Dutch white-crested chickens: breed overview and breeding tips

Cultivation and maintenance

Individuals are easily tamed and friendly to children. The Dutch White-crested chicken breed is suitable for exhibitions where their well-groomed crests are displayed.

They never fight and rarely get along with other white-crested animals, which is why they are kept together. The Dutch white-crested chicken does not relate well to birds of other breeds, so it is better to provide them with a separate spacious enclosure.

The Crested Hen is vulnerable due to its reduced vision, so feathered pets must remain safe. If the tuft becomes wet and dirty, it hangs right in front of the eyes, interfering with vision, this leads to infections in the eyes and the inability to navigate in space. It is worth keeping the feeder and waterer clean and in the same place so that white-crested animals can easily find them again.

Dutch white-crested roosters are shy and are guided more by their voice than by their sight.

Dutch chickens get lost easily and start screaming, so it is important to keep them in a safe place.

The characteristics of the birds indicate that large crests are not just a warm hat for chickens, but also suitable breeding grounds for lice and other parasites. Birds are at much greater risk of ear mite infestation than other breeds. The ears are hidden under the tuft, so regular checks and appropriate spray treatments are recommended.

The Dutch chicken is not very hardy and easily catches colds, so it is kept under cover in humid weather. Some breeders even dry the tufts with a hairdryer if they get wet.

The characteristics of roosters and hens do not indicate resistance to frost. The birds have a thin skull, they suffer from hypothermia in cold seasons, despite the fact that they were brought from Holland - not the warmest country.

Breeding chickens

The Dutch white-crested breed of chickens reproduces well both naturally and by hatching eggs in an incubator. Laying hens are good mothers; they hatch eggs well and care for the chicks. This characteristic is very useful, since the hatchability of Dutch breed chickens is low. True, pets can be aggressive towards chickens of other breeds.

The main problem with breeding is the low survival rate of young animals, which does not exceed 70% even with good care. In some cases, you can lose more than half of the chicks, so in the first weeks the chicks should not be taken out of sight. Adequate temperature and lighting must be provided. A special brooder works best for this purpose.

It is also necessary to ensure perfect cleanliness in the boxes; the litter is changed daily, or even twice a day. The room where chickens grow must be regularly ventilated and disinfected with an ultraviolet lamp. A solution of potassium permanganate, antibiotics and other drugs to prevent infections are added to drinking bowls with water.

You can feed the chicks only with fresh food. In the first days they are given an egg, cottage cheese with finely chopped, pre-steamed herbs, then porridge, grain, and vegetables are added. Many poultry farmers prefer to feed young animals with ready-made feed for egg-laying chickens. You should not take feed that broilers eat. Dutch chickens will then lose their egg production, which is already low, although they will gain weight faster.

How much do Dutch white-crested chickens cost? These chickens are quite rare, which is why they are expensive. A hatching egg costs about 100 rubles. Day-old chicks - 400-500 rubles. Chickens 40-60 days old - about 1000 rubles. Such prices are also due to the fact that during breeding, part of the livestock is lost due to the low survival rate of chickens.

Source: FermoVed.ru

Nuances of breeding

Liven chickens in most cases are able to hatch chicks. The only problem is their weight - heavy quons often damage the eggs. For this reason, many farmers do not trust them with the responsible mission of breeding offspring, but use an incubator or a hen of a different breed.

For breeding, a rooster is selected whose exterior meets the standard. Preference is given to males with average weight. Too large heads of families during mating games injure the hens, which then leads to pecking.

Raising young animals

Liven calico chickens take a long time to fledge, so greenhouse conditions need to be created for them. Immediately after birth, the brood is placed in a brooder and in the first week of life is kept at a temperature of +30 ºС. The bedding inside is changed daily. After washing, the drinking bowl and feeder are scalded with boiling water.

Calico chickens are fed in the same way as representatives of other breed lines. Their first food is a boiled egg.

Then steamed small cereals, green onions, cottage cheese and vegetables are carefully introduced into the diet. Young animals are switched to whole grain feed at one month of age

Young animals of the Livensky breed

Breeding

Dutch laying hens breed successfully both naturally and by hatching eggs in an incubator. Crested hens are excellent mothers, they do not abandon eggs and take care of the chicks. This quality is very important, since the hatchability rate of chicks is not very high.

• Crested chicks can be aggressive towards chicks of other species.

The main concern when raising chickens is the low survival rate of chicks, which does not exceed 70% even with proper care. Sometimes losses reach up to 50%, so in the first 10–15 days of life, chickens need to be given maximum attention.

• Comfortable temperature and light should be created. The optimal solution to the problem is a brooder, or a special box for raising chickens.
• It is important to maintain order in the boxes and change the litter 1-2 times a day. It is recommended to ventilate the premises where the chicks are kept and disinfect them with a UV lamp.
• It is recommended to add a solution of crystalline manganese, antibiotics and other medications to drinking water to prevent diseases.
• In the first days, the chicks are fed eggs, cottage cheese with chopped and pre-steamed herbs.
• Then porridge, grains and vegetables are added to the menu. Some breeders prefer to feed their chicks with ready-made combined feed for egg-laying chickens.
• It is not recommended to use feed intended for broilers. It reduces egg production in birds, but they gain weight faster.

Dutch white-crested birds are unpretentious birds with a striking appearance and average egg production. They are active laying hens, and if properly cared for, the population will increase and delight the owner with their appearance and homemade eggs.

Source: 1kyra.ru

Description and characteristics

The chicken variety was developed in the 16th century and its origins are quite unusual. Initially, a breed called the Corydalis was bred in Holland. At that time, she had no resemblance to the current white-crested hen. Corydalis were bred in Holland to produce more meat and eggs. In appearance it was an ordinary chicken, but with black plumage, which was often interspersed with red feathers.

A little later, scientists who decided to turn the Dutch Corydalis into a breed bred for decorative purposes crossed it with the Polish Corydalis chicken. The result was the current breed of white-crested chicken, which began to be used not only for obtaining eggs, but also as an ornamental bird.

Dutch white-crested chickens and rooster

The white-crested breed can be characterized as follows:

• the bird's skull has a swelling on which a white crest is located. The genetic purity of chickens is usually determined by this crest;
• the presence of feathers at the base of the beak. The color of these feathers matches the main plumage, their arrangement gives this area the shape of a butterfly. A prerequisite for the purity of the breed is the splendor of the crest and its spherical shape. It is unacceptable for a chicken to have feathers of a different color on its head;
• the color of the beak and legs always matches the color of the main plumage;
• the eyes are red or brown, and the earlobes are white;
• roosters are distinguished by a narrow tail, which consists of wide curved braids of hooked feathers. The tail is positioned at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the body.

Rooster of the Dutch white-crested breed

You can see what hens of this breed and their chicks look like in this video, as well as pay attention to their special features and conditions of detention

Video – Dutch white-crested

Regarding the productivity of the white-crested variety, there are certain indicators. It is considered more of an egg breed than one that is used for meat. It is possible to breed such birds for meat purposes, however, because of their beauty, few people want to kill them for food.

Chickens are bred for decorative purposes

The productivity of the breed is up to 140 eggs in the first year of life, in the future it is capable of producing 100 eggs. The eggs are slightly smaller compared to a regular breed of chicken, weighing no more than 50 grams. The egg shell is white. The period of productivity begins after six months of the chicken’s life. Regarding the weight of the carcass, roosters can gain weight up to 2.5 kg, and laying hens up to 2 kg.

The weight of a white-crested chicken can reach two kilograms

Story

The real pedigree of Dutch hens is unknown. The first description of such birds dates back to the 15th century. At that time, dark chickens were bred everywhere, which laid eggs well and met the requirements for meat quality, but they did not have tufts.

In the next century, poultry farmers wanted to decorate black chickens and they began to cross them with white Polish crested chickens.

Thus, the birds acquired their current elegant appearance and snow-white crests adorning their heads, but retained their productivity. This breed is depicted in many paintings by Dutch painters of those times.

Diseases of the breed

Long-term selection of the breed allowed the Sussexes to acquire stable immunity to most poultry diseases. However, the danger may be:

1. Coccidiosis. Symptoms include weakness and bloody diarrhea. Treatment involves slaughtering sick individuals and treating the rest of the herd.
2. Mycoplasmosis. The disease is caused by a combination of humidity and ammonia in the absence of ventilation in the room. A symptom of the disease is a severe cough. Treatment is carried out by inoculating with a special vaccine.

Parasites such as lice, lice, roundworms and salmonella are also dangerous. To prevent infection, it is necessary to carry out preventive disinfection and disinsection of premises.

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Breed overview

Let's see what are the distinctive features of this breed of chickens. You will learn how to identify it among other individuals, even at one day old. Along with egg production and rapid growth rates, the Amrox breed has other advantages:

• High survival rate of both young and mature individuals;
• Unpretentiousness in food and maintenance, which allows even novice farmers to own this breed;
• Calm character;
• Ability to adapt to unusual conditions, including winter;
• Excellent taste.

Origin

Poultry farmers have two versions of the origin of this breed. According to one of them, breeding of a breed that was advantageous in all respects began in Germany in the mid-twentieth century. German breeders worked hard to create individuals that would mature quite quickly, actively lay eggs and be resistant to various diseases. As a result of their painstaking work, the Amroks breed of chickens appeared.

According to another version, the Amrox breed appeared a century earlier. And not in Germany, but in the state of Massachusetts in North America. Perhaps the first attempts at selective selection of these birds began there, and post-war Germany only improved the developments of American farmers.

In any case, the final standard for this breed was approved in the late 50s. A few years later, Amroks became very popular due to their excellent productivity. Nowadays, purebred chickens of this species are rarely used on large farms. But these chickens are the basis for obtaining new broiler crosses. But private poultry farmers are happy to acquire the Amrox breed.

Appearance

To describe the appearance of this universal breed, it is worth remembering what a cuckoo looks like. This is exactly the variegated color of Amrox chickens. This colorful outfit was given to the hens by their ancestors, the Striped Plymouth Rocks. The color of this breed cannot be different, so if you have an Amrox in front of you, it will definitely be cuckoo-colored.

So, each chicken feather is painted in two colors: black and light gray. Poultry farmers call black the main color, and the gray stripes seem to cover the main color of the feather. However, roosters have stripes of both colors that are the same width, which makes them appear paler than females. But chickens have more black in their plumage, and this makes them brighter.

It is worth noting that black and gray colors, despite their severity, add diversity to Amrox chickens and distinguish the birds favorably from other species of relatives. Even Striped Plymouthrocks, which have slightly thinner stripes, look less vibrant. By the way, Amroks have stripes not only on the outer feathers. Even their down is gray-black, right down to every hair.

Adult chickens do not have fundamental differences in appearance. Both hens and roosters have striped feathers, but females are predominantly black. In addition, chickens are a little stockier than roosters, their tail is shorter, and their neck is neater. In the next video you can see for yourself what adult Amrox breeds look like.

In general, the Amrox breed is represented by large, tall birds with a proportional head. They have developed muscles on a wide elongated body. On the powerful short neck there is a fluffy collar made of a dense row of feathers. The eyes are slightly protruding, brown with a red tint.

By the way, on professional farms, where the purity of the breed is carefully monitored, the birds are carefully selected. If an Amrox individual does not meet the standard, it is discarded. Thus, a discrepancy in the color of the eyes and beak, and the absence of black stripes on the feathers indicate that the bird may also lag behind in physical indicators. Chickens that have too neat a body, long legs or a narrow body are also weeded out.

Productivity

Birds that meet the standard in all respects are characterized by high productivity. Females begin laying eggs early. This occurs approximately 5.5 months after birth. During the first year of life, one female Amrox produces about 200 eggs weighing 60 grams, which is a good indicator.

Chickens grow quite quickly, even among meat breeds. Cockerels that are several months old gain weight up to 4 kilograms. Females weigh about 3 kilograms. What’s remarkable is that they grow over the course of a year and a half.

Feeding an adult herd

In general, hens can be content with the products they are given. But, there are several important rules for feeding adult livestock. Let's look at them.

• The winter diet should differ from the summer diet in increased calorie content and an additional portion of vitamins. We must not forget that even during this difficult period, the laying does not stop, so the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates remains the same.
• In winter, the need for vitamins increases due to the impossibility of walking on green lawns, where black clumps partially met their needs in the summer season. You can enrich the menu with dry herbs, vegetables, as well as the use of special preparations that contain the whole range of useful substances.
• The entire daily feed intake should be divided into 3 meals. If it's summer and birds are grazing on lush, green lawns, the daily meal can be canceled.
• The quality of grain and the composition of grain mixtures should be strictly controlled. If a combined industrially produced feed is used, it should contain the following grains: wheat, oats, corn, rye, barley.
• Important mash is an ideal option for quick saturation, as well as for enriching birds’ bodies with minerals, vitamins, fatty acids and proteins. Such delicacies are prepared using broths, skim milk, or simply steamed with boiling water.

Feeding the birds

A proper diet is also of great importance. Chickens need to be fed 3 times a day. For lunch, wet mash is given, which should make up at least 30% of the total food. Chickens should be fed grain in the evening and morning. The general diet consists of the following products:

• Grain (wheat, oats, barley, corn) or feed for egg-laying breeds.
• Legumes (peas, beans, vetch, lentils).
• Boiled potatoes, beets, carrots and other vegetables.
• Fresh herbs (summer) or grass meal (winter).
• Meal and cake from oilseeds.
• Fish fat.
• Return
• Brewer's yeast.
• Meat and bone meal.
• Substances rich in calcium (chalk, shells, small gravel).
• Vitamin supplements.

It is important to remember that in winter the menu should be more caloric, since more energy is spent on heating. In addition, we must not forget that chickens need animal proteins and fats. In the summer, they fill the need with beetles and worms, which they find on their own. In winter, you need to give them meat broths, skim milk, cottage cheese or special fat and protein supplements.

You should not expect that a Dutch rooster or hen on good food will get better quickly, these are not broilers, but this is one of the few types of ornamental birds that not only decorates the yard, but also lays eggs. The right diet helps maintain and slightly increase productivity. In addition, good food strengthens the immune system, reducing livestock mortality.

Hens - laying hens of the Dutch breed "Hisex"

No one will undertake to count the exact number of chicken breeds currently existing, but, according to experienced poultry farmers, there are already more than seven hundred (!) species in the world.

Chickens of the " Hisex"

"are not an independent breed, but were obtained by Dutch breeders on an agricultural basis by crossing two species of birds:

· «Leghorn

"(an egg breed bred in Italy)

· «New Hampshire

"(American breed of chicken meat - egg type with white feathers. Bred with the participation of the
Rhode Island
)

Initially, back in the Soviet Union, these chickens were purchased and tested at one of the poultry farms in Ukraine, where very impressive results were obtained, after which the hybrid began to actively spread in the Urals, the North Caucasus and Siberia.

In total, the Dutch bred two varieties of “ Hisex”

”, which differ in plumage color: White (
White
) and Brown (
Brown
).

The white hybrid initially had higher popularity among poultry farmers, but over time Brown overtook it due to its higher productivity and dark brown egg color.

Features of Hisex chickens

Looks like a " Hisex"

" is not catchy. The chicken has a neat body, a rather large comb that hangs coquettishly to one side and smooth, silky feathers that are pleasant to the touch. Poultry farmers fell in love with the cross not for its beauty of appearance, but for the fact that these chickens are easy to raise both on homestead farms and on an industrial scale, and in terms of the ratio of costs to profit received, this breed is still considered one of the best in the world.

It is noteworthy that with a very modest size and weight of up to two kilograms, laying hens produce fairly large eggs, the average weight of which is approximately sixty grams. At the same time, the productivity of one hen reaches three hundred and twenty (!) eggs during the year, and a laying hen provides such high productivity for two to three years.

Laying hens are distinguished by their fairly early puberty, high survival rate, and good disease resistance. Among other things, chickens of the “ Hisex”

"Very friendly, sociable, active and energetic.

Already at one day of age, hens and cockerels of this hybrid are easy to distinguish from each other, since the cockerels have lighter down.

As for keeping cockerels, it is better not to keep them at home for a long time, but to let them eat meat, since over time, it loses its taste and becomes tough.

Features of the Hisex Brown breed

Laying hens of the breed " Hisex Brown"

"are also of the egg type and have an eye-pleasing brown-gold plumage. Unlike their white relatives, they have a larger body and with greater consumption of feed, chickens gain weight faster.

The breed is quite hardy, unpretentious to food, not demanding on living conditions and acclimatizes well.

Unlike its white relative, the brown chicken is more phlegmatic and calm.

Advantages and disadvantages

Crested hens and cockerels have many advantages, but they are not without their disadvantages.

Benefits of chickens:

• high rates of egg production, despite the decorative breed;
• To keep chickens you will need a small amount of feed;
• bright attractive appearance;
• chickens are caring hens.

Flaws:

• chickens are considered sickly, so caring for offspring becomes a troublesome task;
• due to weak immune defenses, the survival rate of chickens is low;
• crested laying hens do not always get along with other types of chickens;
• birds do not tolerate cold weather, dampness, or cramped spaces;
• chickens are picky eaters.

History of the breed

Livensky district existed in the Oryol region back in Tsarist Russia. It was then that ordinary peasants tried to breed chickens for themselves that would lay large eggs all year round. The thing is that in those days ordinary people could afford to feed the bird with just a handful of grain.

Over the years, the peasants managed to get what they wanted. At the same time, the Livenskaya breed of chickens grows very quickly and lays eggs throughout the year without interruption. In those days, eggs of this type were popular in England, where they were supplied from Russia. Liven calico chickens can be distinguished by their plumage.

Unfortunately, in the sixties it was decided that this breed was not profitable, since there were more productive breeds. As a result of this, Calico chickens began to be exterminated. The only exceptions were private farms. It was already impossible to restore the livestock.

In recent years, the Liven Calico breed of chickens was discovered on a private farm in the Poltava region. Over the course of several years, they began to actively breed them and select only the largest and strongest individuals for the reincarnation of the species. Now experts assure that Livenka will soon again be famous throughout Russia and abroad. To have an idea of ​​what we are talking about, you should consider the description of the Liven chicken breed.

Breeding history

The breed was developed in Holland in the 15th century to produce eggs and meat. At first, the chickens had a normal appearance, without a crest. The only thing that made them stand out was their black or dark brown plumage.

In those days, they were distinguished by high egg production and gained weight well. According to one version, this prompted breeders to cross the Dutch chicken breed with the Polish crested chicken in order to increase the productivity of the latter.

According to the second version, the breeders, by crossing the Dutch and Polish breeds, planned to get a decorative chicken, and did not rely on productivity.

As a result, the egg production of Dutch chickens has dropped slightly. They lost in size, but acquired a luxurious “hairstyle,” which even today serves as the breed’s calling card.

Modern white-crested Dutch chickens are of medium size and egg production. There are also dwarf representatives of the breed.

Description and characteristics of the Goloshka breed

The main distinguishing feature of these birds is the absence of feathers on the neck, crop, under the wings and on the inner sides of the legs. These areas are called apteria and have clear standards. Birds do not lose feathers; contrary to popular belief, they are already born with underdeveloped follicles in these areas of the body.

But on the back of their heads they have a chic feather bow or cap, and in front they have feathers folded into a fluffy collar. The genetically determined “naked neck” is a dominant trait that is necessarily passed on to the chicks if the purity of the breed is maintained.

Speaking about the breed, it should be noted that at poultry exhibitions, these chickens always gather enthusiastic onlookers around them, and quite strict requirements are imposed on their exterior; judges can reject chickens for the following reasons:

• yellow skin in the apterial areas is a sign of the presence of genetic abnormalities and hereditary diseases.

As for the tail, the standards describe its location as “at an angle of 15-20 degrees,” however, deviations at this point are very common. For the first time, professional poultry breeders and farmers encountered this breed at an exhibition in Vienna in 1875, and by 1930 these chickens had already spread throughout Europe, including part of the territories of the USSR.

Of course, the leadership remained with the less exotic, familiar-looking laying hens, but nevertheless, already at that time, bare-necked hens had a circle of admirers, which only expanded from the beginning of the 20th century. The reasons for the ardent love of many farmers for this bird are not its appearance, but such qualities of the breed as:

• high and early egg production;
• absolute unpretentiousness in maintenance - the bird will even survive the absence of a poultry house;
• complete indiscriminateness in food - blacknecks feed on everything that comes under their beak;
• easily tolerates any weather conditions, including frosts - barenecks will never refuse a walk in the snow, but at the same time they feel great in the tropics.

In addition, the bird is quite large and its meat has all the qualities that can satisfy even gourmet gourmets. For example, it was these chickens that began to be supplied to the imperial court in Russia in 1911.

Such characteristics of bare-necked chickens indicate the complete versatility of this breed, as well as their unique exotic appearance, in which. In addition to the bare neck, the bright, varied colors of the available feathers also play a significant role, making the bird very popular both among poultry farmers practicing selection and among ordinary businessmen. As for the productivity characteristics of the breed, bare-necked chickens differ:

• good weight, roosters from 3 to 4 kg, hens from 2 to 3 kg;
• early and stable egg production, on average from 160 to 200 eggs per year;
• large mass of eggs for any diet, from 57 to 62 g;
• The first “adult” egg laying begins at 24-25 weeks of the hen’s life.

Features of care

Despite the fact that the breed originated in a northern country, birds are susceptible to cold weather, so it is recommended to maintain the temperature in the chicken coop at least 15–19°C.

• Laying hens also love spacious rooms. The size of the poultry house is planned so that there is at least 1 m² per 2-3 birds. And when walking, each individual should have 4–5 m² of free space.
• It is necessary to ensure that the litter remains clean and not wet at all times, otherwise an epidemic of some infectious disease may begin among the birds. It is recommended to sprinkle the floor with slaked lime and lay straw or sawdust on it. Replace flooring weekly.
• Perches for white-crested hens are arranged at a distance of 32–42 cm from the floor, measuring 26–33 cm². The crest of laying hens requires special attention, since the purity of the breed is judged by its appearance. It is recommended to wash the feathers once every 5–7 days.

Proper diet plays a huge role. Birds need to be fed three times a day:

• for breakfast – cereal of your choice;
• for lunch – porridge-like food (at least 30% of the total food);
• for dinner - grains.

The following products should be included in the general diet:

• grain or combined feeds;
• legumes;
• boiled potatoes, beets, carrots and similar root vegetables;
• fresh herbs in season or herbal flour in cold weather;
• meal and cake;
• meat and bone meal;
• calcined additives: chalk, mollusk shells, fine gravel;
• multivitamin complexes;
• fish fat.

During the cold season, it is important to provide more high-calorie nutrition, because greater energy expenditure is required to stay warm.

• The diet of laying hens must include animal proteins and fats. During the summer months, chickens compensate for this need by eating bugs and worms. In winter, you need to give birds meat broths, curd products or specialized additives.

You should not expect that cockerels and hens, with proper nutrition, will quickly gain weight. But this is one of the few decorative breeds that not only has a bright appearance, but also lays eggs. A balanced diet helps maintain and slightly improve egg production. Rich food also helps strengthen the immune defense, reducing litter mortality.

Features of cultivation

To raise birds, the chicken coop must be spacious and insulated so that the birds are not harmed by severe winter frost. Install the perches at a height of no more than 100 cm from the floor surface. Due to its dense plumage, the bird is not afraid of slight drops in temperature, but during severe frosts it is recommended to turn on the heating in the pen.

The bedding layer in the chicken coop must be replaced at least once a year, and the walls must be covered with a protective layer of slaked lime. Be sure to add hay to the nests every 30 days. Using antiseptic agents, systematically wash feeders and drinkers once a month or if there is heavy contamination.

Other aspects of care consist of regular feeding and parasite control. We must not forget that you need to collect eggs, because if birds try the shell once, they will systematically peck at them to feast on them.

As for feeding, it is recommended to use the same food. During the summer season, chickens can be sent to free range, and standard feeding (compound feed) can be reduced to a minimum. During walks, birds feast on worms, insects, grass or plant seeds. In order to determine whether a bird is full or not, you can palpate its crop. If it is full, you don’t have to worry about the chicken being hungry, but the presence of an empty or weakly filled crop indicates that the bird is starving.

The normal condition of the chicken is maintained by feed. In the winter season, birds need to be fed with grass flour, grain mixtures, whey, wet mash, meat or fish waste and vitamin and mineral complexes. The chicken should eat one serving within half an hour. You can use waste after cooking for feeding, but only if it is not rotten or sour.

The maternal instinct of Pavlovian hens is very strong; the hen can take the initiative and sit in the nest herself. In order for chickens to hatch, farmers recommend placing no more than 10 eggs under a chicken. When raising chicks, the Pavlova hen will protect them, preventing the loss of the young. Feeding chickens should be started only after they are completely dry. You can hard-boil an egg, chop it into small pieces along with the shell and feed it to the chicken.

You should also include corn and crushed wheat grits in the diet of young animals. It is recommended to stop heating Pavlovian chickens when they reach the last stage of plumage, which occurs 50 days after birth.

Keeping chickens

Dutch white-crested chickens are whimsical birds. They require special conditions of detention. When they are violated, they often begin to get sick. The survival rate of adult livestock does not reach more than 80% even if all the rules are followed.

Although Dutch laying hens were bred in a northern country, they are sensitive to cold, therefore it is necessary to install heating in the poultry house so that in winter the temperature does not fall below 15-19 ° C. In this case, the humidity should be 60-70%. Chickens also need space; they cannot be raised in cages or a closed chicken coop, only on free range.

For 1 sq. m of the poultry house you can keep no more than 2-3 individuals, and the walking space is calculated so that there is 4-5 m per 1 individual. It is very important that the litter in the chicken coop is always dry and clean, otherwise an epidemic of some kind may break out among the chickens infections. It is best to pour slaked lime on the floor and lay straw, sawdust or shavings on top. The bedding is changed at least once a week.

Perches for laying hens are arranged at a height of 30-40 cm from the ground, their area should be about 25-30 cm². Special care is needed for the crest, because the purity of the breed is assessed by its purity. Feathers need to be washed once a week. Some poultry farmers believe that the crest should be trimmed, but this condition is optional.

Description

After they stopped demanding a large number of eggs from the Dutch White-crested and put an emphasis on beauty, egg production most likely decreased. Or has not risen since the Middle Ages. Today's productive characteristics of Dutch white-crested chickens are at an average level for meat breeds, while the white-crested chicken itself is considered a meat-egg breeder.

Over the past centuries, the crest has undergone some changes towards greater elegance. But initially the breeders overdid it a little. The chickens did not have a particular problem with the crest. It became lush and spherical. The roosters' comb began to droop to one side. In general, due to the too much pomp of the crest, the chickens’ vision began to suffer. Eventually, the Dutch Poultry Association tightened the standard, requiring that the crest and crest be proportional to the size of the bird. For breeding work, it was recommended to select roosters with a powerful, medium-sized standing comb.

Standard

The Dutch white-crested rooster weighs about 2.5 kg. Chicken from 1.5 to 2 kg. In the dwarf version, the rooster weighs 850 g, the hen 740 g. The productive egg characteristics of the Dutch white-crested chicken breed are low by today's standards: 140 eggs per year and the weight of one egg does not exceed 50 g. The shell is white.

Today, the main attention is paid to the appearance of these chickens, which have already firmly become decorative. The White-crested body has a compact body. The comb of roosters is often not visible under the feathers and gives the impression that it is missing

In fact, a purebred rooster has a red comb, although it is hidden. The ridge shape is V-shaped. The earrings are red, the earlobes are white. The eyes are red or brown. The color of the beak depends on the plumage of the bird. The color of the beak and tarsus matches the color of the bird

The comb of roosters is often not visible under the feathers and gives the impression that it is missing. In fact, a purebred rooster has a red comb, although it is hidden. The ridge shape is V-shaped. The earrings are red, the earlobes are white. The eyes are red or brown. The color of the beak depends on the plumage of the bird. The color of the beak and tarsus matches the color of the bird.

The skeleton is light. The body is compact, located almost horizontally relative to the surface of the earth. The wings are small, tightly pressed to the body. The abdomen is tucked and well developed. The back is straight. The tail is located almost vertically, of medium density, narrow. Roosters are decorated with long braids running along the inside of the tail. Legs of medium length. Metatarsus unfeathered.

Breed Features

In the description of Dutch white-crested chickens, there are signs by which the purebred bird can be determined:

• there is a swelling on the skull, on which the famous crest grows;
• at the base of the beak long feathers grow, matching the color of the main plumage; these feathers form a butterfly or whisker pattern.

Today, chickens have been bred with other color options. Russian-language sources in the description of the Dutch white-crested chicken breed insist on a maximum of two varieties of colors: black and lavender - a derivative of black. In fact, a black body with a white crest is simply the most common color option for the Dutch White-crest. Foreign sources provide photos of Dutch white-crests with quite a wide variety of colors. And sometimes even without a white crest.

In the photo in the background.

And the most paradoxical-sounding color of the Dutch white-crested dog is black.

White

Available in a Dutch pet store.

One should not be surprised at the presence of white and black colors, since these genes responsible for these colors are definitely present in the original Dutch white-crested breed with a black body and a white crest. Although, considering the pictures with white and red crested chickens, we still need to think about what the original color is.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros: very beautiful appearance.

And now about the shortcomings. The main drawback is the crest. As you can see in the photo of Dutch white-crested chickens, the feathers of the crest are very long and cover the chickens' eyes. When wet, feathers become heavy and droop. In winter, they often freeze. In order for the tuft to be beautiful and white, it must be washed. Food sticks to the feathers of the crest, which leads not only to feather contamination, but also to problems with the eyes.

Chickens are very nervous and shy. They tolerate stressful situations very poorly. You cannot approach them suddenly. These chickens must see the approach of a person in advance.

These chickens often have intraspecific conflicts, during which they can easily pluck feathers from the crest. Also, feather eaters often appear in the Khokhlo and chickens must be periodically checked for the presence of parasites.

They are fussy and unable to get along with other breeds. Very susceptible to diseases due to weak immunity. Demanding about conditions of detention.

Breed productivity

If you want to raise chickens for meat, you will need broilers. When the main goal is eggs, a purebred layer is best. Dutch white-crested chickens are a decoration of the yard, their productivity fades into the background. Here is a brief description of the performance of this breed:

• The weight of a cockerel is 2-2.5 kg, of a hen - 1.5-2 kg.
• The number of eggs is 140-150 pieces per year.
• The weight of one egg is 40-50 g.
• The eggshell is white and quite strong.

As you can see, the productivity of the white-crested breed is not too high. But if you consider that these chickens are decorative, then it is quite acceptable. Chickens begin to lay eggs at 5.5-6 months. They produce the most eggs in the first year, then their egg production declines. They can live up to 4-5 years, but poultry farmers recommend replacing the stock every 2 years. As chickens get older, their meat becomes tough and fibrous. The risk that birds will die from infection increases, and their resistance to disease decreases even more with age.

In addition to the standard white-crested breed, there is also a dwarf one. The weight of such hens is no more than 0.8 kg, and the weight of cockerels is up to 0.9 kg. They lay small eggs weighing about 30 g. The egg production of dwarf chickens is 80 pieces per year. For those who raise Dutch chickens solely for their decorative qualities, the dwarf version will be more interesting. They look very cute, require less space to keep and a small amount of feed.

Features of cultivation

Statistics show that with normal care, the survival rate of chicks is quite high and reaches from 90 to 95 percent

Considering that the metabolism of Cochins is slow (like all meat crosses), it is important that the chicks do not overeat

You can also prepare your own fortified mixture for raising birds.

The recipe is:

• 0.5 liters of sunflower oil;
• 2 tsp vitamin D2; – 2 tsp. vitamin E;
• 2 tsp vitamin A.

Mix all. Be sure to keep the resulting mixture in the refrigerator. Vitamins can be purchased at the pharmacy in the form of oils. For 1 kg of feed it takes 1 tsp. the resulting oil. For more efficient growth of Cochins, you can feed them with industrial feed. They are better balanced and give the desired result faster. These feeds contain all the vitamins and proteins necessary for the body of meat chickens.

Healthy young animals are the key to raising strong adult chickens

Therefore, it is important to provide good care, an established routine and a balanced diet from the first days of life. Do not introduce new foods ahead of time

You need to wait for the required stage of development of the chickens’ gastrointestinal tract.

It is necessary to comply with the established volumes of food, since Cochins are prone to obesity, and we need high-quality meat. This breed of bird is not picky compared to many other crosses, so with a little hard work and dedication, you will be able to achieve the desired result.

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Breeding Amrox chickens

Those who are already engaged in raising and breeding representatives of this breed know that these chickens are not only good layers, but also excellent hens. They hatch eggs without much difficulty, for the shell strength of which it is necessary to place Amrox shell rock in separate feeders for laying hens. In addition, they show exceptional care for the chicks that are born.

If it is not possible to place testicles under the hen, you should not despair, because with incubator hatching, the hatchability percentage of chicks is about 80, which is not so bad. As feed, young animals should be fed crushed grain, as well as boiled eggs. Upon reaching 2 months of age, corn is included in the diet. Birds need to be fed frequently, but in small portions.

If you want to increase the growth rate of birds, you should include oats in the feed for laying hens of the Amrox breed. In addition, chickens should be fed with industrial feed, of course, in accordance with the age of the birds. Another distinctive feature of individuals of this breed is the ability to determine sexual characteristics already at one day of age.

Females are born with a typical light spot on their head, while males have a similar spot on their belly. And every chicken has black fluff. It should be noted that already at this time it is necessary to take preventive measures to prevent the appearance of parasites in chickens that could cause the development of any disease.

Productivity

It should be noted that the meat and egg orientation of poultry perfectly justifies itself due to the good quality of meat products, as well as high egg production. Many poultry farmers wonder how many years chickens can lay eggs with proper care and feeding? In general, chickens are able to lay eggs for about 7 years. However, it should be remembered that good egg production in birds lasts only a couple of years, and then it decreases every year.

The weight of adult individuals is approximately 2 kg, while roosters are about 3.5 kg. Females are usually introduced when they reach 6 months of age. Most often, the egg weight is approximately 60 grams and has a light brown shell color. One laying hen produces about 200-220 eggs annually. In order for the birds to lay eggs well all the time, it is necessary that ash for laying hens be kept in a separate container and freely accessible to the birds.

It should be remembered that when a large amount of protein enters the body of birds, they are able to become infected much earlier - at 5 months of age, only initially the eggs will be small in size, weighing 35 grams. However, it is better not to allow this to happen. In winter, there may be a decline in egg production. Many novice poultry farmers are wondering at what temperature to walk chickens in winter without harming the health of the bird?

The best option is to walk on a windless, sunny day, when the air temperature is at least 10 degrees Celsius. Only in this case the birds will not get frostbite in their limbs, which can have a detrimental effect on the condition of their body.

Advantages of chickens of the Amrox breed

Since this article is about meat-and-egg chickens, the advantages of such birds almost always outweigh all the existing disadvantages. This statement fully applies to representatives of the Amrox breed, which are very popular among poultry farmers all over the world. In addition, caring for laying hens in winter is very simple.

The main advantages of birds of the described breed include:

1. intensive growth of birds;
2. rapid adaptation to a variety of climatic conditions;
3. significant productivity indicators;
4. calm and good-natured disposition;
5. simplicity of content;
6. excellent maternal instinct.

The combination of all the listed characteristics makes Amrox chickens very desirable for raising and breeding.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the above description of the Amrox breed and an indication of the characteristics of cultivation will provide significant assistance to a beginner in poultry farming in keeping these beautiful birds. With proper care and feeding, the poultry farmer will never have the question of why chickens lay eggs without shells and without visible symptoms of disease.

The most important thing is that you must adhere to all the rules described, and only in this case can you count on excellent productivity indicators of these chickens. Breeding Amrox chickens can be quite a worthy, and most importantly, profitable business. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yVj0BMr874A

Data on the origin of the breed line

Experts find it difficult to say exactly in what year the Pavlovsk breed of chickens appeared and who owns the laurels of its breeding. It is only known that such a bird began to be raised in the Nizhny Novgorod province, in the village of Pavlovo in the 17th century.

In the 19th century, beautiful laying hens began to spread throughout European countries. First they took root in Turkey, where they were called Sultan's, then in Britain. In Russia, pavlovkas almost completely disappeared at this time. The breed was restored only at the end of the 19th century, when chickens were shown at an international agricultural exhibition in Moscow.

In 1899, Pavlovsk beauties were included in the book of national bird breeds. They began to be actively grown again. But this situation did not last long. The 1917 revolution and its consequences - dispossession and the Civil War - caused serious damage to the breed. They stopped breeding birds and monitoring their compliance with standard indicators.

The breed was reintroduced in the USSR in the late 1980s. Professional poultry farmers have been crossing European firebirds, Turkish plumes, Dutch and La Fleche chickens for a long time, and have finally been able to achieve the revival of the standard pavlovka.

Origin of the breed

At the beginning of the 16th century, images of black chickens with a large white crest on their heads appeared on the canvases of Dutch artists. A century earlier, they were inconspicuous domestic birds. At that time, such chickens were kept in many barnyards in the Netherlands. The meat and egg breed has fully satisfied the needs of poultry farmers for many years.

One day, Dutch breeders came up with the idea of ​​decorating black chickens. They were crossed with representatives of the Polish Corydalis. After the experiment, the black chicken acquired a fluffy, white hat. This is how the Dutch white-crested breed appeared. Despite the decline in productivity, the bird with its exotic appearance has become popular among the local rich. Some purchased a new breed of chickens to decorate the estate, while others purchased delicious meat and eggs.

On a note! The white-crested chicken is considered a unique symbol of Holland.

Description and characteristics of the breed

The Liven Calico breed of chickens has heavy bones and a massive body. The weight of an adult rooster reaches 4.5 kg. Laying hens are 1 kg lighter than males. The color of the plumage is motley, it combines 3 colors - white, brown and black.

Livensky calico rooster

Exterior signs

The photo shows a Liven breed rooster. This is a real handsome man - tall, fit, muscular. Characteristics of the bird's exterior:

• head of medium size;
• face, comb, earrings and earlobes are bright red;
• The shape of the scallop in most individuals is leaf-shaped, although rose-shaped is also found;
• the beak is strong, wide at the base, brown or dark yellow;
• the body is massive and horizontal;
• wide neck;
• the chest is powerful, strongly protruding forward;
• the back is wide;
• the belly is round;
• medium-sized wings tightly pressed to the body;
• the short but bushy tail has well-developed braids;
• The angle of the tail in relation to the back is 90 degrees;
• The legs are of average length, the thighs and legs are well muscled;
• the metatarsals are most often yellow or pink, but sometimes gray-green are found.

Productivity indicators of calico chickens

Liven chickens produce meat and eggs. Chicks grow at a moderate rate. Only by the age of one year do birds gain their full weight - 4.5 kg for roosters and 3.5 kg for laying hens. Representatives of this breed reach sexual maturity at 6 months.

Egg production is quite high - 220 eggs per year weighing 60–80 g. In record-breaking hens, eggs contain 2 yolks, and their weight can reach 100 g. The shell is colored brown.

Liven calico laying hen eggs

Carcasses of calico chickens have a good presentation. The meat tastes sweetish, lean, and has a fine-fiber structure. Skin color is light yellow. The product is suitable for frying, baking and stewing, and is also used for preparing rich broths.

Temperament

Farmers have different opinions about the nature of birds. Some consider the rainbirds to be calm and friendly, others say that roosters are aggressive and chickens are timid. The blood of representatives of this breed contains the genes of Yurlovsky vocal chickens, which are known for their hot temperament. Perhaps the cockiness of birds was inherited by them.

Main characteristics

Appearance

Let's look at the description of the appearance of Dutch crested chickens.

The birds have a compact build with close-fitting plumage and a crest on the head. It was its spherical and symmetrical shape that gave rise to the unofficial name of the breed - “chicken with hair.”

The crest begins at the base of the beak and spreads out to the sides, forming a pattern similar to the wings of a butterfly. Despite the short plumage on the body, the crest has long, tightly set feathers that neatly fall apart on both sides of the head and do not obstruct the chickens’ view at all.

To date, Dutch breeders have bred chickens with three feather colors: black, blue and white. The color of the crest at the base of the beak matches the plumage on the body, while it itself is white.

The purity of the Dutch chicken breed is determined by the pattern at the base of the beak, color and size of the crest.

Distinctive features

The chickens have no feathers on their red faces. The lobes are white and small. The earrings are red and large, especially on roosters. Chickens and roosters do not have a crest, but a noticeable swelling can be felt on the skull, from where the crest feathers grow.

The eyes are brown, sometimes with a red tint. The color of the small beak matches the color of the plumage on the body. The graceful neck smoothly transitions into a rounded body with a tucked belly. Chickens have legs of medium length with a small drumstick and unfeathered metatarsals.

A distinctive feature of birds is their flattened tail, located at an angle of almost 45 degrees, with lush covert feathers, especially in roosters.

Roosters differ from chickens in having a more voluminous “hairstyle” and long tail coverts. Also, males have noticeably larger earrings and a larger body.

Defects that serve as a reason for rejection

Chickens with any of the following defects are considered non-purebred:

• metatarsals of a yellow or greenish tint;
• a small, sparse tuft, or with a well-defined parting;
• the presence of black or red feathers in the crest;
• well formed comb.

Chickens with identified defects are rejected at an early age and are usually used for meat.

Character

Dutch chickens are willful and do not get along well with chickens of other breeds. Therefore, white-crested birds will have to be separated with a metal mesh, otherwise they will offend the rest of the inhabitants of the poultry yard.

If you keep chickens in a cramped coop, fights will often break out.

The characteristics of the “Dutch” are activity and fussiness. They never sit still, constantly on the move.

By nature, white-crested birds are shy and do not tolerate a change of owner. Roosters are not particularly friendly with their owners, but hens are capable of being trusting.

Additional nuances

When keeping a white-crested Dutch chicken, it is worth keeping in mind some additional features.

1. Oviposition reaches its maximum in summer and spring. With the onset of late autumn, the chicken stops laying eggs. This period is called seasonal molting. This period is characterized by a weakening of the bird’s immune system and the loss of part of the feather cover. At this time, the main task for breeders is to provide enhanced nutrition, enriched with vitamins and drugs that enhance immunity.
2. This type of chicken does not have high life expectancy. On average they live no more than 5 years. Given this fact, farmers take care of replacing the family when the bird reaches two years of age.
3. Another point is the reduction in the number of eggs in the clutch. It decreases depending on the age of the bird: every year the number of eggs that one chicken can lay becomes less and less, while the bird’s immunity strength decreases significantly.

Dutch laying hen

Breeding Features

Instincts

Dutch breed chickens have a developed maternal instinct: only 10% of laying hens out of 100 do not want to sit on eggs.

It is better not to insist if the hen does not want to hatch the clutch - she will not do this in the future. Such chickens are isolated because they can harm eggs with unhatched chicks.

Caring for a hen

The Dutch hen should not be disturbed unless absolutely necessary from the time she lays on her first egg. This may frighten the hen, and she will refuse to continue hatching the chicks. To make the bird less nervous, it is recommended to leave her an individual drinker and feeder near the nest.

The chicken should take a short walk at least once a day to relieve itself and eat food. There are times when the hen does not want to get up from the nest - in this case, she is gently removed and the nest is covered with straw.

The duration of the walk is no more than 20-30 minutes. Prolonged absence of a hen will lead to hypothermia of the eggs and death of the embryos. If the hen does not return to the clutch in time, she is caught and placed on the eggs.

While the mother hen is walking and resting, the eggs are carefully inspected, damaged ones are removed, and the litter is replaced if necessary.

The appearance of chicks

Dutch white-crested chickens hatch after 21-24 days, small and weak. They are usually taken away from the chicken for a few days for observation. Those who are weak and sick are immediately removed so as not to infect their clutch brothers.

The rest are provided with special high-calorie food enriched with vitamins, because babies do not have an appetite. Chicks should be fed antibiotics and other drugs to combat various infections, but this does not guarantee their survival.

The brooder with chicks must be properly equipped. Chickens are provided with a constant temperature of at least 32-37 ° C, humidity at 55%, round-the-clock lighting and draft-free ventilation.

The brooder should have clean water drinkers and feeders located so that all chicks have easy access to them. When it becomes clear that there are no more weak and sick people left, and the rest have become stronger, the chickens are given to the mother hen and she then takes care of them.

Raising chickens

Incubation of Loman Brown's own egg in the household is excluded. As we indicated earlier, this is an industrial cross with a complex breeding scheme. Therefore, most private owners and farmers purchase day-old chicks or hatching eggs from suppliers from Germany.

Although they are distinguished by high vital signs, future Loman Brown laying hens will correspond to the description of the breed in German advertising brochures only if they are reared correctly. Mandatory conditions include:

Temperature

Chickens begin their life at a temperature of 35-36 o C. Then the temperature is reduced by two degrees every two days until the end of the first week. The chicks spend the second week at 27-29 o C, and until the sixth week the temperature is reduced by 2 degrees per week. Thus, at the age of 42 days, chickens already live at 18-20 o C.

Light mode

For the first 2-3 days after hatching, the lighting regime for chicks is 24/7. Then they switch to intermittent: during the day, the chicks receive four cycles of 4 hours of light and 2 dark (a total of 6 hour cycle). From the 10th day, the chickens are transferred to the standard lighting cycle for chickens.

Other factors essential for the development of chickens are a good oxygen supply and vaccination. It is not so urgent in private farms with a good epidemiological history. But with a large population it is mandatory.

Lomans are curious and very cute little ones (10-day-old chicks in the photo).

All about content

Where and how to keep

A novice poultry farmer should be prepared to face some difficulties in keeping Dutch white-crested chickens.

These active birds cannot be kept in cages; they need freedom. For chickens to feel comfortable, the chicken coop should be light, dry and spacious.

The area of ​​the poultry house is calculated at the rate of 2 birds per 1 m2. It is not recommended to plant them more densely - overcrowding will have a detrimental effect on the well-being of the chickens.

A walking area fenced with a high net is required. Plot area: 2 m2 per adult.

Although the breed did not originate from hot countries, Dutch chickens cannot withstand low temperatures. Therefore, at the first frost, they are not allowed out for walking, but are transferred to live in a well-insulated chicken coop.

Everything for health

Humidity in a closed poultry house is maintained at 55-70%. To do this, it must be equipped with ventilation - with natural ventilation it will not be possible to maintain the required humidity.

To maintain the beauty and cleanliness of the tuft, the chicken coop must have a clean litter of large shavings or straw, a layer of at least 5 cm.

It is important to keep the bedding layer dry, because pathogenic bacteria multiply quickly in a humid environment. This is unsafe for Dutch chickens because selection has reduced their immunity. As the litter becomes wet, it should be completely replaced. This is done at least once every 1.5-2 weeks.

The temperature in the chicken coop in winter should be no lower than 15-19 °C. The Dutch white-crested chicken does not tolerate cold weather, and if it is cold in the poultry house, and even drafts, it will simply die.

Additional measures

The chicken coop should have a sufficient number of perches at a height of 35-40 cm from the floor and a length of 20 cm for each individual.

In the poultry house, troughs with a mixture of ash and sand are placed along the walls so that Dutch chickens can take baths to get rid of parasites, fleas and feather mites.

For one Dutch corydalis you need to allocate a part of the feeder of 20-24 cm. The length of the drinker is also calculated.

Disinfection

Due to the weak immunity of Dutch chickens, cleaning of the poultry house is carried out with mandatory disinfection. Sprayers irrigate the walls, perches and floor of the poultry house with a solution containing preparations for fleas, ticks and parasites (for example, Bromosept, Monclavit-1).

If it is not possible to transfer the chickens to another room during sanitization, the concentration of the solution should be reduced or replaced with apple cider vinegar - the safest option.

Drinkers, feeders and equipment are disinfected at least once a month with a solution based on ash, lye or creolin.

Chickens

The Dutch Crested breed of chickens requires a special approach to breeding issues. They incubate the testicles of blackclubs without any problems, without leaving their post without a good reason. But caring for chickens is a very troublesome task. It takes a lot of effort to raise chicks. The survival rate among young animals is very low - about 70%.

Babies are born very weak and tiny. The color of the fuzz is dark or light, depending on what their parents were like. Most chicks have poor appetite and reduced activity. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly follow the rules of care and feeding, give vitamins and preventive medications against infectious diseases.

Feeding is traditional, but strictly according to the clock. The diet uses exclusively fresh products, and dishes are disinfected after each meal. It is necessary to strictly monitor the maintenance of the optimal temperature, otherwise the chicks will very easily become hypothermic and may get sick.

A source of problems can also be wet litter, in which bacteria quickly multiply, causing various diseases. It is impossible to raise the young generation without careful care and adherence to a diet.

But, even with the right approach to raising chicks, there will definitely be losses - nature has “endowed” the babies with very poor health and sensitivity to microorganisms.

Description of the Dutch White-crested breed

There is another unofficial name for representatives of this breed: hair chicken.

The white crest falls so evenly on both sides of the bird’s head, creating the impression of an original styling, that it seems that a professional hairdresser is doing the “image” of the chicken.

The crest is large and dense, despite the length of the feathers, it does not obscure the eyes and does not prevent the bird from looking. The front feathers of the crest are generally dark and form a butterfly-like pattern on the forehead (at the base of the beak) .

This unique pattern gives the Dutch crested cats even more charm and also determines the purity of the breed. But, mainly, according to the condition of the Ukrainian: the larger and snow-white it is, the purer the breed.

There is no crest on the head of chickens of the Dutch breed; it was successfully replaced by the mentioned crest, but the “earrings” (metatarsus), large and bright, are especially noticeable in roosters.

The earlobes of Dutch crested hens are small and white, the beak is also small and not long, and its color usually matches the main range of plumage colors. The eyes are red or brown, the face is without feathers, red.

The body of Dutch chickens is quite compact, retracted, with a well-developed belly and graceful legs. The plumage fits tightly to the body, without forming “cushions”.

In addition to the crest, Dutch chickens have one more decoration: the tail of this breed is very beautifully curved, although the tail feathers are quite flattened. Set high, but not steeply at an angle of 4500, the coverts give it splendor.

Living room furniture. How and what furniture to choose for the living room? Photo

Chickens are medium in size, the weight of a rooster is 2-2.5 kilograms, a chicken - 1.5-2 kilograms.

March hens begin to lay eggs already in September , and if we consider the Dutch white-crested hen through the prism of breeding this breed in a private yard, then an ordinary laying hen can easily transform into a beautiful hen.

Modern breeders distinguish three main colors of Dutch chickens - black, brown and blue-gray.

Where to buy a bird

For various purposes and conditions of detention you can buy:

• eggs for hatching in an incubator;
• chickens;
• young chickens at sexual maturity.

All varieties of birds will be presented both on the market and in poultry farms. Each point of sale has its own characteristics.

1. Birds sold at the market are likely to be raised outdoors, but may not match the breed stated by the seller. There may also be problems with vaccinations, the availability of which is difficult to verify from a private seller.
2. At the poultry farm, the birds will have all the documents and guarantees of the breed, but the living conditions will most likely affect the chickens’ adaptability to life in an enclosure.

If the purpose of the purchase is to obtain eggs, then the optimal age of the bird will be 20–26 weeks.

To buy a healthy bird, you should pay attention to the following external signs:

• shiny and smooth plumage without bald patches;
• prominent and shiny eyes, as well as a red comb (or its correspondence to the breed);
• soft but elastic peritoneum, strong legs.

Treatment and prevention of diseases

In addition to vaccination, the following measures can be used to prevent possible diseases in the chicken coop:

• regular disinfection of tools, drinking bowls and feeders. Boiling, treatment with lime milk, manganese solution, etc. are used;
• organizing baths of ash and sand to clean feathers;
• regular inspection of birds, quarantine for beginners.

The most common diseases in chickens are:

• Newcastle disease or pseudoplague is incurable and requires the destruction of the sick bird. For prevention, vaccination and keeping the chicken coop clean, high-quality food are necessary;
• Salmonellosis is caused by bacteria and is transmitted through the air; the eggs of sick chickens are dangerous to humans. Treatment is carried out with special drugs after isolation of the sick individual. Timely vaccinations and chicken coop hygiene are necessary to prevent disease;
• streptococcosis affects internal organs and is treated with antibiotics; it is also necessary to isolate sick birds and treat the poultry house;
• Psittacosis infects chickens through droppings or air and affects the digestive and respiratory organs and the nervous system. Antibiotics and fortified feed are used for treatment. Healthy birds that have been in contact with sick birds are also given prophylactic medications for two days. Disinfection of equipment is necessary.

So, chicken breeds of Dutch origin are generally of high quality, but have different characteristics and requirements. Having selected a suitable bird, it is necessary to provide it with proper care and living conditions.

Breeding

There are some nuances of keeping this breed:

• the chicken coop must be warm: heated in winter, so that the room temperature is not lower than 15°C;
• no more than 2 individuals should be placed per 1 m² of room, and each chicken in the enclosure requires at least 5 m²;
• on the floor, the first layer is made of slaked lime, the next layer is made of straw or sawdust, so that the room is always dry. The litter is changed once every 7 days. Poultry farmers know well where to put the wet one, putting it in a compost pit and subsequently sending it in the form of liquid fertilizer for the garden;
• the perch is established at a height of up to 40 cm.

Feeding

Dutch white-crested cats have a sensitive digestive system. Their diet should contain grains, mixed feed and cereals, as well as wet mash. For immunity and decorative qualities, food must contain vitamins, fats of plant and animal origin.

In winter, it is recommended to increase the amount of food; in summer, add fresh herbs and vegetables to the food. The latter can be given boiled in an amount of 30% of the total food volume. It is important to use nutritional supplements - calcium, chalk, meat and bone meal, flaxseed and fish oil.

The chicks are fed traditional food for this age, but on an hourly basis.

Features of Amroks content

To obtain high productivity, Amrox chicken needs to be kept in compliance with the rules. The bird needs a house with lighting, spacious and warm. Chickens of this breed, despite the presence of fluff, cannot tolerate the cold and at sub-zero temperatures they immediately stop laying eggs, get sick and waste away. Their weight drops, and the quality of the meat decreases.

The poultry house must be equipped with a walking area, which has areas with open ground where pets can dig. Baths with sand and ash are also needed for walking; chickens will use them to get rid of parasites. Both in the poultry house and on the run there should be no drafts, which are detrimental to chickens. Dampness is also unacceptable.

The bedding in the poultry house consists of sawdust and straw. The bottom layer is made of sawdust, and the top layer is made of straw. The total depth of the bedding in winter is at least 20 cm. Under the perches, a thicker layer of bedding is needed, since the chickens are heavy and if they fall from the perch in their sleep, they can be injured if the floor is hard.

Care

Amrox - unpretentious chickens, but they need care

It is important for them to replace the litter every spring after the winter season and treat the walls of the poultry house with lime. The litter is also changed once at the end of summer to prevent the appearance of dampness in the winter.

For a flock of 100 animals or more, vaccination of chickens is indicated to prevent disease outbreaks.

In summer, additional ventilation of the poultry house may be required if the temperature in it rises above 20 degrees, since overheating leads to a decrease in egg production. In winter, on the contrary, they warm up the pets using an infrared lamp or a special stove, which is surrounded by a protective mesh to prevent burns in chickens. Good ventilation in winter helps prevent oxygen deficiency caused by heating.

Feeding

Full feeding is required. If chickens do not receive enough vitamins, minerals and proteins, their growth slows down and egg production drops significantly or even stops.

The diet of chickens from the age of 4 months should include:

• grain - chickens should be fed wheat, barley and millet, which is taken in small quantities - 5% of the total grain volume;
• cracked corn;
• split peas;
• chopped vegetables - cabbage, pumpkin, zucchini;
• boiled potatoes;
• boiled root vegetables - carrots, beets;
• cottage cheese;
• milk serum;
• meat waste;
• fish waste;
• grass.

You can also add bread and table scraps to your pet's diet, but only if they have not begun to spoil.

Feed is given in the morning and evening in portions, which the birds eat within 30 minutes. Remains of food are removed, since chickens will be poisoned if they eat acidified food. In winter, food is given 3 times a day, since chickens spend more energy on heating.

Chickens need clean and cool water. In summer it should be changed 2-3 times a day, and in winter - 1 time a day. In winter, for additional vitaminization of the bird, you need to add a decoction of nettle or calendula to its water. This supports the bird’s body and prevents spring vitamin deficiency, which leads to a drop in productivity in the spring.

In addition to feed, Amroks need vitamin and mineral premixes, which are added to food or placed in a separate container so that the bird can consume them constantly. Products to stimulate egg production can only be used from 7 months.

Diseases

Among the main diseases of this breed are infections and diseases that occur due to hypothermia. They are especially common in the cold season, when chickens are exposed to snow and rain while walking.

Another category of the most common diseases is parasites. For prevention, you should keep the chicken coop clean and do not forget about regular inspections.

If any individual from the livestock becomes ill, it must be urgently isolated and the disease must be prevented in the rest. This will help keep susceptible birds safe.

• Parasites
• Infectious
• Other

Chicken mite

How to treat a chicken coop and how to treat a bird. Description of drugs and methods of control Read

Coccidiosis

Thirst, loss of appetite, swelling, bloody droppings, anemia, weakness, poor coordination of movements Read

Ascariasis

Loss of appetite, liquid droppings, pale mucous membranes of the comb, limbs, ruffled plumage, lethargy, vomiting Read

Amidostomiasis

Symptoms of the acute form: apathy, general weakness, decreased or lack of appetite, breathing problems, unsteady gait, retarded growth and development Read

Prostagonymosis

Decreased mobility, loss of appetite, unsteady gait, bloating, fever, impaired egg laying, exhaustion Read

Knemidocoptic mange (“lime foot”)

Symptoms of the acute form: light gray bumps appear on the legs, the bird limps and stands on one leg, the cloaca and joints become inflamed, the beak is deformed Read

Heteracidosis

Symptoms: indigestion, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, decreased egg production, retarded growth and development Read

Trichomoniasis

Symptoms of the acute form: fever, depression and loss of appetite, diarrhea with gas bubbles and a putrid odor, enlarged goiter, difficulty breathing and swallowing Read

Pullorosis (typhoid fever, salmonellosis)

Weakness, lack of coordination, drooping eyelids, difficulty breathing, lack of appetite, indigestion Read

Colibacillosis

Lack of appetite, thirst, sudden increase in temperature, pale scallops, diarrhea Read

Pasteurellosis

Fever, foamy mucus, change in stool color, refusal to feed, thirst, apathy, wheezing, heavy breathing Read

Marek's disease

Paralysis of the limbs, difficulty breathing, severe exhaustion and loss of strength, refusal of food and water, pallor of the scallop Read

Gumboro disease

Diarrhea, loss of appetite, trembling legs and head, sudden death Read more

Laryngotracheitis

Weakness, swelling of the neck, difficulty breathing, cough, wheezing, blood clots in the mucus released when coughing, lack of appetite, indigestion Read

Bird flu

Refusal to eat, anorexia, diarrhea, purulent discharge, hoarse breathing, greenish-brown droppings, seizures, darkening of the ridge Read more

Newcastle disease

Decreased appetite, fever, respiratory distress, immobility, conjunctivitis, bloody diarrhea Read

Apteriosis

Complete or partial absence of plumage, loss of tail feathers, broken embryonic fluff in young animals, delayed growth of plumage, pecking Read

Pterophagy

Plucking and eating feathers. What is the reason, why does it require urgent intervention and how to prevent the disease? Read

Yolk peritonitis

Symptoms of the acute form: loss of appetite, gray-green color of feces, sudden drop in egg production, calcareous deposits on the shell, bluish tint and baldness of the abdominal skin Read

Cloacite

Symptoms: depressed state, decreased appetite, weight loss, increased need for water, loss of plumage, inflammation and bulging of the cloaca, the presence of ulcers on the mucous membrane, decreased egg production Read