Tricolor chickens: breed description, growing conditions and diet

Farmers and owners of private farms are well aware of the breed of chickens called tricolor. The bird looks elegant because of the tricolor plumage, but interest in it is not caused by its appearance, but by the presence of high characteristics. In order to grow a bird with useful dietary meat in the shortest possible time, it is worth knowing the characteristics of the breed, the subtleties of keeping and caring for it.

Historical background

The tricolor broiler was not bred immediately, but as a result of a long selection work carried out by French scientists. By crossing local breeds, they managed to obtain birds that quickly gain weight, the meat of which is exquisite in taste.

Chickens tricolor quickly became in demand, spread throughout Europe, were brought to Russia.

General characteristics of the breed

A distinctive feature of the tricolor breed is the tricolor color. The bird looks decorative due to the color combination of the feathers. Although the outlines of the body are smooth, the developed muscles of broilers are outwardly noticeable. A chicken weighs 3-4 kilograms, a rooster - 4-5 kg.

Appearance

The massive physique of tricolor chickens and their rounded shapes look harmonious. The legs of the bird are high, muscular. The head is large, in proportion to the powerful body. The comb, beard and earrings are well developed, scarlet in color. The skin on the head is covered with a rare short plumage, has a pink tint. The iris of the eyes is bright, brown-red. The plumage is dense, voluminous, with a small amount of down. Paws are long, strong. Their color is bright yellow, as is the beak.

Color

The plumage of tricolor chickens looks decorative. The color includes a combination of three colors, which includes:

• white;
• black;
• brown;
• beige;
• red;
• gray;
• yellow.

Often there are individuals of white color interspersed with brown and black feathers. Reddish-beige birds with brown spots look spectacular. There are chickens with a contrasting mane in black and white and a bright red chest.

Roosters of the tricolor breed are more elegant than chickens. They are especially beautiful if emerald feathers are adjacent to a white neck.

Standard color - brown wings, beige-red neck and black tail.

Egg production of the breed

Although the tricolor breed is raised for its meat, its egg production is above average. Chickens become sexually mature at the age of 4-5 months and from that time they are able to lay up to 300 eggs per year. This result can only be achieved with proper feeding and care of the bird. Eggs of chickens tricolor with a brownish shell and weighing about 60 g each.

When the temperature in the chicken coop drops below +10 ⁰С, the egg production of the breed decreases significantly.

Early maturity and palatability of meat

Chickens tricolor are precocious breeds. Already at the age of one and a half months, broilers can grow up to 3 kg of live weight. At six months they have a body weight of about 5 kg.

The quality of the meat is high. According to its characteristics, it resembles the redbro or master gray breed. Its fat content is low, the structure is fibrous. After heat treatment, the meat becomes soft and juicy.

Temperament

Chickens tricolor - calm birds that do not waste energy in vain. They slowly move around the yard, sedately and phlegmatically looking for something tasty, doing excavations. The breed is non-conflict, easily gets along with other relatives. They do not like to make noise and shout, which is important when neighbors live nearby. The bird quickly gets used to new conditions and owners. Calm temperament contributes to the fact that tricolor chickens can live in cages, in a confined space, in poultry farm conditions.

It is difficult to scare birds, they practically do not react to the presence of people nearby. But in order for broilers to grow quickly and lay regularly, they need to create a calm, friendly environment with normal conditions and proper nutrition.

Maternal instincts

The instinct of incubation of eggs is one of the main ones for most birds, including agricultural breeds. But there are species that do not show signs of this instinct. These include tricolor chickens. Chicks are obtained from her using an incubator.

Even if you manage to put a hen on eggs, there is no chance that she will not crush them due to her large weight. It is more rational to send individuals that have reached a certain weight to be slaughtered for meat than to wait several months before laying eggs.

Good and bad sides

The character and characteristics of the tricolor chicken breed allow us to conclude about its positive aspects:

• the bird is unpretentious, can grow successfully under normal conditions;
• not picky about food;
• no need to invest heavily in its cultivation;
• youngsters are rapidly gaining weight;
• funds spent on its purchase are quickly compensated;
• meat has excellent quality and delicate taste;
• high productivity and egg production of chickens;
• due to stable immunity, the bird is not very susceptible to many viruses and diseases.

According to experts, tricolor chickens can be considered an ideal breed for growing in large poultry farms and private farms.

Its disadvantages include a weak incubation instinct. But this is easily fixed by hatching the chicks with an incubator.

Features of keeping and caring for birds

Proper arrangement of the chicken coop, places for walking, organization of care and feeding for the bird is a guarantee of early production of high quality meat.

Coop Requirements

The living space for tricolor chickens should be clean and comfortable, regardless of whether the bird is on the floor or in a cage.

The litter is kept dry, replacing straw or sawdust with new ones in time. Humidity in the room - no higher than 70%.

The air temperature should be set so that the bird is comfortable. For a normal existence in winter, it should not fall below 0 ⁰С, and in order for the chickens to continue to lay - +15 ⁰С. Drafts in the chicken coop are unacceptable, they lead to a delay in the development of young animals and their death.

For a good orientation in space, the birds are provided with normal lighting, especially since colored broilers do not have sharp eyesight.

An additional fence should be made around the chicken coop to prevent other animals from entering it.

Playing yard

For normal life, tricolor chickens need a place to run. To organize a courtyard, they enclose additional territory on the leeward side of the chicken coop. From the south, the fence is made of chain-link mesh. Its height for broilers must be at least 2 m.A canopy is installed above the walking area, which will create a shadow in strong heat and protect the territory from excess moisture in the rain. The soil should be periodically covered with sawdust, hay, straw, so that it does not turn into a swamp over time.

Feeders and drinkers

In order for the bird to always have access to water and food, drinkers and feeders are installed not only in the chicken coop, but also outside, in the walking yard.

The feeder has the shape of an elongated trough. The material of its manufacture is eco-friendly (metal, wood). The length depends on the number of livestock. In order to prevent fights and evenly distribute the food, about 10 cm of the feeder is allocated to one chicken. It is worth placing the containers above the floor so that the birds do not rake the food, but easily get it.

The drinking bowl should have a device that allows the chicken to get drunk and not stain the water. Excess liquid flows into the pan, and later it is removed. Water lasts longer if its supply does not exceed 5 liters.

Shedding season

The first juvenile molt occurs in chicks during the change from down to feathers at the age of 5 weeks. In the future, the change of the pen takes place annually, in the fall and ends in 1.5-2 months. During this period, chickens need food rich in sulfur. Bone meal, clover, peas, cabbage help support them during this period. The egg production of tricolor chickens is significantly reduced or stops altogether.

If the molting has not ended before the cold weather, it is worth creating conditions for the bird so that it does not experience discomfort.

Planned herd replacement

At the age of two or three months, chickens gain the necessary weight and they are sent for slaughter. If for some reason this did not happen, it does not make sense to keep an individual for more than six months, and the cost of feed will exceed the cost of the meat received. If there is a breeding herd, it is kept for a year and a half, after which a planned replacement is carried out.

What to feed chickens and hens

Chickens are fed strictly by the clock. Until the age of two weeks, they eat at least 6 times a day, until the age of 5-6 weeks - 4 times. After that, the chickens are transferred to an adult three-time diet.

Young animals are given food based on a special, balanced diet. It includes, in addition to grain mixtures, also vitamins in the form of greens, vegetables and special preparations. Along with drinking, the chickens are given a decoction of chamomile to prevent infectious diseases.

Adult tricolor broilers are fed following a few rules:

• mixes are high in muscle building protein;
• should prepare dry and wet mash for poultry, consisting of crushed grain, bone meal, steamed skim or broth;
• we must not forget about the need for plant foods and greens in the diet of tricolor chickens;
• s alt, shells and chalk improve digestion.

Features of breeding

Young tricolor breed is most often bought when the chicks are a week old. You can hatch chickens using the incubator, following the instructions.

Possible diseases and ways to treat them

The tricolor breed is resistant to major diseases. With poor care, an outbreak of infection can occur:

• coccidiosis - transmitted through parasites, the bird has diarrhea, body temperature rises;
• typhoid - indigestion, treated with antibiotics;
• pasteurellosis - the bird becomes less active, the temperature rises, the color of its crest and earrings changes, the treatment is with sulfonamides;
• salmonellosis - timely vaccination of the entire livestock is necessary.

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