Chickens brown nickname: description and characteristics of the breed, rules of keeping

Brown Nick chickens are known for their high egg production rates. If the rules of keeping are observed, they begin to rush at the age of 4 months. From 350 to 400 eggs are produced per year, which have excellent taste. The bird is unpretentious in care, has good immunity. Suitable for cultivation in any region of Russia. The character of the champion laying hen is meek, docile.

Origin story

The Brown Nick breed was recorded in 1965. It took 10 years for the geneticists of the German corporation H&N International to obtain chickens with high productivity rates, immune to major diseases of birds.

Description and main characteristics of the Brown Nick breed

Crosses practically do not stand out from other egg breeds. The appearance of birds depends on gender. Young animals can be distinguished immediately after birth. This makes it possible to cull males.

External signs of thoroughbred roosters and hens

Brown roosters look like this:

powerful, atypical physique;
skin light;
snow-white plumage color;
medium leaf comb;
slightly hooked beak;
four-toed matte yellow feet.

Chickens have the same massive build, the color of the feathers is copper-red. Comb of similar configuration, smaller size.

Cross Productivity

German geneticists are proud of the results achieved: early laying of brown nick hens and year-round productivity. In addition, the survival rate of young and adults is from 96 to 98%.

Egg

Chickens reach sexual maturity at the age of 20-23 weeks. Up to 8 months, the egg weight is 45-50 g, then gradually grows to 70 g. The shell is strong, dark brown in color. Egg production rates begin to decline from 18 months. For 1 calendar year, the hybrid produces from 350 to 400 eggs.

Meat

Mass of roosters - from two and a half to 3 kg. Laying hens weigh significantly less - from 1.6 to 2 kg.

Character traits

Brown Nick chickens have a calm, restrained character. Even an inexperienced beginner can cope with them. Roosters do not quarrel with each other, they are not afraid of the owner.

Pros and cons

The advantages of the breed include:

year-round egg production;
unpretentious content;
accommodating disposition of the bird;
large egg, thick shell;
chick survival rate is 98%;
low feed consumption per 1 individual.

The disadvantages of the breed include intolerance to heat, as well as a complete loss of the incubation instinct. To get young animals, you have to use an incubator.

Hybrid Care

If brown nick chickens are not properly cared for, their productivity will decrease. With the right content (a bird can live in cages or in a chicken coop), they show high egg production rates.

Room

Before the herd is settled, the house is washed and disinfected. Birds are vaccinated. There should be no drafts in the room, it is necessary to close access to the chicken coop for other domestic animals and rodents.

The main condition for breeding hybrids is dryness, warmth, cleanliness in the chicken coop. Average temperature in summer: +21… +27 ˚С. During the cold season, the temperature inside the poultry house should not fall below +5 ˚С. Optimum humidity - 75%.

Light mode

During the period of increased oviposition, daylight hours are gradually increased to 15-16 hours, adding 30 minutes daily. The minimum light intensity indicator is 10-12 Lux.

Place for walking

Cross brown Nick can not stand strong winds and drafts. Walking places for them are equipped on the leeward, not shady side. The space is surrounded by a grid, the height of which is at least 2 m.

Important! In winter, it is better not to let the chickens out of the house. The bird can catch a cold or freeze the comb.

Shedding and egg drop

Change of plumage in brown nick crosses occurs in winter, lasting several months. To speed up the process, breeders stimulate with special drugs or reduce daylight hours. During molting, the egg production of the hybrid decreases.

Diet

Crosses brown nick are unassuming in food. In agro-industrial complexes, chickens are fed with concentrated feed and compound feed. The diet of poultry, which is kept in private farmsteads, includes wet mash, germinated grain, food waste.

Feeding laying hens

Food is given to the bird three times a day. An adult chicken consumes 100-110 g per day. The approximate diet of record holders is:

cereals in germinated or dry form;
greens (grass in summer, chopped needles in winter);
sunflower seeds;
mash with boiled vegetables;
vitamin supplements.

In the morning, the chickens are given a mash, in the afternoon they are given sprouted wheat or steamed grain, in the evening - dry grain. Drinking water should always be fresh. In hot weather, it is changed several times a day.

Cooking the mash

To prepare the mash, use broth, reverse, boiled water. Add to it:

meat and bone or fish meal;
fruit;
herbal flour or fresh herbs;
vitamin and mineral supplements.

To increase productivity, the mash is supplemented with meat and fish products, maggots and earthworms.

Vegetables

Crosses Brown Nick are energetic, therefore they need a large amount of biologically active substances. Vegetables and greens to provide vitamins for chickens of this breed:

grass tops;
nettle;
shredded carrots or beets.

Mineral additives are also added to the feed.

Waste

In addition to vitamin complexes, the hybrid needs protein and calcium. Insufficient intake of trace elements leads to a decrease in egg production, and the shell becomes fragile. Brown Nick chickens can be provided with calcium by introducing fermented milk products into the diet. You can add grated shells to the feed.

Caution! Grind the shell very carefully, into powder. Otherwise, the hens will start pecking at the eggs.

Subtleties of breeding

Chickens brown nick - autosex cross. Immediately after birth, you can determine the sex of the chicks. In future laying hens, a light stripe of fluff stands out on the back. The color of chickens is darker than that of males. This makes it possible to separate them in order to create appropriate conditions for each group, since the diet of young roosters and hens is different.

Young Animal Feeding Scheme:

From 0 to 21 days young animals are fed every 2 hours;
from 22 to 45 days - 5 times a day;
from day 46 they switch to 3 meals a day.

Chicks diet by day:

1-3 - newborns are fed corn, semolina, barley grits;
from 3 - calcium is introduced (for 10 chicks - 50 g of cottage cheese);
from 30 - processed grains are mixed into the main diet;
from 35 - add chopped grass (nettles, dandelions, green onion feathers);
from 40 - young animals are transferred to feed adult chickens.

Chickens need to be provided with fresh, clean water. With a lack of fluid, the growth and development of chicks slows down.

Signs indicating shortcomings in the content of young animals:

lethargic, lethargic chickens - it's hot in the coop;
squeak loudly, huddled together - they are cold, they are hungry;
litter feels viscous, sticky to the touch - violation of the temperature regime.

Brown chickens, like their parents, are picky eaters. The main thing is to control the amount of food so that the chicks do not overeat, as this is fraught with indigestion and obesity.

Diseases and their prevention

Whiskers lay almost all year round, they are prone to typical chicken diseases, so you should pay attention to their he alth.

Cross diseases:

deviations in the development of the oviduct;
rickets;
lack of vitamins.

To prevent the development of the disease, the house is kept clean, the chickens are kept at an optimal temperature, and they are provided with the necessary vitamins. In addition, the bird is vaccinated in a timely manner:

newborn chicks - from Marek's disease;
in the period from 14 to 30 days - from bursitis and infectious bronchitis;
60 to 90 days - from encephalomyelitis, smallpox, bronchitis, Newcastle disease.

Maximum productivity indicators of record holders occur in the first 3 years of life, then it is advisable to replace the herd.

Due to the high egg production, excellent palatability of the product, Brown Nick chickens occupy the first positions in the list of poultry breeders' favorite breeds.