Varieties of large breeds of chickens
Every day and every year, there are some changes in the world: someone sets new records, someone creates new species of animals, someone can boast of other achievements. There are also competitions between birds. For example, it is interesting to know what are the largest breeds of chickens in existence today.
Description of large breeds of chickens
Varieties of the largest types of chickens
Basically, all large breeds of chickens belong to meat type... The reason is simple: breeders are constantly trying to increase the physical mass of the chicken, resulting in increased meat yield and poultry size. In this case, it is necessary to sacrifice the egg production of the breeds.
By their appearance, you can immediately recognize the giants among all the rest:
- large chickens are more knocked down in terms of body structure;
- the largest breeds of chickens have impressive short legs;
- the structure of the body is muscular, the body is completely horizontal, the chest is slightly protruding.
Most farmers and experts say that the largest chicken breeds in the world, compared to other bird species, have a very calm and peaceful nature. It is interesting that the largest breed of chickens are not famous for their ability to lay many eggs, but they have not lost their maternal instinct and are ready to hatch offspring.
Master Gray
This breed of chickens is the largest of all - its representatives can rightfully be called giants. The breed is known for the fact that it can give a lot of meat. Its name -Gray - French chicken received from the Americans. This is due to the color of the bird's plumage: it is completely gray, but with small different spots of white or light gray. In the photo you can see how beautifully the dark gray color is combined with light specks.
Master Gray chicken
A rooster of this species is capable of gaining more than 7 kg, which is twice as much as a rooster of a normal breed! A chicken, in turn, can gain over 4 kg, but this is taking into account the fact that it can bring more than 300 eggs per year. Experts say that if you keep the birds in a cage, it is possible to grow a chicken or a rooster with a large weight.
There is a small disadvantage: sometimes parents cannot transmit good indicators at the DNA level. In this case, it is more expedient to buy chickens, especially since they are inexpensive, and well-fed and healthy pets are immediately given to your hands, which will quickly and well gain weight, provided that they are fed well.
Brama
Brama Are the second largest chickens after Gray. Today it is one of the most popular bird species in Russia and abroad. All due to the fact that these birds are unpretentious in care, give a large amount of meat after slaughter and, of course, are considered giant chickens.
Brahma is a species that is classified as capable of producing both meat and egg products. The main distinguishing feature is an interesting bright plumage, pants on the legs, which tightly cover them up to protruding claws. The color comes in three shades:
- light coloured;
- dark (brown, black);
- partridge.
Feathered in structure are knocked down and large due to plumage and mass.Experts say that the weight of this breed depends on the color. So, chickens with light plumage weigh up to 5 kg, and with dark ones - over 7 kg.
Brama chicken
Laying hens also produce not too many eggs per year: the maximum number is 130 pieces, their weight is 60 g. Brahma ripens late, they will lay their first clutch at nine months, or maybe at ten. Even with the fact that hens do not produce too many eggs per year, their egg production never changes, even in the cold season. In the photo you can see how interesting and unique the color of Brahm is.
Jerry giant
This is a fairly young breed. She first appeared in the United States, in the state of New Jersey.
Jersey Giant chicken
Then the farmer decided to officially introduce and legalize such a new species of birds, and since 1922 he has been closely engaged in breeding them and creating new ones with a different feather color. To match its name, young growth of this breed is growing really fast. They say that already in the first year of its life, a rooster can weigh a little more than 5 kg, but it stops rapidly gaining kilograms after the sixth.
Layers gain 4.5-5 kg, and unlike the breeds described above, they rush relatively well. They can give a little more than 190 eggs in one year, each weighing 5 g. On the video you can see how massive the representatives of this species are and how elegant and glossy their plumage color is.
Cochinhin
One of the giant breeds that first appeared in Indochina. These birds are similar to the Brama bird breed. The reasons are that Cochinhin - the parent of many breeds, it was this species that was very often used for various breeding studies and the creation of other species. These layers are one of the most unpretentious birds, they can endure even severe frosts. It is all the more surprising that such a hardy breed of chickens is not very popular in Russia.
The meat of these layers is very soft and tasty, and chicken eggs are healthier than other breeds. The winged ones are absolutely unpretentious in keeping, the main thing is that there is constant access to food and water. According to the description, they have a rather calm character, and they will never attack, but if the chicken needs to protect its offspring, she will not hesitate to attack first.
Cochin Chicken
The cock of this breed is quite tall, massive and large. The history of the name of this breed is unknown, today there are many different theories. Birds come in five different colors:
- blue;
- white;
- partridge;
- fawn;
- black.
Black is the most popular shade of all this type. All due to the fact that such individuals look impressive. Red ears, beak and crest stand out against a black background. Roosters of this species usually reach 4.5 kg, while chickens weigh about 4. Laying hens themselves ripen quite late, therefore they will be able to please with an egg only after 8-9 months, they will carry only 125 pieces. Egg production does not fall even in the cold season.
Orpington
This breed of giants was named after the small town where it was bred. A professor worked on its creation, who tried to create a unique breed that would fit the standards of that time. The two main colors in the color of this species are white and black, while no yellowness is acceptable, although today experts have a double opinion on this matter: someone claims that this does not affect the quality of the chicken.
Orpington chicken
After this breed, they began to cross breeding with the Kokhinhin species, thanks to this, the color of the chickens became more interesting, diverse, and they became more massive and strong. Roosters of this species can reach 5 kg, but cases of the appearance of representatives weighing 7 kg have been recorded. Laying hens weigh from 3 to 4 kg, in 1 year they can lay 185 eggs weighing 60-63 g. Young growth of this species does not grow too quickly, it must be constantly looked after and well fed.
Egg indicators
They say that all giant breeds have bad eggs that do not contain any nutrients. These are just rumors.Yes, they contain less vitamins, but this is due to the fact that the giants themselves require a lot of vitamins for constant weight gain, and therefore cannot give many useful substances to eggs.
Some broiler representatives boast of their egg and its positive qualities. For example, Gray can lay more than 200 eggs per year and still retain all the vitamins of the egg. Brahma does not please with fertility, besides, it gives out small eggs.
Today there are many different types of giant rocks, each with their own pros and cons. But one positive quality remains unchanged - their weight.