Hybrid breed of Redbro chickens
The Redbro chicken breed is a hybrid that belongs to the meat-and-meat direction. Suitable for breeding both in small private farms and on industrial farms. Differs in good egg production, large body size and average growth rates. The meat of chickens and roosters is tasty, slightly fibrous and completely lean. If you look at any farming forum, you can find numerous positive reviews about this cross.
Redbro chicken breed
Description of the breed
Redbrough chickens were bred in England. Got a cross by crossing Cornish breed with Malay fighting fighters. The result is birds with well-developed muscles, good egg production, excellent adaptability to any climate and high disease resistance. Further improvement of the breed was carried out in the USA and France. Now two lines are known: M and S, which differ in their productivity.
In Russia, Redbrough chickens have been known for several decades. Due to the fact that birds are unpretentious and perfectly adapt to cold climates, they are very popular in households and farms, as well as in large poultry farms. Characteristics and description of appearance is as follows:
- The head is large and round.
- The scallop is leaf-shaped or pea-shaped, large.
- The beak is strong, straight, slightly shortened.
- The body is large, with well-developed muscles.
- The plumage is plump, red in color.
If you look at the appearance of chickens and roosters in the photo, you can see how beautiful they are, so this breed is loved not only for its food, but also for its decorative qualities. Her character is calm, roosters rarely show aggression. You can keep the cross in the yard with other birds. This is another positive feature of this variety.
Breed productivity
To date, many real ones have been bred in the world. breeds, crosses and hybrids. Many surpass Redbro in their food quality. Nevertheless, these red chickens do not lose their relevance. Many farmers are still looking for universal breeds for breeding, from which both eggs and meat can be obtained at the same time. In addition, the Redbro cross is resistant to many diseases, which significantly reduces herd mortality and the cost of expensive means for prevention.
A description of the productivity of Redbro hens and males is as follows:
- The weight of the males is about 4.5 kg, some specimens reach 6 kg.
- The weight of the chickens is about 3 kg.
- The mass of chickens per month is 1.2 kg, at 2 months - 2.5 kg.
- The average number of eggs per year is 160, individual layers can produce up to 250-300 eggs.
- The mass of one egg is 60-70 g.
- The shade of the shell is brown, it is plump and strong.
- Start of laying - 5.6-6 months
It is important to note that the S cross grows a little faster than the M cross, and its final weights are higher. The meat of Redbro chickens contains almost no fat, it is more fibrous than that of regular broilers, which is why it is not always popular with us. But in the United States, it is this cross that occupies a leading position in the supply of products for healthy nutrition.Similar characteristics are possessed by Master Gray breed or Gris as well Foxy Chick... They are similar in their qualities and compete for leadership in the market.
Productivity increases with good housing conditions. It is known that at temperatures of 18-20 ° C, chickens can lay all year round. If you allow the appearance of a bath, overheating will come and the birds will begin to lose weight. Adequate ventilation in the chicken coop.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
As you can see from the description, the Redbro chicken breed can boast of its positive characteristics and in many ways surpass other varieties. The main advantages of the cross include:
- high productivity in both meat and egg directions
- excellent adaptability to any climate
- rapid growth and weight gain
- disease resistance
The cross also has disadvantages. Since it is obtained as a result of hybrid crossing, it is difficult to get chickens on your own at home. It is best to buy a hatching egg or small chicks. The second drawback is the not too high popularity of the specific meat that Redbro chickens give. Businessmen often face problems in its implementation.
Keeping chickens
This cross is not too capricious, its content is within the power of even beginners. chicken coop for birds, the most common is suitable. It should be equipped with perches with an area of about 40 cm² and at the same height from the floor. The litter is made from peat, straw, shavings or sawdust. Its thickness should be about 10 cm. It is necessary to change the litter in the room itself and in the dressing room as it gets dirty, make sure that its humidity does not exceed 25-30%. The room is completely cleaned every six months or before the launch of a new batch of chickens.
Redbro chickens feel much better on free-range, cages are completely unsuitable for them. On poultry farms, they are grown with limited range. Sometimes birds on large farms are allowed to walk in the dressing room. Calculate the area for the chicken coop, it should be taken into account that you should not keep more than 3 individuals on one square meter, and 1-2 square meters should be calculated on the walking area for 1 chicken. On the walking area and in the poultry house, you can put containers with wood ash. Chickens will arrange dry baths there, which will protect them from parasites.
It is very important to maintain a normal temperature in the hen house, not to create a steam room or a bath there. The cold is not as bad for chickens as the heat is. They rush calmly even at 0 degrees. But overheating can significantly reduce their productivity. Therefore, every poultry house must have adequate ventilation. This can be an ordinary window in the dressing room or the chicken coop itself, or industrial, supply and exhaust ventilation. In winter, all cracks should be carefully caulked; heatingif the climate is too cold. Lighting should be 14-16 hours. Then, even in winter, you can ensure normal egg production.
Bird feeding
The feeding system for birds may vary. Abroad, on industrial farms, high-calorie protein sources are used to feed Redbro chickens. compound feed... They prefer to feed the bird with grain mixtures. If we compare the rate of weight gain, then there is not much difference between the two methods. When raising chickens at home on natural food, the diet includes:
- Grain - wheat, barley, corn, oats.
- Legumes - peas, lentils, vetch.
- Meat and bone meal.
- Oilcake or meal from sunflower, soybeans.
- In winter - grass flour, green needles.
- In summer - fresh grass, tops of plants, fresh vegetables.
- Boiled potatoes, beets, carrot peels.
- Reverse or protein supplements.
- Chalk, salt, shells and other mineral additives.
- Vitamins.
There should always be fresh water in the poultry house; drinkers are also placed in the dressing room and on the walking area. So that in the heat, chickens do not climb into drinkers and did not arrange baths in them, you need to attach them at some elevation.If we calculate the consumption of feed for the production of one egg, the following indicators will be obtained:
- grain - 50 g;
- wet mash - 30 g;
- boiled potatoes - 100 g;
- cake - 10 g;
- herbal flour - 10 g;
- return - 100 g.
In summer, feed costs are lower, as free-range laying hens find their own food. This primarily concerns animal proteins, animals eat worms, snails, beetles and other insects. If the house and dressing room are not properly ventilated, chickens can lose weight in summer due to the heat. This also needs to be monitored.
Bird breeding
As already mentioned, the Redbro broiler is a hybrid, therefore breeding it at home is difficult. Many farmers buy hatching eggs, place them under hens of other breeds, or hatch in the incubator... With artificial breeding, there are no special problems.
It is necessary to have a standard incubator in which the temperature is well regulated, there is ventilation and the ability to maintain normal humidity. The incubator is installed right in the chicken coop, in the dressing room or at home on the veranda. Eggs should be kept at 37.6-37.8 ° C. Humidity should be 55-60%, the effect of a bath must not be allowed. Redbro chicks hatch after 21 days.
Raising young stock is pretty simple. It is necessary to provide an adequate temperature (28-30 ° C) in the first days and round-the-clock lighting. Good ventilation of the room is also necessary so that the air does not stagnate. At the same time, drafts should be avoided. The easiest way is to place the chickens in a brooder, it is easy to do it yourself. Feeding in the early days should be six meals a day. Chickens are given a mash of boiled eggs, cottage cheese and herbs, then steamed grain is introduced into the diet. Feed consumption for growing chickens is as follows:
- 2 weeks - 100-150 g;
- 3 weeks - 180-200 g;
- month - 200-220 g;
- 5-6 weeks - 230-240 g;
- 7-8 weeks - 245-250 g;
- 6 months - 300-350 g.
How much does a hatching egg or day old chick cost? Eggs for incubation are sold for 30-40 rubles, the wholesale price may be lower. Daily chicks cost 80-100 rubles apiece, monthly - 200 rubles, layers 4-5 months - 350-400 rubles. You need to buy chickens at proven poultry farms, which are purposefully engaged in breeding Redbro cross. Otherwise, under the guise of purebred birds, you can buy the most common ones. Before you buy, you need to carefully study the description, photos and videos of the breed.