Breed of light chickens: description, characteristics, reviews

Chickens of various breeds can be bred on poultry farms and in household plots. The popularity of Russian farmers is enjoyed both by the poultry meat direction of productivity, and by the egg. Broilers are bred at many poultry farms, in villages and in cottages. One of the best meat breeds is considered to be brahma.

The procedure is technologically quite complex - breeding chickens at home. For beginner farmers, it may not be easy to feel like feeding this bird, or getting a young one or leaving. Brahma is a unpretentious breed. And if you want to get acquainted with such a fairly profitable business, like chicken breeding, you can start with it.

History of the breed

The brahma was bred in America in the 19th century on the basis of an Asian bird imported from India. These powerful chubby chickens were interbred with Chittagongs, Cochins and Malay fighters. Presentation of the breed took place in 1850. Initially, it was called the gray Chittagong. But in 1952 one of the farmers presented such a chicken to the English queen. In honor of the Indian ancestors, the poultry-farmer called it brahmaputra, which subsequently was transformed into a shortened "brahma".

general description

This breed is appreciated by farmers not only for their excellent meat production, but also for the original appearance. To the characteristic features of the brahma can be attributed, for example:

• Fluffy and very dense plumage;
• Strong yellow beak;
• Head very small, in comparison with the body, the size;
• Red lobe and yellow eyes;
• The presence of fluffy plumage, including on paws.

The constitution of the body is light brahma is very strong and muscular. Many other breeds of chicken meat direction (dorking, cochin, etc.) in this respect are much inferior to it.

Inadmissible disadvantages

Like any other breed, the brahma has its own characteristics that characterize the purity of the blood. Inadmissible defects in these chickens are such signs:

• Small growth or squat figure;
• Short back or narrow chest;
• "Hawk" heel;
• Form of the body of Cochin;
• Weak pubescence of the middle fore-toe;
• White lobes;
• Loose bushy tail;
• The presence of a toe on the crest.

Breeding chickens at home for beginners can seem a matter of relatively complex. However, provided that the choice for a purebred farm is good, the half of the enterprise's success to its owner will be guaranteed.

Varieties

The color of the chicken can be very different. Most often on farms are bred:

• Pale brass with golden plumage, black tail and necklace on the neck of the same color;
• Light with silvery-white plumage, black tail and necklace;
• Dark with black-gray plumage and pattern.

Dark and light brahmas as breeds were approved in 1874, fawn (buff) - in 1924-m. In the 60-70s of the last century two more varieties were officially recognized - yellow-black and kuropatchato-tape. Even later, the partridge-blue color was approved.

Brahma light: description

Most often, this breed is bred by farmers. Light brahma in another way is called Colombian. Plumage of such chickens, according to the standards, must be absolutely white (except for the necklace and the black tail). If instead of a silvery bird has a yellowish hue, it is recognized as defective. The necklace and tail of such chickens should also have a green gleam.

On the pins and fingers of these chickens are black strips. Of all the varieties, the bright brahma is distinguished by the most proud posture. The chest of these chickens is powerful, the back is short, and the wings are not too large and tightly pressed to the body.

A distinctive feature of the light brauma is light bones. The trunk of these chickens has a square shape. The paws are thick and very well pubescent.

Performance Indicators

One of the unconditional advantages of chickens of this breed, in comparison with many modern ones, is that they retained a very strong maternal instinct. Bring the nestlings of light brahams on their own and take care of them just fine. For a year the chicken of this variety can bring up to 140 eggs. Usually farmers collect 120 pcs. In the first year and approximately 100 in the second. In the following egg production, like in most other breeds, begins to fall in light bras. The color of the eggshell in the bird of this variety is creamy. Dimensions they are quite large (about 60 grams).

The weight of the laying hen of this breed is 3.5-4 kg, the males - 4-5 kg. Chickens (light brama) have a yellow or fawn color. Young growth of a light brauma develops slowly enough.

This variety refers, like all other representatives of the breed, to the group of late ripening. Also, some shortcomings of light brahma are considered not too high taste of meat. These chickens are gaining weight well. However, their meat has a rather coarse texture and is not very juicy. But it is believed that it can still be used not only for soups, but also for second courses.

Character of chickens

This breed is appreciated by farmers, among other things, and for the fact that it can be kept in the courtyard with any other poultry. These hens differ in calm and balanced. A light-colored brass cock does not fight either with the representatives of its own breed, or with any other poultry. Non-bearers of the same white-silver variety can calmly and without quarrels eat from one trough with chickens of any breeds, turkeys, quails, etc. This brace is tamed very easily even in comparison with representatives of other varieties.

Endurance indicators

With regard to the conditions of keeping the chickens, the light brama is considered relatively unpretentious. This hardy bird adapts well to almost any climatic conditions. The quality of the barma feed is also not shown any special requirements. It is not necessary to heat a shed with this bird in winter. Eggs in the cold season, these chickens practically do not reduce.

Contain bras most often on a floor method. But at the same time too much exercise is not required for them.

How to make a barn for a light variety

Bird for a white-silver bracelet is suitable for ordinary (2-5 hens per 1 m ² square meter). To install heaters in it, as already mentioned, is not necessary. However, to insulate a shed for this bird, of course, is worth it. Most often, these structures are made frame-shield. In this case, mineral wool is used as a heater. You can also build a shed from used sleepers or foam concrete.

In the poultry house for the birds of the Brama breed light, as for the chickens of any other breed, it should be established:

1. Nases . They usually make their poles cross section of 40 mm and set at a height of 80 cm from the floor.
2. Jacks. The dimensions of these designs should be such that the chicken is placed in them freely. No difficulties for laying should be caused by the entrance to the nest. It needs to be made wide enough and high. For a better egg laying of the nest, it is necessary to fill the wall next to the nests at the same level.
3. Drinkers . Under the water in the poultry house you can use any containers - buckets, old pans, etc. To avoid overturning, drinkers should be slightly buried in the ground.
4. Feeders . This equipment is usually knocked out of two boards in such a way that in the section the construction resembles the letter V. Above the troughs on the short supports a rotating pole is mounted. Its presence prevented jumping chickens inside and scattering food.

Also in the barn, several ash basins with ash and a container with small pebbles should be installed. The floors in the henhouse should be made boardwalks. In order for the light-colored brama not to freeze in winter, they are covered with a thick layer of sawdust or straw.

Paddock

Next to the poultry house is to make a small aviary to ensure that chickens on warm days could make walks. This will positively affect the health of the brahma. Gathering is best from the eastern or western side of the house. This will provide enough sun and at the same time the presence of a shadow in which chickens can hide in the heat.

Feeders and a few drinkers in the summer are usually taken out in the paddock. The enclosure can be enclosed by a rabbit (height - 2 m). Like other representatives of the breed, the light bruma does not require much walking. However, the enclosure for this bird must still have a larger area than for dark or pale brahma. Chickens are somewhat more massive and active.

Features of feeding

Since the light-colored brama refers to the breed of meat direction of productivity, its diet should include a sufficient number of products containing proteins. Grain (best of all wheat) is given to these hens at least twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. At lunch, the hens can be offered a mushroom on the serum. To prepare such food, it is allowed to use nettles, carrot, beet and radish tops, any root crops (except green potato), zucchini, eggplant, fruit.

In order for the bird to receive all the vitamins and trace elements necessary for it, it is necessary to add a little premix, intended for meat chicken or broilers, to the mushrooms. Sometimes brahma is fed and boiled potatoes. Such a product promotes rapid weight gain by the bird. However, use such a product, as in the case, for example, of broilers, is as accurate as possible. When overfeeding boiled potatoes with light-colored braham, and especially in young animals, a gut can occur.

Cultivation of chickens

The chickens of the brahma are taken out, as already mentioned, on their own. For one hen, if necessary, you can put up to 20 eggs. But of course, a large number of young animals are easier to get in the incubator. Bred chicks are taken when using such equipment by standard technology.

Brahma bright: reviews of farmers

The opinion of the owners of homesteads about these chickens was simply excellent. Eggs they carry regularly, and weight, in comparison with the amount of feed consumed, is gaining good. To some disadvantages of the breed, farmers include the fact that when chickens are hatched, such a chicken can simply suppress eggs because of its heavy weight. Therefore, some owners of household plots advise beginners to still use the incubator to expand the population. Well, or lay eggs of brahma under the chickens of other breeds.

Some farmers consider a shortage of the bright variety a very late sexual maturation. If other forms of this breed begin to be laid off by 9 months, then silver-white can "wait" sometimes and up to 10-11.

About the nature of light brum, farmers have only the best reviews. Roosters of this variety, as some holidaymakers say, for example, can sit quietly together in one "pen" and do not pay absolutely no attention to each other.