barley with sunflower meal, corn, minerals and meat and bone (fish) meal in a ratio of 4: 3: 2: 1: 1.

The daily dose per individual is 120 g.

At different times of the year, the diet of birds will be slightly different.

In the summer they give greens, herbs, give mash of grated vegetables, fruits, root crops. Additionally, chickens feed on shells, chalk and gravel.
In winter, with a lack of vitamins and minerals, herbal, meat and bone meal and fish meal are mixed into the feed. Fish oil is added, as well as crushed eggshells. Sprouted wheat, barley or rye are given daily, as well as a vitamin and mineral complex.

A clean and fresh drink plays an important role in the health of poultry, which is why it is changed every day if the drinkers are open.

When using nipple, groove structures, the water is changed after 1-2 days (in winter - at room temperature, in summer - cold).

Molt and break of egg production

This process usually occurs in the spring. Changing the feather cover has a beneficial effect on the health of the bird and contributes to its rejuvenation. Lasts 2.5 to 3 months. Molting chickens stop laying.

For a quick recovery and intensive growth of feathers, the bird is provided with the appropriate conditions:

Feeding high in protein and low in calcium
a separate room with a soft pad to eliminate the risk of injury to bare skin;
stable heat and regular ventilation.

Possible diseases

Bird health depends on the quality of care

Tsarskoye Selo chickens rarely get sick, provided they are well cared for and fed. When kept crowded in the cold, poor nutrition and on a dirty bedding, chickens suffer from the invasion of parasites.

They are often carried by wild birds and rodents, so it is important to provide maximum protection against contact.

Cold

Young animals and adults are sick with her, which are kept in a cold and damp place, where there are constant drafts.

Signs: discharge of mucus from the nose, rapid breathing, lethargy, cough, sometimes fever. Treatment is carried out with Biomycin or Tetracycline.

Coccidiosis

Birds that are fed with dirty water and kept in an unclean room are susceptible to infection.

Infected individuals press their wings to the body, refuse food, and vilify. For treatment, antibiotics are used - Tetracycline or Terramycin.

Pasteurellosis

Signs: hoarseness, heavy breathing, fever, bluish tint of the crest, ruffled feathers.

They are treated with antibacterial drugs - Levoerythrocycline, Cobactan or Trisulfone.

Worms

Eggs are transmitted through litter, contaminated feed, water, and infected individuals. For treatment, antihelminthic drugs are used.

Puff lice, lice, ticks

Usually appear in a damp room with crowded chickens. To achieve the desired effect, it is necessary to carry out timely treatment of the feather cover with Karbofos or Delcid.

In case of severe infestation, three spraying is required at weekly intervals.

Prophylaxis

It is necessary to maintain cleanliness in the poultry house, regularly remove feed residues, change the water every day, change the litter once a year and disinfect the surfaces with slaked lime.

It is important for birds to ensure a balanced diet, daily outdoor exercise and regular check-ups for disease or parasites. Sick individuals should be placed in a separate room in a timely manner; at an advanced stage, they should be slaughtered.

Breeder reviews

Most poultry farmers are satisfied with Tsarskoye Selo chickens and leave positive reviews.

Chickens with good endurance, rarely get sick and have a high productivity of both egg and meat;
Despite the exacting diet, they do not eat much, so they are considered beneficial and in demand;
Chicks grow quickly, adapt well and have a high survival rate;
Many appreciate the breed for its early egg production - they begin to lay eggs in the fifth month of life.