Leghorn - breed chickens, reviews of which the owners of farms and private households only positive, is bred in this country with the 20-ies of the last century.This is a very unpretentious bird egg-laying efficiency.Grow Leghorn not only on small farms, but also in large poultry farms.
History of breed
In the middle of the XIX century in the United States were imported from Italy are very hardy hens with white feathers.Since they were delivered from the port of Livorno, the Americans called them in his own way - "Leghorn."In addition unpretentious and undemanding to the diet, especially any other outstanding qualities, these birds did not differ.Held in US long-term breeding work yielded chickens capable of carrying up to 300 eggs a year.Today it is one of the most popular breeds in the world, it is considered American.Leghorn, in the US account for about 95% of all livestock grown in the country.Below the photograph shows a typical modern Leghorn rooster.
In Russia, these chickens were imported in the first years of 1925-27 and then in 1946. Subsequently, they were used for breeding and producing highly cross.
Leghorn Chickens: description
most often on the farms of our country bred Leghorn with a white feather.However, this bird species breed displayed a lot because on farms and poultry farms can sometimes be found Leghorn brown, yellow, mottled, blue and even black.Currently, there are about twenty variations of color feather hens of this breed.The main distinguishing feature of all, without exception, Leghorn include:
- leaf-shaped crest of bright red color.In females it is hanging on the side, at the cockerels - erect.
- neat head of medium size and long enough not thick neck.
- Easy backbone and broad chest.
- overweight plumage.
- Tail standing at an angle of 30-40 grams.
Young Leghorn chickens have yellow legs, in individuals older - white.
Productivity
Leghorn - breed chickens, reviews of which allow us to speak of it as a very unpretentious and productive, bred mainly to produce eggs.Too large a bird in any case do not grow.Hen weighs 1.5-2 kg, Cockerel - 2.3-2.6 kg.In egg production as this breed is much greater than most of the other, more heavy.
alone-Leghorn laying hen can lay up to 300 eggs a year.Of course, only if the correctness of the diet, and good maintenance conditions.But in any case less than 150-200 eggs per year, these chickens are rare.Their weight can be 56-58 grams.The color of the eggshell hens of this breed are white.
meat Leghorn not diluted.However, after a decline in egg production (usually more than two years, they do not contain) the bird, of course, clog.Chicken carcases of this breed different white skin and have a fairly attractive neat - without dark stumps, and cyanosis.At a young age slaughtered only extra-Leghorn cockerels.Their skin has a natural yellowish tinge.
There is a very interesting variety of hens of this breed - the dwarf Leghorn.It's very small, but also highly productive poultry.Leghorn hens dwarf weighs about 1.2-1.4 kg, Cockerel - 1.4-1.7 kg.Egg laying breeds - 210-260 pieces.in year.
Reproduction
Leghorn are precocious breed chickens and carried begin as early as 4.5-5.5 months.Petushki characterized by high activity and fertility.Therefore, it is not necessary to keep them in the economy too much.Brooding instinct in these chickens do not.Egg fertilization - 95%.Out of young - 88-92%.Chicks are born active, viable and by two weeks of age start to fledge.
Leghorn (breed hens): reviews
opinion among Russian farmers about this breed is traditionally very good.Since these chickens weigh little, respectively, and feed on them have to spend not very much.Thus the eggs they are much more many other species.Many owners of private households to the merits of chickens include Leghorn and brown shell.Currently on sale in shops and markets can be found in mostly white eggs.Brown considered certain "exotic" and bought more than willing.
The advantages of the breed in some cases even include the lack of brooding instinct.Incubators today are very expensive, because the chickens, if desired, you can always bring your own.This home Leghorn completely free from problems with a decrease in productivity when trying to catch a chicken egg.
overweight plumage of the females allows them to breed including in regions with a continental climate.Good reviews Leghorn earned the hosts gardens in most regions of the country - from the Caucasus to Siberia.
crosses
Leghorn Chickens, the description of which was given above, and today is actively used as a parent in the breeding of high-breed crosses.The most popular hybrids derived include:
- rhodonite.The creation of this cross did in the years 1989-1995 in the GPP "Sverdlovsk".Chickens rhodonite carry up to 296 eggs per hen per year average.At the moment, their share in our country accounts for about 40% of the total population.
- P46.Parent breeds to this hybrid steel Leghorn Japanese, Canadian and Dutch.P46 hen can lay up to 260 eggs a year.
- Loman white.Chickens of this hybrid have a very high egg production and feed conversion, but quite demanding in terms of content.
There are many other hybrids and crosses, the creation of which used chicken Leghorn.Each of them has their own advantages and the vast number of adherents - owners of private households and farms.
features content
Leghorn - breed chickens, reviews about which so definitely positive.Since the large size of the bird is different, too spacious for her to build a barn is not required.The same goes for walking.It will be enough to enclose a small section near the poultry houses Rabitz.As with most other species, should arrange for Leghorn perches, nests and bird feeders.A first at about 80 cm from the floor on the opposite side of the window.Nests can be nailed to the wall of the barn.It is best to place them at roosts and in close proximity to them.
window in the barn should be mandatory.Leghorn chickens for a good development and productivity need light and fresh air.Of course, the shed should be kept clean.Leghorn - Bird hardy, disease-resistant enough.However, the lack of fresh air, the smell of ammonia, a large amount of feces and so on. D. Can lead not only to a decrease in egg production, but also to the outbreak of any epidemic.
cellular content
normal transport domestic chicken Leghorn and the content in cells.In this case it is possible to save even more space.Weigh these chickens are very few, and therefore thrive in including the mesh floor.Of course, make it necessary to arrange a italic and outside the cell tray to hold the eggs.Feeders and waterers are usually hung on the door, and the distance between the bars is made to the chicken could easily stick your head between them.
Features feeding
Food Leghorn chickens are usually given three times a day.In the mornings and evenings, you can put in a feeding trough, dry cereals (wheat, barley, and t.), Mixed in with their purchase-special additives, as well as a small amount of chalk and salt.
For lunch make mash.In summer, they rubbed carrots, raw potatoes, beets, apples, cut the cabbage.You can also add the nettles and swans.Very useful for chickens considered carrot and beet tops.If you wish, you can also mix with grated zucchini.Be sure to add a bit of bran mash.Do not be amiss, and meat and bone meal.
incubating eggs
especially good domestic chicken Leghorn rushing in the first year of detention.The second efficiency is slightly reduced.Keep these chickens for more than two years, the majority owners of gardens consider inappropriate.So you need to collect yearling hens lay eggs and incubate them.Filter should only be smooth, without cracks and build-up, the mean value.
have the most popular white leghorn shells almost transparent.Therefore, to identify spoiled eggs of hens of the breed using candling no work will not make.When candling primarily pay attention to the yolk and the air chamber.The first must be an integer.A good egg when you turn it lightly stepped aside and then returned to the place.The air chamber should be located at the blunt end.Those eggs, which she was very biased, rejected.
Incubation is carried out in the usual manner.That is complied with the required temperature and humidity conditions.
Care chickens
Leghorn chicks hatch 21 days.As they left the incubator as long as they do not obsohnet fluff.Then the chicks are transplanted to the nursery.As the latter can be used, for example, a large cardboard box.
In most cases, small Leghorn chickens, chicks like any other breed, fed cheese and boiled egg yolk.However, some poultry farmers has recently refused to from this practice, considering such food for chickens, though very small, unnatural.Instead of eggs and cheese, they are advised to feed the chickens are specially designed for food "Start to laying hens."As the chicks eat very little, special charges buy balanced food, of course, not cause.You can also give the chickens melkodroblenye corn, wheat and oat Kupu.
In the first ten days, the chicks are fed 5-6 times a day.By the month of feeding frequency was reduced to three times.With the four age chicks begin to give chopped herbs, mixing in it to the main feed.Also, little chicks are very helpful to melkotolchenuyu eggshells.On the fifth day, you can start adding in the food a little chalk.
monthly chickens is already possible to give the potatoes, carrots and beets.Related to the white leghorn breed of chicken - the birds are not particularly fastidious.But follow the rules of drawing up a "menu" for the chicks is very important.
This is especially true diet dwarf Leghorn chickens.If the "menu" there is too much protein, chicks skryuchatsya legs, and they will die.
When growing young chicks is very important to follow the correct temperature.In the first five days the chicks are kept at t 30-35 g.By two months of age gradually reduce it to 16-18 t.
In the first 7 days of life the chicks nurseries should be covered for at least 20 hours a day.Subsequent weeks - 18 hours.In the paddock chicks can be produced starting from week-old, protected from sunlight and very long.Full day tour of chickens can be produced starting from the eighth week of life.
Features care
Contains Leghorn hens laying strict compliance with the following recommendations:
- humidity in the house should not be less than 60%.The lowest threshold - 45%.If the air in the chicken coop will be too dry, the chicks will die.Of course, should not be allowed to increase humidity and strong.Ventilation in the house, as already mentioned, is required.
- in chickens in pen - especially if in a barn not too clean - part of the plant parasites.At the same time it begins to actively pull the bird feathers.Many owners of private plots put in the chicken coop special containers with ash.However, a much more effective way to get rid of parasites considered chickens specially designed for this drug.They are simply added to the feed.
- not be allowed in the house and too strong temperature changes.This affects the egg.In addition, the chickens get sick.Despite good health, not like a bird of this species and drafts.
Pen at Leghorn dense enough, and so they are not too cold fear.Heating in the barn does not necessarily hold.However, to allow to the winter temperatures in the house dropped too low, as it is impossible.To chickens was warm, be sure prostelit floor with a thick layer of straw, hay and sawdust (about 40 cm).In the cold season this litter will act as a natural heater.It will start to happen all sorts of biological processes, accompanied by heat.The only thing - it must be ensured so that the top is not formed crust.
cost of hens and chicks
hatching eggs or chicks Leghorn can buy private or poultry farm engaged in breeding of this breed.This is actually a very popular and common hens.Price is therefore not too high.Hatching eggs, for example, costs about 35 rubles.For chickens are usually asked to 60-70 rubles.for adult chickens - 300 p.
The conclusion from the above can be done next.Leghorn - chickens, for which the price is not too high - the breed is very good.Keep the bird is already profitable because of high feed conversion, egg production and excellent resilience.
