Chickens Brekel - one of the oldest birds of the egg direction. It is difficult to establish the true and accurate origin of the breed, it is believed that Brekel was created thanks to native breeds. For several years, birds were popular in Belgium. Brekel is also called Campin, they are endowed with decorative characteristics, so they are in great demand among breeders.
Brekel breed silver (cock and chicken)
Golden Brekel Rooster and Chicken
The history of the breed
The history of the origin of chickens goes back in time. So far, no one has been able to figure out how old Brekel is. The same situation is observed with the area of their breeding. Many historians believe that for the first time, Breckel chickens appeared in Belgium and are descendants of indigenous birds.
Records were found where it was said that the Brekel cross has been popular in our country for more than 600 years. In the records, this breed is described from the beginning of the 15th century.
At the end of the 19th century, a club for lovers of these hens was opened in Nederbrekel. After 1 year, poultry farmers insisted on creating an official bird standard. Based on these data, poultry farmers attribute Brekel to Belgian chickens.
According to historical information, it was known that crosses were created in order to obtain a large number of eggshells. In the 20th century, due to World Wars, the number of feathered Brekel decreased significantly. In the 80s of the 20th century, only 5 Brekel individuals were found in their homeland.
Poultry farmers did not despair and revived the breed in a special club. At the end of the 20th century, a book was published telling about the content of crosses. In the current century, the demand for birds has fallen a little; Brekel has been replaced by new, more productive crosses. But lovers of this breed are not few, as Belgian birds have a large number of advantages.
Key Features and Features
Representatives of the Brekel breed are for egg use. They are distinguished by strong immunity, resistance to many diseases. Individuals quickly get used to the new terrain, so they can be transported from place to place.
Appearance
The appearance of the birds is recognizable, many poultry farmers keep them not only because of the high egg productivity, but also because of the decorative appearance. Representatives Brekel strong physique, small stature.
The main symptoms of birds:
- the body is small, low, set horizontally;
- the stomach is convex;
- wings are well developed, fit snugly to the body;
- paws are small gray, legs are poorly developed;
- the neck is small, the plumage is massive;
- medium-sized head with pronounced scallop;
- massive forehead;
- the beak is strong and sharp;
- silver brekel is a color of black and white feathers;
- earlobes of blue color, earrings and crest of bright scarlet;
- young is born black.
The difference between rooster and chicken
Just born young animals are not very different from each other. You can distinguish them only in adolescence. Signs of a male: crest large and erect, with 5-6 petals on it. In chickens, it is much smaller, and even slightly littered to the side.
They differ in the size of the tail, the roosters have massive plumage on it, there are hanging plaits, and in layers, the tail is a miniature fan. The male figure is large and muscular, the females are thinner and more fragile. There is a large collar on the male’s neck; the chickens boast a smooth plumage that is adjacent to the body.
Brekel breed rooster
Brekel chicken
Puberty and egg production
Feathered Brackel is characterized by early maturation and rapid growth. According to statistics, laying hens rarely show superior productivity characteristics. Already at the age of 4 months, laying hens begin to lay eggs, after a month the females completely “master” this business.
Egg production rates are average, even if the poultry farmer uses food to improve egg laying, laying hens still lay about 200 eggs per year. White shell.
Instinct of incubation
Only purebred breeds of birds possess the maternal instinct, hybrids and cross-breeds cannot boast of such, feathered Brekel were no exception. I would like to watch how the "mothers" rush with their "children", but alas.
Layers have a poorly developed maternal instinct, their poultry farmers cannot lay them on eggs, so breeders have to use hens of other breeds. The incubator helps a lot. Features of incubation of chicken eggs are described here.
Character
The main feature of the nature of the birds is a pronounced rebellious disposition. They are impulsive and cocky, they often fight, they can’t tolerate feathered other species, even other breeds of hens, to the spirit. Between each other, roosters start to fight, ladies do not take part in this action.
Another feature of the breed - males never offend females, only if by chance. In addition to excessive impulsiveness, birds have a lively and active interest in the environment, sometimes their curiosity leads to injury.
Due to the excessive curiosity of the laying hens, the poultry breeder must completely enclose the walking yard so that they cannot climb over it and harm the owner’s garden or garden.
Addiction to disease
Birds can boast of strong immunity, they do not get sick with many diseases. However, birds hardly tolerate smallpox and salmonellosis. Current veterinary medicine has created reliable vaccines against these diseases. If vaccinations are done on time, all sanitary conditions are met, then the likelihood of males and females to become infected is small.
Another ailment can attack birds - inflammation of the oviduct. There is a chance of infection, because the birds are characterized by an early onset of egg production. To prevent this problem, experienced poultry farmers deliberately set a dietary restriction and reduce daylight hours 2 months before puberty.
Maintenance and care conditions
The pretzel is moving birds, so they need a large space. Cellular content is not suitable, closed narrow aviaries are also not suitable. For 1 square. m place 2 layers.
The birds like to fly, so the ceiling should be at least 2 m, then the birds will be able to stretch their wings and take off. For the summer season, it is better to equip a walking patio with grass and shrubs. The territory is fenced with a grid, on top it is better to do something like a roof, you can use wood or slate.
The roof of the birds is necessary so that they do not fly away from the chicken coop, it also protects the birds from rain and bright sunlight. From below, the chicken coop is reinforced with bricks so that various rodents do not come to the hens. For the same purpose, in the chicken coop they raise the floors 0.4 m from the ground and build a flooring from thick boards (0.15-0.2 m).
Chickens can easily withstand frosts, but you should take care of heat, otherwise egg production will decrease significantly. Sudden changes in temperature are especially scary, because of them the quality of the eggs worsens. How to increase egg production in the winter is described more in our other article.
Birds can be kept in a chicken coop at a temperature of +15 degrees. It is allowed to lower the indicator to +12 degrees Celsius, but this is already associated with the emergence of certain risks. The surface of the walls is treated with insulation, daily checked for cracks and holes. To avoid a draft, you can build a vestibule leading to the main "room" of birds.
For good ventilation, the air duct is responsible. So that bacteria do not multiply in the chicken coop and moisture does not accumulate, the room is ventilated, it is better to do this while the birds are walking in the walking yard. Special attention should be paid to the flooring, it is better to make it from clay, and lay straw with sawdust on top. In the winter season, you can pour peat on top and install heaters.
If you put straw on the ground in the walking yard, you can walk the birds at temperatures up to -10 degrees Celsius. Perches of various sizes are set in the chicken coop. Both young and adult birds love to climb on them.
The nests are placed in the corner, they can stand separately from each other, and can be a multi-tiered cabinet with ladders. Straw is placed in the nests, the size is from 0.4 to 0.5 m. As for the containers for food and water, they are installed in one place, and are no longer rearranged. How to make a roost for chickens - read here.
You can install a special compartment in the chicken coop for storing improvised equipment: shovels, troughs, etc.
The house’s sanitation consists of regular cleaning: replacing bedding, airing the room. Tanks for food and water are washed and processed daily, the remnants of food are not kept in them. From time to time, the house is whitewashed with lime so that fungi, bacteria and parasites do not multiply.
Be sure to install baths with ash, birds in them clean their feathers from insects. In the summer season, such containers are placed on the street.
It is important to keep the coop clean and dry. Roofs are built sloping, gutters are installed, walls and floor coverings are treated with impregnations so that water does not enter the room. To eliminate excess moisture, it is better to make the floor at an angle, the water will begin to drain in one place, and it will be much easier to remove it. How to make a chicken coop yourself according to all requirements - find out from this article.
Daylight hours for birds are 16 hours. In the daytime and summer, windows provide assistance, and in winter, artificial lighting is needed.
Feeding and diet
Freshly born chicks are fed a boiled egg with semolina. As useful elements give fish oil, yeast, ascorbic acid, bone and meat and bone meal. Gradually, adult products are added to the menu, by 1.5 months young animals are transferred to adult feeding.
Up to 60 days, the chicks are fed 4 times a day, then the amount of food is reduced by 15%. When young animals were born, they need to be fed every 2 hours, then the number of meals is reduced.
Adults are fed 3 times a day, the interval between meals - 6 hours. Minerals are added to the diet: calcium, phosphorus and sodium, vitamins are also needed.
In the morning, it is better to give a wet stirrer, as it is quickly digested and the chickens will again want to eat after a while, in the evening you do not need to give such a dish. To improve productivity, they need to add eggshells, vegetables and coniferous flour to the menu. Layers are happy to eat wet mixes, consisting of a mixture of feed and vegetables. You will find more information on feeding laying hens in the next article.
In winter, the amount of food is increased, next to food containers they put bowls with shells or pebbles, they help the digestive tract digest food faster. Water should always be fresh and clean.
Molting season
Shedding is an ordinary phenomenon, it does not need to be afraid, the birds do not experience pain or inconvenience during this period. Old feathers disappear, new ones appear.
During this period, laying hens suffer from increased sensitivity - chickens freeze and need more micronutrients that are spent on plumage restoration.
During the season, laying hens cease to lay eggs, because the body is already too overloaded, and if egg laying does not stop, then the death of the female is not far away.
Breeding
Feathered crosses need a free chicken coop with a walking yard. The individuals are unpretentious, so they can be kept in a small personal farm. So that chickens do not have health problems, at the age of 2 months, birds are given mandatory vaccinations.
Diseases associated with colds are not afraid of them. When freezing, chickens can freeze their crest and earrings, this leads to a decrease in productive characteristics. In general, Breckel bird breeding does not cause much trouble. For their own small economy, there are enough eggs and feathered meat, on an industrial scale, breeding of this breed is not justified.
For breeding, it is better to use incubators in which it is possible to maintain optimal temperature conditions. You can also lay eggs under layers of other breeds. For breeding, use only high-quality and large eggs.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Before you start breeding this cross-hens, you need to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of the breed.
Brekel breed advantages:
- decorative appearance - the beautiful appearance of the birds pleases the eye and decorates the courtyard;
- juicy and tender meat - especially like the aftertaste, the product serves as a festive dish;
- high egg production - the number of eggs is sufficient both for own use and for sale;
- stable productivity - egg production year-round (except for the molting period);
- unpretentiousness in leaving - it is possible to breed in any climate, it is not difficult to build a chicken coop;
- a simple diet;
- the opportunity to walk birds in winter.
The disadvantages of Brekel breed:
- impulsive and aggressive disposition, vindictiveness;
- lack of maternal instinct.
There are much fewer minuses, with such a set of advantages it is possible to grow a large number of Brekel chickens without a hassle, bringing a quality product to the owner.
Poultry reviews
Alexander, 80 years old, pensioner, Kiev.Brekel is a very beautiful bird, began to breed them not only because of the high egg production, but also because of the decorative appearance. Birds really decorate my patio, they look especially beautiful against a green background. The main minus is a very nasty character, birds can not get along with any breed of chickens. They constantly fight, thought that the females are calmer, but no, the laying hens always find a reason for fights. Very amazing birds.
Oleg, 56 years old, engineer, Astrakhan.Excellent chickens for our region, birds are on the street for a long time, even at sub-zero temperatures. Not afraid of our climate. Recently I had to change my place of residence, it was a pity to sell them - we decided with my wife to take the farm with us, and did not regret it. The hens survived the move perfectly, this did not affect the number and quality of eggs.
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Based on all the advantages of Brekel crosses, it can be concluded that the breed is an excellent option for keeping on its site. Poultry beginners may not be able to cope with the breeding of birds due to their lack of instinct for incubation. And experienced breeders will be able to grow a large population. With proper care of chickens, you can get high rates of egg production and quality meat.