Characteristics of Dekalb White chickens
At the moment, a huge number of different breeds of chickens are known, thanks to which a wide choice is open to farmers. The decisive factor when choosing layers is their productivity. If variegated colors and broiler carcasses are not important to you, then you can pay attention to Decalb White chickens.
Dekalb White chicken breed
This variety was created in order to obtain large-sized eggs in large quantities, regardless of the season and the effort expended in caring for the birds. With the help of this article, you will have the opportunity to find out more detailed information about the origin of layers, their characteristics and care features.
General characteristics of the Dekalb breed
Dekalb was born not so long ago, so this is a new cross, which is home to the United States of America. Composing a description of the variety, this breed was named "Princess of Poultry", the purpose of creation was the desire to get a chicken with the longest period egg production and productivity at the proper level, which is capable of producing very good quality eggs. To this day, work is underway in Europe to improve the breed.
There are "varieties of Decalbs: White and Brown. White chickens are the most popular among farmers. Visually, they represent a small bird with a small head and a red face. The neck is shortened, but differs in its width; it almost immediately passes into the back. The legs are small, and the yellowish-orange paws have no feathers. The scallop is large, so it hangs even in chickens, the beak is small of the same color with paws. In the photo you can see that the color of the breed is white or brown without any impurities.
Egg production of the Decalb breed
At the moment, chickens are producing the highest possible egg production. Dekalb gives up to 350 eggs throughout the year, the mass of one egg is up to 74 g. A brown hen will have an egg with a dark shell, while Dekalb White will have a white shell.
This breed is characterized by rapid maturation of chicks to adult mature individuals.
They begin to lay eggs after 4 months, at the age of 10 months they have a peak in egg production. The weight of the egg is formed quickly enough, it takes about 30 months, then the weight practically does not change, a slight increase is possible.
Due to the fact that the productivity of Dekalba slightly exceeds that of other popular layers, this breed of chickens is gradually replacing other chickens and increasingly appears in the chicken coops of experienced poultry breeders. In addition to a slight predominance in egg production, the maintenance of these layers requires lower feed costs in the ratio of rubles per kilogram of weight.
Features of the Dekalb breed
Decable has a long oviposition, but despite the lack of laying instinct, there are also small periods of unproductiveness. In most cases, this happens starting from the 65th week, this is due to molting period... In order to speed up this process, it is necessary to perform the following manipulations:
- Reduce daylight hours, gradually bringing it up to 2 hours a day.
- Limit access of chickens to food, they should only be given water.
- After 10 days, the light and feed schedule should be increased daily by 30 minutes daylight hours.
- When finished, it is important to increase the calorie content of the food eaten by the birds compared to the feeding period before molting.
This procedure will reduce the time of the unproductive period from 60 days to 45 days. In this period of time, this cross stops laying, but after the renewal of plumage, egg production is restored in full.
It is important to monitor the behavior of the bird, because the change of feather cover is sometimes accompanied by a high temperature in layers. If such a symptom is noticed, you need to see a specialist.
Feeding hens of the Decalb breed
For a full-fledged life, chickens especially need protein components, in connection with laying eggs, they need calcium. If the Ca element in the feed is not enough, the shell becomes brittle and often deformed. Layer feed can be prepared as a ready-to-use compound feed monsanto or self-cooked.
If you prefer store-bought compound feed, then it should have a balance of useful components, it should be selected depending on the needs and age of the bird. In case you decide to cook the food yourself, it is important to pay attention to the components that must be included in the diet:
- Russia is rich in cereal crops (wheat, barley, corn), which should become the basis of the daily nutrition of birds.
- Feed yeast, sunflower meal and fish or meat meal are also included in the list of essential and irreplaceable elements.
- Shredded shell rock, chalk and crushed bones are essential for the strength of the eggshell.
- Greens, especially nettles and alfalfa, have a beneficial effect on the egg yolk, making it richer in color and nutritious.
- In the cold season, it is necessary to include herbal flour or granules in the diet, such a procedure will strengthen the bird's immunity and allow you to endure the winter without consequences.
Feeding chickens of this breed should occur at least 3 times a day, this is due to an accelerated metabolism. The food should be finely chopped. It is important to choose a certain composition of the feed and try not to change it throughout the entire time, because Dekalb takes a very long time to get used to the new diet.
In the case of a change in the composition, the risks of a sharp decrease in the productivity of chickens are high. However, if circumstances have arisen due to which changes in the composition of the feed are inevitable, it is necessary to introduce the new food gradually.
Breeding of the Dekalb breed
Chickens of this breed do not differ in the instinct of a brooding hen, therefore, to breed chickens, it is necessary to use incubator... Of course, in special cases, Dekalb females sit on eggs, but this is rare.
For this procedure, select the best large hatching egg without any defects. The material should be taken from a bird that produces eggs for more than 3 months, such chickens are called reza, that is, a productive laying hen. The characteristics of the survival rate of chickens are pleasing with their high level, so their breeding does not require much effort.
Conclusion
Chicken of the Decalb breed hatches in weight from 50 g and within 7 days adds up to 25 g in weight, even if the egg was incubation, and not homemade. The average weight 2 weeks after birth is about 125 g. If the chick hatches weak, it will die in the first days of its life, while the rest will please with their productivity in the future.