Characteristics of the Lackenfelder chicken breed
The Lakenfelder chicken breed is considered extremely rare. It is especially rare to find it on the territory of Russia. There are only a few large poultry farms that are interested in preserving the species. Nevertheless, many connoisseurs of bird beauty are trying to find Lakenfelder in order to get them into private collections. The birds have an interesting color, for which they are highly valued as ornamental.
Description of the breed of chickens Lackenfelder
Exterior
External description of the Lakenfelder chicken breed:
- males are distinguished by a knocked down physique;
- the neck is of medium length with dense dark plumage;
- black feathers descend to the shoulder area and smoothly turn into smaller white ones;
- the back is slightly curved downward;
- the shoulder part is well developed, the wings are tightly pressed to the body, at the ends they are painted in black and white;
- the tail is set high, long rounded braids visually add volume to the cock's figure;
- in females, the back is horizontal in relation to the ground;
- the combs in males and females are erect and differ only in size: in chickens they are smaller.
Lackenfelder chickens, regardless of gender, are black and white. The head, tail and cervical region are dark in color. All other parts of the body are white. The paws of the representatives of the species are well developed, short, painted in gray tones, like the beak.
Features of the
Lakenfelder is a rare species. If in the near future you do not start breeding them at a professional level, it is quite possible that in a couple of years there will be no more representatives left.
Beginners are unlikely to be able to handle professional breeding. The fact is that representatives of the species constantly breed completely dark or light chickens. The color of future chickens cannot be accurately determined even by the most experienced farmer.
Chickens of the Lakenfelder breed can be both dark and light in color.
Individuals of a single color are discarded. They are not allowed to participate in exhibitions. To get a truly purebred herd, you will have to raise more than one generation of birds. Despite the difficulties in breeding the breed, chickens can boast of excellent health and good adaptability to frosty winters. Unlike others chicken breeds, Lackenfelder people tolerate temperature extremes and high humidity very well.
The nature of the birds is very calm. They get along well with any other birds in the poultry yard. Birds of this breed are distinguished by a high level of intelligence. They are very strongly attached to their place of residence and their owner.
How to grow and maintain
The Lackenfelder chicken breed belongs to meat and egg orientation... All representatives of these breeds need a proper balanced diet. Females should consume adequate amounts of calcium, protein, minerals and a multivitamin.An improper diet or a lack of certain vitamins can cause a decrease in egg production and deteriorate the quality of meat. This breed of chickens should receive only certified feed.
To increase egg production and improve the quality of products, boiled eggs are introduced into the diet along with crushed shells. This allows the hens to quickly replenish the missing calcium and protein. In winter, it is necessary to add all kinds of vitamin complexes.
Keeping birds in rooms with a small area is simply unacceptable. By nature, representatives of this breed have a medium-sized physique, but they need a spacious shed, from which there is an exit to the walking area. Birds can compensate for the lack of vitamins in summer on their own, eating pasture.
Production data
The Lackenfelder breed of chickens does not differ in large mass. For example, a rooster reaches only 2 kg, and even less hens - 1.2-1.7 kg. The laying hen lays about 180-200 eggs per year. The level of egg production will directly depend on living conditions, literacy of maintenance and diet.
Eggshells are light, weight - 55 g. For setting in the incubator, it is necessary to select only the largest testicles. After hatching, the chicks need to provide certain conditions so that they do not have problems with immunity in the future.
Breeding
The breeding description is noteworthy. To breed this breed of chickens, it is not necessary to buy an incubator: females are excellent hens. The only problem is that many chicks are born solid. This phenomenon is the reason that the species was on the verge of extinction.
The rejected young are kept separately.
The breeding procedure itself is a rather complex process. Today on the territory of the Russian Federation there are only a few large farms that are interested in preserving the species. It is in them that you can buy eggs for incubation or day-old chicks.
Caring for chicks
Despite the fact that more than half of the young are born without the main characteristics of the breed, they all have good survival. In the first week of life, about 5% of the total livestock dies, the remaining 95% tolerate even temperature extremes and an increase in humidity, while other breeds of chickens in such conditions immediately begin to get sick.
Individuals of this breed do not differ in rapid growth. Half of the bulk is reached only at 3 months of age. Caring for babies should not cause any difficulties.
Feeding the Lazenfelder chicks is no different than feeding other chicks. The first meal is usually taken 12 hours after birth, when the chicks are completely dry and look like soft lumps.
They feed the chicks with a boiled egg and mash from cereals and herbs. At 2 weeks of age, chickens are transferred to specialized feed. You can use pelleted feed with a full list of vitamins and minerals necessary for full development.
How to feed adults
It is much more difficult for sexually mature chickens to find a suitable compound feed than for young animals. When breeding this breed, it is not recommended to experiment with self-prepared grain mixtures. There are several rules to follow when breeding Lakenfelders.
- In the cold season, birds are fed 3 times a day, in the warm season - 2 times a day.
- Birds are very fond of all kinds of mash as a treat. This product must be fresh; in winter, the mash should be kept warm.
- To increase egg production, you should not resort to using premixes. Such a move gives a short-term result, and the bird is severely depleted at the same time, which can lead to a complete stop of egg production.
- The daily diet must include meat and bone meal or shredded shellfish.
- In addition, fish oil, sour milk, cottage cheese, yeast are introduced into the diet of chickens.
Pause in egg-laying
The average life expectancy for chickens of this breed is 7 years. The peak of egg production occurs in the first 3 years, then slowly begins to decline. Chickens rush throughout the year. The pause occurs only during the molt period and lasts about 2 months. This process takes place in the autumn.
It is advisable for 3 years, which are the most productive, to grow new livestock, which can gradually replace old individuals. In addition to molts egg production can be stopped due to:
- improper diet;
- health problems;
- insufficiently good conditions of detention.
What should be a poultry house
Despite the fact that birds feel great outside on frosty days, they need insulated poultry house... It is not necessary to equip the birdhouse with heaters; you just need to insulate the walls and roof. A warm bedding made of sawdust or hay is placed on the floor. Throughout the winter period, the litter is not changed, and in the spring it will become an excellent fertilizer for the garden.
The birds need sufficient walking, so a hole must be made from the hen house so that the chickens can freely go outside even in winter.
The key to the well-being of pets is the timely hygiene of feeders, drinkers and the room itself, including perches and nests. It is also necessary to take care of the reliability of the building, protecting the chickens from rodents and predators entering the barn.
Final part
The video and photo of Lakenfelder chickens show that the birds have an attractive color and good meat performance. In addition, females are capable of producing the maximum number of eggs for 3 years.
Difficulty in breeding brought the species to the brink of extinction. Most chicks are born without external breed characteristics, so these individuals are discarded. The biggest problem is that it is impossible to determine the color of the future chicks, otherwise the culling would take place even at the incubation stage, which would greatly facilitate the breeding process.
Among the advantages of the breed, they note a high resistance to all kinds of diseases, fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
The survival rate of young animals is 95%. The average life expectancy is 7 years, however, the representatives of the breed are generally not kept for more than 3 years, since the peak of egg production occurs precisely in the first 3 years of life.