Breed of chickens Russian black bearded Galan: description and rules of keeping

Russian black bearded breed of chickens Galan is considered very popular. These birds are distinguished by their original appearance and can become a real decoration of the farmstead. Birds are undemanding in care and easily tolerate lower temperatures. They are characterized by good productivity. To succeed in raising these chickens, it is worth providing them with optimal conditions.

Breeding

The exact origin of these chickens is unknown. There are several assumptions regarding the breeding of birds. The birthplace of laying hens is Russia. There is controversy regarding the breeds from which Galan chickens were obtained.

Some scientists claim that laying hens were bred from Wyandotte and Creveker breeds. Others consider Wyandotte and Orlovskaya chickens to be the genetic ancestors.

Characteristics and description of chickens Galan

Before growing birds of this breed, you should familiarize yourself with its main characteristics.

Appearance and physique

Galan chickens are large in size and have a powerful body. They are characterized by an elevated figure and strong bones. Chickens have a large rounded head and a red face. She is adorned with a full beard.

The beak is thick and curved. It has a black or dark gray tint. The scallop has a pink shape. The eyes are large and red-brown in color. The lobes are small. They have a red tint.

Chickens have a wide rectangular body.They are characterized by a rounded raised chest. The back narrows slightly towards the tail, and the loin is covered with lush feathers. The tail is distinguished by splendor. The wings are broad and short. They are tightly pressed to the body. Birds are characterized by lush feathers that are dense.

Bird Character

These birds have a calm and balanced character. Chickens are considered a little slow. They are not highly active. Birds get along well with other inhabitants of the farmstead. Galans do equally well indoors and outdoors.

Hatching instinct

For birds, a well-developed maternal instinct is characteristic. Therefore, it is permissible to breed them by incubation. It should be borne in mind that every fifth chicken has a weakened instinct.

Therefore, it is recommended to be careful about the choice of layers.

Productivity

This is a universal breed that belongs to the meat and egg direction and has pronounced decorative characteristics. Such birds are distinguished by good productivity. Adult roosters weigh 3-4 kilograms, hens - 3-3.5.

Birds are characterized by large fleshy carcasses that contain little fat. Their meat has excellent taste characteristics and high nutritional value.

Growth dynamics and weight gain

Puberty of birds occurs at 5 months. From that moment on, they actively gain body weight. Then the weight remains stable. It may vary slightly due to seasonal factors. After 6 months, males are allowed to be slaughtered. The replacement of chickens is planned for 4 years. It is during this period that their egg production decreases.

Egg production rates

Chickens start laying eggs at 4-5 months. During the year, a laying hen is able to bring 200 eggs. They are large and weigh 70 grams. On top of the eggs are covered with a creamy shell. It should be borne in mind that with a lack of nutrition, egg production parameters drop sharply to 100 eggs per year.

Advantages and disadvantages

The virtues of birds include the following:

frost resistance;
easy care;
good productivity;
attractive appearance.

At the same time, birds also have certain disadvantages:

breed rarity;
long feathering of chicks.

Features of maintenance and care

In order for the birds to develop normally and bring a lot of eggs, they should be provided with quality care.

Poultry, paddock or cages

These chickens can live in any conditions. At the same time, experienced poultry farmers do not advise keeping them in cages. This option is used only in large poultry farms, as it makes it easier to care for birds.

In private farms, it is better to keep birds in a chicken coop or provide them with walking. Thanks to this, birds will be able to replenish their diet with nutritional supplements - greens, insects.

Playground

Birds are allowed to be released for free range. These birds do not know how to fly, they do not go far from their homes. The only requirement for a walking yard is the presence of greenery on it.

Chickens have dense feathers. Therefore, they are allowed to be let out on the street in winter. It is permissible to do this in slight frosts.

Humidity and ventilation

Chickens of this breed can hardly tolerate dampness. Humidity parameters in the chicken coop should not exceed 60-70%. To regulate this indicator, it is worth providing a complete ventilation system.

If the humidity in the chicken coop is very high, you should use peat bedding. It helps absorb excess moisture. The rest of the time it is allowed to lay hay or straw on the floor.

Arrangement of the chicken coop

There should be ash and sand baths in the chicken coop. They help chickens cope with parasites. Perches should be made low - no more than 60-70 centimeters. It is best to equip them with a ladder. Nests should measure 30-40 centimeters. 1 nest is enough for 3 hens.

Moulting

Chickens of this breed molt every year. This happens in the fall - at the time of a significant decrease in daylight hours. After recovery, egg production increases.

During the molting period, chickens should provide good nutrition.

Chicken diet

Galan chickens are unpretentious. However, to maintain good productivity, they should provide adequate nutrition.

Adults

When chickens are preparing for laying, they should be given plenty of calcium. It is found in eggshells, chalk, cottage cheese. It is also permissible to give whey and shell rock to birds.

When the egg-laying process returns to normal, birds should be transferred to a normal diet. It must include the following components:

40 grams of corn;
20 grams of wheat;
30 grams of barley;
30 grams of oats;
100 grams of vegetables;
30-40 grams of mash.

Also birds need additional supplements. Bran, yeast, chalk should be present in their diet. In addition, the birds are given meat and bone meal and s alt.

Chickens

At 1-2 weeks of life, chickens should be given boiled eggs, a mixture of boiled and raw millet, starter feed. Also, the chicks need vegetables, cottage cheese, curdled milk.

At 3-4 weeks, crushed grains, beets and greens are introduced into the diet of birds. Eggs are recommended to be replaced with cottage cheese. It is also worth introducing chalk into the diet. From the 5th week of the chickens are transferred to feed Fattening.

Subtleties of breeding

Many farmers are interested in breeding birds of this breed. To succeed in this, it is worth following certain recommendations.

When and how

Chickens of this breed are characterized by a pronounced maternal instinct. They incubate the eggs and take good care of the chicks. It is important to choose the right layers.

Chickens are born on the 21st day. Usually the upper body is covered with a dark fluff, and the belly has a sandy tint. Chicks develop quickly while feathers appear slowly. Therefore, it is desirable that the brood appear in the spring. Thanks to this, he will have time to fledge by winter.

Culling

After 4-5 months, it is worth culling birds that do not meet breed standards. These include chicks with feathers on their paws, light feathers on their body or beard. For breeding, it is not recommended to leave chickens without a beard.

Care for young animals

After hatching, the chicks are placed in a brooder. They need a temperature of + 33-35 degrees. Within 2 months, this figure is gradually reduced to +25. An infrared lamp should be used to heat the brooder.

Chicks need around the clock lighting for the first 3 days. Then daylight hours are gradually reduced to 14-16 hours.

Chicks can be transferred to adult birds at 2 months old.

Diseases and methods of dealing with them

These birds are distinguished by strong immunity. They are not prone to disease. To avoid problems, it is recommended to vaccinate on time, keep the poultry house clean and provide the birds with a complete diet.

Analogues of the breed

Yurlovsky hens are considered an analogue of the Galan breed. They belong to the meat and egg direction and are distinguished by excellent endurance. At the same time, the Yurlovskys are capable of reaching 5 kilograms in weight, however, they have a lower egg productivity. It does not exceed 170 eggs per year.

Galan chickens are considered popular. Their advantages include excellent decorative properties and good productivity. To achieve excellent results in raising birds, they should provide quality care.