Chicken bentamka (photo). Chicken breeds bentamka calico and Altai

Chicken bentamka was brought to Russia from Japan. This bird was first described in 1645. How specifically this breed was derived is unknown. Perhaps, once in Asia, the artificial selection of chickens. But some researchers believe that bentamka is an independent group, which originated not from poultry, but from wildlife. This breed refers to decorative, but also the productivity is not bad. There are several varieties of bentamok. The most popular are calico and Altai. Chickens and cockerels of this breed, among other things, can become a real decoration of the yard.

Cotton bentamka

Birds of this variety are very small in size and brightly mottled (white with black on brown background). Chintz bentamka - a chicken, the characteristics of which include:

• A small head with a small beak;
• Leaf-shaped comb, very bright in males;
• Dense plumage;
• Wide long wings touching the ground;
• Short, unstained legs;
• Elevated torso;
• Long fly and feathers.

Chicken bentamka (photos of these birds can be seen on the page) - the breed is simply delightfully beautiful. A pure bright mottled coloring can make it a real pride of the hosts and an envy of neighbors.

Militant babies

Bentamka is the most numerous and widespread breed of ornamental hens. At the same time, the cotton variety is found on the farmsteads of private traders most often. Cockerels of this breed, in spite of their tiny sizes, are very belligerent and active. Their chickens and nests, they defend simply selflessly. These motley babies, not in the least doubt, can engage in a fight with a cock of a much larger breed or even with a turkey cock. In general, birds are very active and bold. Among other things, cockerels cotton calico also sing very nicely. Their voice is sonorous and cheerful - like a bell.

Natural instincts are very well preserved and chicken bentamki. Mothers are just wonderful. After the chicken of this breed has carried away at least 25 eggs, if not to take appropriate measures, it will necessarily sit on them. Very often, a bentham is used as a living "incubator". For the breeding of chickens from chickens of larger breeds that have lost the instinct of incubation, in whole or in part, they fit just perfectly.

Features of the btacom

Cocks of this breed can reach a weight of 0.7-0.9 kg, chickens - 0.5 kg. In a year, one laying hen lays 90-130 eggs. The shell is white or cream. Weight - about 45 g. A sufficiently large number of eggs can be obtained only if the owners will take them on time. If the chicken starts hatching chickens, there is no big productivity in this plan. The taste qualities of the eggs of the bentamok are simply excellent. Yolk at them - especially at the maintenance of hens on a free walking - has the sated yellow color. Many poultry farmers believe that bentamki bear the most delicious eggs among all feathered eggs.

As already mentioned, chicken bentamka - hen chicken is very good. Hatching chicks of this breed a day earlier than the usual large hens. Raises their hen for a month. After that, it begins to rush again. If two individuals withdraw the chickens at the same time or with a difference of several days, usually only one, the most caring and tranquil, is entrusted to instruct all children. The second chicken in this case begins to swell in about two weeks.

The features of cotton bentamok, in addition to excellent maternal qualities, can also include strong health, which is somewhat unusual for a decorative bird . These chickens live much longer than usual. In any case, 5 years for them is not old age yet. Despite the fact that the productivity of large breeds of hens bentamaks are inferior, many farmers consider their content employment as quite profitable. The fact is that these birds eat much less than other domestic birds. For example, for one bentamka, 10 times less food is required than for a broiler chicken.

How to care

Very often the bentamok is kept on a free-range. In the garden, these chicken can destroy just a huge number of different kinds of small pests: larvae, bugs, worms. Feeding with this method of keeping the bentamok has to spend very little. The only disadvantage of free-range walking is that the chickens of this breed start to take the chickens out in secluded places. It is very difficult to find a nest in a large garden or in a courtyard. In order to find it, the bird has to watch for a long time. To all other things, bentamka is a chicken, often greatly overestimating its capabilities. Occasionally, hens try to remove chickens from a very large number of eggs (up to 25). In this case, the heat during incubation is distributed extremely unevenly, which leads to the death of all embryos. Experienced farmers are advised to leave under bentamkami not more than 10-11 eggs. As already mentioned, these chickens can be used to breed chickens of larger breeds. In this case, no more than 5 eggs are placed under one hen. Sexual maturity bentamki reach about 6 months.

What should be a barn

Bentamka is a chicken, among other things, also able to fly well. Therefore, this bird is often bred in enclosed (including above) enclosures. In this case, the paddock is arranged on the south side of the barn. In the adjoining wall, a hole must be cut through. The barn for the bentamok fits exactly the same as for any other chickens. The only thing - nests and roosts in it should be located slightly lower than usual. It is not necessary to heat a house in the winter. But it's still necessary to insulate the walls of the shed. If the air temperature in the barn drops below zero, the bentamki will stop bailing.

Of course, in the poultry house should be installed drinkers and feeders. Also in the barn and aviary are placed containers with small pebbles and seashells. Chickens of the breed bentamka calico will glue them for grinding feed into goiter.

Feeding chickens

Young bentamok hatchs yellow or cream. On the back of the chickens there are usually pale dark spots or intermittent streaks. Survival rate of brood in chickens of this breed is 93%. Feed the chickens for the first three days with curd and chopped egg. Later they start to give millet, and in two weeks - wheat. Cares for brood chicken bentamka (photos of chickens can be seen below) very well. There is practically no drop in the bird of this breed.

How to choose manufacturers

In the autumn, the most healthy and active birds, having a dense plumage and strong physique, are selected for the tribe. The crest of both the males and the chickens should be even, without kinks and other flaws. Bright yellow legs are considered preferable to pale yellow ones. When selecting chicken breeds bentamka calico also takes into account the number of eggs laid by the individual. As to the sizes, some owners leave for breeding a bird larger. Others, who pay more attention to decorative qualities, prefer to take on the tribe of the smallest chickens and males.

Bentamka Altai

This species of dwarf chickens was bred in the 70-80s of the last century in our country. Unlike calico, Altai chicken bentamka is usually bred only as decorative. The main distinguishing features of birds of this variety include:

• Short, stocky body;
• Manoeuvre;
• The head thrown back;
• Bulging chest;
• Small beak of horny color;
• Leaf-shaped, slightly folded and inclined towards the crest;
• Red face and neck bent behind;
• Small round red earrings;
• Well-defined lateral plumage;
• A small crest;
• Feathered feet;
• The feathers of mane reaching up to the tail;
• Developed abdomen and short long back.

The color of the plumage of the Altai bentamka can be chintz, walnut or pale yellow.

Inadmissible drawbacks of the exterior

When breeding is rejected, Altai bentamaks are subject to:

• Very high figure;
• A thin and narrow tail;
• Weakly feathered legs;
• The absence of a "hawk" flock on the lower leg;
• Absence of a tuft.

Features of the breed

In a year, one Altai chicken bentamka can demolish up to 80 eggs. Shells are usually white or cream colored. The weight of one egg is about 40-50 g. Like calico, Altai bentamka very well preserved the instinct of incubation. Chickens of this breed are born active and viable.

Contain Altaic bentamku can be the same as cotton, that is, on a free-range or in the open-air cage. In the first method, the grain consumption for feeding is significantly reduced.

Barnaul bentamka

Altaic breed has one more variety. Barnaul chicken bentamka is very similar to her, but also has a beard with tanks. The crest of these two species also differs. In Altai bentamka, it is leaf-shaped, in Barnaul - pink. The latter variety is somewhat more adapted to severe climatic conditions. Therefore Siberian poultry breeders often prefer Barnaul bentamka Altai. In any case, this breed is unusually spectacular and certainly worthy of attention. Weight Barnaul cockerel can reach 900 g, chicken - 600 g.

Helpful Tips

The content of pygmy chickens involves not only the regular feeding and arrangement of a comfortable house. In order to preserve the decorative qualities of the bird, you need to take certain measures:

• In the henhouse must be dry and clean. The floor in the poultry house can be covered with a mixture of bitumen and rubble. From above usually make litter of sawdust, peat or dry leaves.
• Special vitamins and supplements are what must necessarily be obtained from bentam chicken. About the breed of this bird, or rather, about the ways of feeding it, we said above. As for the additives, you can, for example, give these chickens the same "Ryabushka". This will increase egg production.

Other varieties of the btacom

Breed of chicken bentamka Altai and calico - not the only representatives of this group of ornamental birds. Their varieties exist just a huge amount. In addition to calico and Altai, homemade plots are bred, for example, in bentamki:

• Beijing. These are small chickens, in appearance resembling Cochin.
• Nanking. This is the oldest breed of the bentamok. The feathering of these hens can be different. But most often there are orange individuals.
• The Japanese. The smallest bentamki. Their distinctive feature is wide and long wings.

In addition, there are bentamki fighting, sibraits, nut, black and white, etc. All varieties of chickens of this breed are distinguished by their unpretentiousness, vitality and simply elegant appearance.