Most farmers are breeding chickens in order to get the maximum profit from their sale. The most profitable investment will be the purchase of chicks, from which you can get not only a large meaty carcass, but also a good number of eggs. Meat and egg breeds of chickens are considered today one of the most popular.
What is special about chickens?
Meat and egg chickens are a universal breed of chickens, which, in terms of meat and eggs, stands between these two promising areas. The peculiarity of these chickens is that there are practically no special requirements for the maintenance and care. But they need enough light and heat, so there should be good lighting in the chicken coop, and heaters should be installed.
In the process of breeding, the chickens partially lost their maternal instinct, therefore, hens from them will not work. The individuals were bred as a result of practical genetic experiments on crossing meat and egg chickens. But in the world there are some species that have these qualities by nature.
Varieties of meat and egg chickens
There are a huge number of meat and egg chickens, but not all of them are so productive that you can get good profit when they are bred. When choosing carefully pay attention not only to the breed of chickens, but also to the indicator of laid eggs for a year, puberty, maximum weight.
Poltava
This type of chickens is distinguished by excellent external qualities: they have a “clay” plumage. That is, their plumage has a motley light brown tint. For a year they are able to bring about 190 eggs weighing 60 g each. The weight of the rooster reaches 3.5 kg, the chicken - half a kilogram less.
Poltava chickens rarely hatch eggs, but if this happens, they will be good hens. They are well engaged in raising offspring, reliably protecting them from external negative factors. Chickens reach puberty at 5 months. For an entrepreneurial farmer, this breed is one of the best options for breeding and profit from meat and eggs.
Ukrainian earflaps
This variety is grown on special farms in Ukraine. It has average dimensions, and the mass of the rooster is up to 3.5 kg, chicken - up to 2.3 kg. Ushanka carefully brings up little chicks, protecting them from any natural factors.
Chickens reach puberty by 6 months. It is difficult to call this variety egg-laying, since in a year it brings up to 180 eggs weighing 58 g.
Yerevan
Already by the name it becomes clear that Yerevan specialists were engaged in the breeding of this breed in the process of long selection. This breed is one of the best egg-bearing species. Yerevan hens in Asia are appreciated. But in Russia, few people know about them.
The advantage of this individual is the plumage of a red tint - it fits snugly to the body. These chickens are bred in Armenia and Azerbaijan. The main disadvantages are excessive timidity. The rooster reaches a weight of 4.5 kg, and the chicken - up to 2.5 kg. Puberty is reached at 6 months. As already mentioned, chickens are good animals, bringing eggs - up to 220 pieces per year.
Mini
This is a variety of chickens, often found in European states (England, France), and a little less often in Russia. This breed is distinguished by white and red plumage. Animals differ in compact physique, short legs and light weight. They have a scallop having a leaf shape, and their plumage is hard and good.
Hens have a calm character, but high sensitivity to temperature differences. The weight of an adult rooster, which can be sent for slaughter, is up to 3 kg. An adult chicken weighs 2.5-2.7 kg.
They are famous for their high egg production, because in a year they can lay up to 190 eggs weighing 57 g.
Galosheyny
This is a popular meat and egg breed of chickens, because it is distinguished by good endurance. This breed is found in Russia and in European countries. This is a universal type of chicken. The mass of the rooster is 3.5 kg, chicken - 2.5 kg. Up to 180 eggs weighing 55-58 g are laid per year. They are the best representatives of this breed of chickens.
California
As for the best meat-and-egg breed, California chickens are considered the most popular in terms of egg delivery, as animals carry up to 240 eggs per year. Regarding body weight, in this case they are slightly inferior to Yerevan hens. Today, this species is practically not widespread, but in Russia California chickens are found in various farms.
The mass of chickens is 2.5 kg, roosters - 3.5 kg. These are egg breeds of chickens. They bring eggs weighing 58 g each. The egg shell has a creamy tint.
Rhode Island
This breed got its name from the state where these birds appeared. They have a reddish-brown color and greenish plumage. They have a leaf-shaped red scallop, a yellow beak and powerful paws. Chickens reach puberty at 7 months, when they begin to actively give eggs - up to 220 brown eggs per year. The weight of an adult rooster is up to 3.9 kg, chicken - up to 2.9 kg.
If the chicken has an elongated neck and head, heavy weight, light eyes, a triangular body shape, dull plumage - this is considered a deviation from the breed.
A feature of these chickens is their unpretentiousness in food, they calmly consume fodder at the foot. They are carried throughout the year. Chickens, which are characterized by good egg production, remain for breeding offspring. In order for productivity to not decrease in winter, keep the optimum temperature in the chicken coop - 10 degrees.
Adler silver
Meat and egg breeds of chickens with a presentable appearance. Their plumage has a yellowish tint, and the scallop has a leaf-shaped shape, slightly leaning to the side. They have a strong, downed body, wide chest and back.
These hens are also especially attracted with their legs and beak - they are yellow in color. The maximum weight of the Adler hens reaches 3 kg, the roosters - 4 kg. Chickens bring eggs regardless of the season - up to 180 pieces for 12 months. Reach puberty within six months after hatching.
The main disadvantage of this breed is that they are poor hens. Adler Silver have a calm, non-aggressive character. They were used in the selection process, in order to achieve the best breed. As a result, there were many crosses that are based on this variety.
New hampshire
This breed is a variety of Roy Island. The advantage of meat and egg chickens is that they quickly reach maximum weight, and also have good egg production. New Hampshire have excellent livestock survival. Puberty begins at 6 months.
Hens have a light shade, brown-red plumage. Adult rooster reaches up to 3.3 kg, chicken - 2.6 kg. Each year, a laying hen can produce up to 190 large eggs. The only drawback of this breed is that hens cannot be good hens.
Anniversary Kuchinskaya
A breed that will please farmers not only with its large mass, but also with good egg production. They have a brown color scheme, which shimmers with a golden hue. They also guarantee high survival and productivity.
The weight of an adult rooster is 3.5-4 kg. A chicken ready for slaughter weighs 2.5-3 kg. Birds are not quite demanding in care, unpretentious in maintenance, appreciated by their calm character and friendliness. It is easy for them to endure various weather conditions. They are growing fast. Can give up to 220 brownish-pink large eggs. They have juicy and tasty meat.
Distinctive features of the breed is that the chicken has a brown plumage, the cock has a red plumage with gold and black spots. Also, this breed has a long beak, leaf-shaped scallop, massive legs without feathers.
Orpington
This breed comes from England, its cost is excessively high. It has a short feather cover, as well as a diverse range of colors. You can meet black, red, fawn, partridge chickens Orpington. The weight of an adult rooster is 3.5 kg, chicken - 2.6 kg. During the year, a laying hen can bring up to 190 large eggs.
Moscow
The breed is considered the most successful, based on what was obtained in the process of crossing. Moscow chickens are hardy, productive, have high survival rates. The main color is black. They have yellow feathers on the neck. The weight of chickens reaches 2.8 kg, roosters - 3.9 kg.
Each year, the chicken is able to bring up to 250 eggs weighing 63 g. If you properly care for the chicken and feed it with good food, it can carry up to 300 eggs. The advantage of the breed - birds are allowed to be kept in cages, they are resistant to various diseases, active and cheerful, unpretentious in feeding and can easily tolerate different conditions. Puberty begins at 6 months.
The disadvantage of Moscow chicken is that it does not have a hatching instinct and is a poor brood hen. These hens love warmth. If it is required that the animals bring eggs in the winter, it is important to take care of the warming of the house.
Sussex
These chickens got their name from the famous county. The chicken has a large massive back. It happens in white and black. There are always blotches on the neck. They are good because they gain weight as quickly as possible. Dominated by a leafy scallop.
Hens have a small, wide head. They have a strong, slightly curved, dark beak at the base and brightening towards the tip. Their eyes are often red or orange. The case has a rectangular shape, the back is wide, slightly narrowed to the tail. A powerful, wide chest and large belly make this breed attractive. Birds have a small tail, short forearms.
The weight of the rooster can reach up to 3.1 kg, chicken - up to 2.6 kg. Each year, the chicken brings up to 180 eggs weighing 65 g.
Plymouth Rock
This variety will be most liked by breeders who value the external qualities of poultry, tasty healthy meat and lots of eggs. It Plymouthrock is good in that it has an attractive appearance, because it is able to decorate the compound. In addition, this breed of birds is large in size. So, a rooster can grow up to 6 kg, chickens - up to 3.6 kg. They have tasty and tender meat, high egg production.
The characteristic features include large eyes, a wide and magnificent tail, a small yellow beak. Plymouths are calm disposition. A chicken can bring up to 180 brown eggs annually. Puberty comes from 6 months.
Salmon Zagora
A variety of meat and egg chickens is one of those that attracts exclusively by the appearance of meat: it has a shade like salmon. Characteristic features of this animal are its small size, black or red color scheme.
What advantages and disadvantages do birds have:
- they have a highly developed maternal instinct;
- animals are unpretentious in keeping and very hardy;
- calm and good-natured character allows you to keep birds with other breeds;
- birds are not picky about food;
- Salmon Zagorsky has strong immunity, because the livestock is rarely sick.
The disadvantages include the fact that birds of this breed can fly high, reaching up to 2 meters. Breeders will have to build a tall aviary or enclose it on top with a net. So the chickens will not only not run away, but will not harm the economy, because the birds like to make their way to the beds and spoil them.
Adult rooster reaches 3.6 kg, female - 2.8 kg. A layer is capable of producing about 250 eggs weighing 65 g per year.
Faverol
Beautiful chickens with whiskers on their heads and plumage on their paws. This breed will be a great decoration for any compound. Hens lead an inactive lifestyle, do not pay attention to other birds, have a calm disposition. Due to immobility, this breed of chickens can quickly stock up on fat, gaining mass. Chickens quite tolerate low temperatures.
The weight of an adult rooster reaches 3.9 kg, chicken - 2.9 kg. Each year, the laying hen brings up to 190 eggs weighing 65 g.
Feeding chicken meat and egg
As for feeding such chickens, they have a slow metabolism. Slow egg production occurs. Chickens lead a sedentary lifestyle, prone to overeating, which leads to the accumulation of subcutaneous fat, and it is deposited in their liver. This leads to the fact that the hormonal regulation of the processes of egg formation is inhibited, the feed costs increase, and the biological quality of the eggs decreases.
In order to avoid this, make up a balanced diet, that is, nutrition should be aimed at stimulating the growth of live weight and the formation of eggs.
All breeds of this orientation consume much more feed than ordinary chickens. Therefore, they observe the diet, distributing three types of feed with an interval of 6 hours:
- cereal mixtures of oatmeal, corn and millet;
- wet mash with meat and bone or fish meal, milk or cottage cheese;
- cereal (daily different type).
To increase the fertilization of eggs, cocks are given 50 g of germinated grain at the rate of 20 mg per 1 kg of feed. Meat and egg chickens are the best category for economical feeding with an excellent result, aimed at profit.
So, you can get a good income from growing meat and egg breeds of chickens. They have a calm character, unpretentious in content, attractive in appearance. In addition, they can supply their owner not only with juicy and healthy meat, but also with large eggs that they keep for themselves or are allowed to sell.