Popular dwarf chicken breeds
Dwarf breeds of chickens are economically profitable: due to their size, they eat little, but the quality of eggs and meat exceeds the characteristics of ordinary birds. Their price is most often equal to or less than the rest of the varieties. Therefore, keeping them is a pleasure.
Popular dwarf chicken breeds
Description of dwarf breeds
The main goal of breeders has always been to breed poultry, which are small in size, but at the same time are not inferior in egg production and other characteristics. Consider the best breeds of dwarf chickens.
Cochinhin
These birds have recently appeared in Russian farmsteads, but have already gained popularity.
The name shows the geography of their initial distribution: the first were bred in China for the imperial court.
The description of the Cochinquin breed shows that they are excellent for meat and egg breeding. These hens have a long neck, a large belly and a powerful breast (in shape, adult chickens resemble plump feathered balls), a thick feather of a white or grayish tone, large eyes and prominent bright earrings and a comb.
Roosters reach a kilogram, and chickens are about 200 grams lighter. They are phlegmatic, not prone to conflicts (therefore, they easily get along in mixed poultry houses or with representatives of other calm breeds).
Laying hens have a strong maternal instinct. This allows them to independently breed and protect them from potential threats. A hatching egg can be bought for 200 or less Russian rubles, but a weekly chicken will cost 350 or more.
Phoenix
Featuring a long tail, the Phoenixes were bred on the territory of the Ancient Celestial Empire. In Europe, they were rediscovered by the crossing of two Japanese birds called Onadori and Yokohama-Tosa.
The advantages of this breed are obvious. Due to the special genotype, formed due to isolated from other Japanese ancestors, they are not subject to molting and easily grow huge plumage. They have a bright color, a bottle-shaped body with a graceful neck, as well as a massive back of the carcass.
The rooster is much larger than the female and is admired for its unusual plumage. No wonder the Phoenixes were given to the Chinese emperors.
Although Phoenix belongs to the dwarf group, the weight of a rooster can reach 2.5 kg, while chickens weigh 20% lighter.
It makes no sense to breed them for industrial purposes: you can't get a lot of meat and egg products. Average egg production ranges between 100 and 160 (depending on age and weight). And they almost do not strive to raise chicks, they will need an incubator.
Eggs will cost 300 rubles, but a chicken older than six months is cheaper than 4000 rubles.
Shabo
Since ancient times, Shabo has been bred in Southeast Asia, Japan is read as their homeland. But at the moment, representatives have spread throughout Europe.
Disadvantages of this breed: whimsicality (it is very important for it to be warm, at low temperatures birds die), is intended not for food, but for the joy of aristocrats.
The cockerels have a short back, small legs and thick plumage, a convex chest and a down-to-earth body. The head is large and covered with a short red feather. Chickens are like roosters. But it should be noted: their crest is half less, and in the tail there are no sharp feathers-plaits.
The maternal instinct of laying hens is highly developed: they even raise other people's chicks. Therefore, you do not need to purchase an incubator. One gives from 80 to 150 eggs per year, each weighing up to 30 g.
Another feature of the Eastern breed is that it eats little. A bird per day consumes no more than 60 g of food.
They are not expensive. It is quite possible to buy adults for 500 rubles, even in a region unadapted for agriculture. Eggs cost up to 300 rubles.
Malaysian serama
Fancy chickens
As it is easy to understand from the name, the bird was bred in distant and warm Malaysia.
In Eurasia and North America, the population of the Malaysian seram is incredibly small. This is due to the fact that chickens do not tolerate climatic changes and stress from transportation.
Serama is considered the smallest of all the rocks recorded by scientists. She is easily recognizable by her appearance: she has an elongated, rounded body with a wide flattened back, a low stance and a phenomenal ability to fly for other members of the species. The shape of the tail resembles a peacock.
Adult birds weigh less than 300 g, so you should not expect them to be able to bring a lot of profit. The hen produces about 60 eggs in 12 months, each weighing less than 30 g.
As experienced farmers say, these chickens are suitable only for true fans of their craft. Indeed (although in size it barely overtakes pigeons) their meat is considered dietary and one of the most delicious.
Adult chickens cost at least 3,500. Considering the size, this is very expensive.
Bentamki
Chinese (in another version, Japanese or Indian) Bentamki chickens are energetic, freedom-loving and even pugnacious.
It is these qualities that made them an excellent breed for oriental cockfighting. But their hot temper does not prevent them from conquering the farmers' market. And all thanks to the industrial characteristics. Breeding has allowed the Bentams to become a little calmer, but they can still be called the most fussy of all mini chickens.
History has made a contribution to their current popularity: earlier, the purchase of this breed was considered a sign of financial well-being. They have a rounded body, thick variegated plumage and vertical tails, and a small head. These are real reference chickens from pictures.
Roosters grow up to 600 g, and chickens weigh only 450-650 g. On average, laying hens give from 90 to 130 eggs in 12 months.
The egg weight is small: 40-45 g (for mini chickens it can be called normal). They are superior to the standard ones in taste. Particularly pleasant characteristics are demonstrated by the eggs of hens that live in open-air cages. They have dense protein, uniform color and low cholesterol levels.
You will need to pay 550 rubles for a bird, and about 200 rubles or more for eggs.
Hamburg
Hamburg is the name for the recognizable marbled mini chickens that came from (surprisingly) the Netherlands back in 1740. They were transported to other points of Eurasia through the port of Hamburg, which led to the unusual name.
The birds have a small head, scalloped crest, short beak, large wings, belly and back, as well as long legs and long tail.
They quickly adapt to any conditions of keeping, have phenomenal immunity for small breeds and resistance to cold. These qualities make them the most popular.
The color standard is uniform: a white body with black blotches and a red comb. But the sizes vary depending on the size of the bird. Large males weigh 2.5 kg, and massive females grow up to 2 kg.
Miniature hamburgs will weigh 700 and 600 g, respectively. Breeders appreciate the highly decorative Hamburg chickens, as well as their ability to carry all year round. The hen produces up to 250 eggs in the first year.
For the price: eggs will cost 300 rubles, and broilers - 5000 rubles.
Sibright
This is the name of mini chickens from England of the XIX century. They differ from other dwarfs by their wings drooping almost to the ground, weakly adhering to the body.
They have a small head, which is well emphasized by a red comb and goatee. The little rooster looks cute, but, strangely, is incredibly pugnacious. Laying hens also have a bad temper, they have almost no maternal instinct.
Sibraits are definitely worth purchasing for the sake of quality meat: it tastes like partridge fillets. Chickens are difficult to raise, which affects the market price of the birds. An egg costs from 200 rubles, while grown individuals will cost 500 rubles.
Small holosheyka
This bird, which appeared in Austria or Germany, has a completely standard appearance, but a sinewy neck completely devoid of feathers. Many breeders are intimidated by this.
But other characteristics of this breed are pleasing. They are resistant to frost and temperature fluctuations, hardy, unpretentious and not prone to overeating.
For a year, a miniature bird (weight reaches 800 g - in roosters and 700 - in hens) produces at least 120 eggs. Each weighs up to 30 g.
Golosheyka is rarely bred in large farms, but private traders are happy to buy it. If you're lucky, weekly chicks can be purchased for only 50 rubles.
Welzumer
One of the massive chickens is Velzumer.
The external requirements for this Dutch chicken are strict: it must have a uniform red-partridge color (in our country, gold and silver are allowed), a black tail with tints, muscular yellowish legs and a large comb, beard.
Adults weigh from 2.5 to 2 kg, dwarfs - up to 1 kg. Productivity: 60 eggs per year, and dwarf chickens lay up to 180 eggs.
This breed is considered the most successful for growing on the farm. The birds are calm, but incredibly curious; a chicken will cost 230 rubles.
Dutch white-crested
Chickens do not have very high egg production
It is not reliably found out where the white-crested chicken came from. In Russia it is called Dutch, and in the rest of Europe it is called Polish. Be that as it may, any farm will be greatly enriched if it pays attention to this breed.
Dwarf white-crested are distinguished by a massive white tuft on the head, which rests on feathers growing in different directions, as well as a black body. They are tucked up, have a straight, flat back, persistent, but miniature paws. High decorativeness led to the fact that the breeders developed a crest, but vision began to suffer in chickens. This vice does not at all prevent them from being energetic and nimble.
The birds weigh about 2.5 kg in terms of males. Laying hens are a little lighter, their weight is 2-1.5 kg.
In the dwarf version of the breed, the weight is much less: the roosters grow up to 850 g, but the hens only up to 740 g.
Egg productivity is poor. You get no more than 140 eggs a year from a laying hen, but each one weighs about 50 g. But the incredibly aesthetic appearance makes people pay 150 rubles for eggs and 300 rubles for seven-day-old chickens.
Conditions of detention
Dwarf breeds take root well in farms and at home. But in order to increase the quality of meat and the number of eggs, it is necessary to properly maintain chickens from a young age.
They need to be settled in a hen house made of brick, stone or wood (but the first two materials are better to avoid potential fires). It is better to start by creating a wooden foundation (chickens are sensitive to cold, concrete will not work).
Further, it is worth erecting the walls of the outbuilding. The windows are positioned 0.6 m from the floor. Much attention is required when installing a ventilation system: it must keep the air relatively fresh, but at the same time not overcool the room.
Fans and chimneys are considered optimal. High-quality artificial lighting is also required. Warm yellow light is most acceptable to the eyes of chickens.
Inside you need to arrange boxes or baskets for nests.They need to be placed on the floor, because small birds have a hard time flying. Also, for the safe raising of chickens, a walking area is required. It should be installed right next to the house, and also provide small openings for free exit.
The site is fenced off with a metal mesh, and lawn even grass is considered the most successful covering for it. She will not rub the paws of the bird, and will also provide it with pasture.
Feeding and care
The diet of birds should contain vitamins (especially vitamin E, which is found in oats and barley), protein (it is found in grass flour, nutshells, chalk or crushed gravel) and quickly digestible protein, so yeast is added to the food.
Most of the menu is occupied by juicy plant foods: chopped carrots, gherkins or cabbage.
It is important to avoid drafts to keep the livestock warm. The fact is that chickens of dwarf breeds are poorly resistant to diseases, so at low temperatures they run the risk of catching a cold. In winter, it is worth laying a thick bed of chopped straw on the floor in the hen house, the main thing is not to forget to loosen the floor bed (this is due to the fact that food debris and feces accumulate in the straw).
The bird is sensitive to the quality of light. Lack of lighting leads to a decrease in fertility. Daylight hours in the house should be at least 15 hours.
Breeding subtleties
- First, straw is placed on the floor, perches are created and the quality of lighting in the chicken coop is checked. The nesting site should be clean and not shaded;
- If you are not sure that chickens will sit in clutches, you should think about purchasing an incubator. Remember to turn the eggs every 240 minutes;
- Incubator chicks are demanding on living conditions. The temperature should be up to 30 degrees. You can use a heating pad wrapped in a towel;
- The feeding of the chicks lays the foundation for their fertility. Therefore, actively supply the chicks with protein. It is found in boiled eggs, kefir and cottage cheese. Vitamins are concentrated in crushed nettle, bone meal.