Breed of chickens Mechelen cuckoo: description and characteristics, rules of keeping

Mechelen cuckoo chickens are very popular among poultry farmers. They bring a lot of eggs, are distinguished by strong immunity, are characterized by rapid development and attractive appearance. To achieve success in their cultivation, it is worth providing the birds with the right care. It should be comprehensive and include a competent arrangement of the poultry house. A balanced diet is essential.

How did the breed come about?

These birds are of Belgian origin. They were bred in the town of Mechelen back in the nineteenth century. To do this, scientists crossed the Shanghai and Brahma breeds. Meat chickens were also used.

As a result, we managed to get Mechelen cuckoos. They are also called Malin. In addition, there are rare birds - Mecheln turkeyheads. They have a pod-shaped comb.

Description and characteristics of chickens Mechelen cuckoo

Mecheln cuckoo has a number of features. They should be considered before breeding birds.

What does it look like?

These birds have a typical appearance. These features set birds apart from the rest.

Standard

These chickens belong to the meat direction. They have a powerful body and strong legs. Birds are characterized by impressive weight and cannot fly. They have a medium head and a leaf-shaped ridge with 4-6 teeth. The eyes have an orange-red tint. The earlobes and earrings are bright red.

The neck is comparatively long and powerful.Roosters are characterized by a poorly developed mane and a wide, straight back. Despite the developed shoulder girdle, the wings are small in size. They are tightly pressed to the body. Feathers are considered dense and thick. Most often there are motley black and white birds.

Visions

Breed defects include the following:

underdeveloped chest muscles;
narrow back;
white earlobes;
triangular case.

The vices include too light color. However, this only applies to motley chickens. Lavender and Colombian hens are considered fairly light on their own.

Character of breed

Chickens have a calm nature. They rarely become aggressive and get along well with other birds. Roosters protect chickens from attacks by other birds or people.

Birds have excellent contact with the owner and are considered obedient.

Bird productivity

Before breeding such birds, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the parameters of their productivity.

Mass

These birds are distinguished by high meat productivity. Adult bettas reach 4-5 kilograms in weight. Chickens are usually less than 1 kilogram. The meat has a tender texture and a pleasant taste. It is characterized by a fine fiber structure.

Slaughter

Birds actively develop up to 6 months. Then their appetite decreases. Cockerels are slaughtered at 3-4 months.

Egg production

1 hen is capable of producing 140-160 eggs per year. They differ quite decent weight, which reaches 60 grams.

Moulting

Chickens begin to molt in the middle or late autumn. During this period, egg production drops sharply or completely stops. The duration of this period depends on the condition of the chickens. On average, it is a maximum of 6-7 weeks.

Change of plumage is characterized by the loss of a large amount of vitamins and minerals. Because the birds need additional drugs.

Main advantages and disadvantages

The virtues of birds include the following:

large carcasses that give a lot of meat;
great taste;
calm character;
unpretentious care;
strong immunity;
medium egg production.

At the same time, birds differ in certain disadvantages. The key disadvantage is the lack of incubation instinct. Therefore, it will be possible to breed chickens only with the help of an incubator or other birds.

Nuances of content

For birds to develop normally, they need certain conditions. At the same time, the Mechelen cuckoo does not need additional resources.

Bird Coop Requirements

Chickens of this breed require the simplest chicken coop 1.2-1.5 meters high. At least 0.2 square meters of area should fall on 1 bird. The floor must be made of natural wood. It is recommended to cover it with sawdust, hay or straw. Bedding should be 10-15 centimeters thick.

Besides this, there should be perches in the chicken coop. There should be at least 25 centimeters of space for 1 bird. Perches should be placed in cascades, leaving a distance of 40-50 centimeters.

Temperature, lighting and humidity in the poultry house

In winter, the temperature should be at least +10-15 degrees, in summer - +20-25 degrees. In the cold season, birds are able to withstand a short drop in temperature to +5 degrees.

Feathers do not tolerate high humidity. Therefore, the house should have several holes for ventilation. Humidity should be at 60%.

In winter, the house needs additional lighting. Light day should be 10-12 hours. Otherwise, egg productivity will drop significantly.

Place for walking

Chickens of this breed can do without a walking yard. They are perfectly acceptable to be grown in cages. However, these conditions negatively affect the quality of the meat.

On private farms, it is recommended to make an aviary for birds. It should be installed on a hill. 3-4 individuals should account for 1 square meter of territory. The walking yard should be in the shade. If there is no such place, it is recommended to make a canopy. A fence 1-1.2 meters high is installed along the perimeter.

Installation of feeders and drinkers

Feeders and drinkers should be installed in the chicken coop and in the aviary. They should be in a separate place that is protected from sunlight.

It is acceptable to use a small box as a feeder. Its width and height should be 10x10 centimeters. The length of the feeder is selected taking into account the number of birds. At least 10-15 centimeters should fall on 1 individual.

The feeder should definitely be attached to the support. Thanks to this, the chickens will not be able to turn it over. It is permissible to use any open container as a drinker.

Drinkers and feeders are recommended to be cleaned every day, otherwise they can become a source of infections. Every week they are washed with soapy water. It is recommended to disinfect drinkers and feeders during general cleaning.

Water in the drinking bowl should be changed 1-2 times a day. It is important that the food in the feeder does not stagnate. Therefore, it is poured in small portions. Spoiled food will lead to severe digestive disorders.

How to feed Mechelen cuckoos?

Birds of this breed are undemanding to the diet. To feed chickens, the following is recommended:

factory compound feed intended for the meat direction, or ordinary homemade food;
grass, cereals, greens;
vitamins, minerals, fish oil.

Proper and balanced nutrition ensures rapid weight gain. Thanks to this, chickens can be slaughtered at 4-5 months.

It is recommended to feed the birds according to the schedule. This is done 2-3 times a day. Adult birds need 250-300 grams of food. Half of this amount should be dry food, which has a high nutritional value. The second half should be chopped vegetables and herbs.

In addition to the main food, birds should receive food of animal origin.This improves the quality of the meat. To do this, use meat or fish meal. It is also permissible to use crushed offal. Sources of calcium should be present in the diet - egg shells, chalk.

Equally important is the observance of the ratio of nutrients. The breed is characterized by good he alth, but birds cannot do without vitamins and minerals. Therefore, in the spring they are given multivitamins for chickens.

Specific breeding

When there is a rooster in the chicken coop, the eggs of the hens are almost always fertilized. From them, offspring quickly appear. At the same time, laying hens are deprived of maternal instinct. Therefore, it is recommended to breed chickens by the incubation method. This method helps to achieve a friendly breeding of chicks that are he althy and viable.

Birds have a high survival rate. They practically do not face diseases and gain weight very well. Already in 5 months it is possible to get a full-fledged carcass.

At day old, chicks can be easily separated by sex. Females have a light spot on the surface of the head. In this case, the back is almost black. Males have a white spot on their backs.

Diseases and prevention

As a result of selection, it was possible to obtain resistance to infectious diseases. It should be borne in mind that chickens can be attacked by parasites. Therefore, they should be processed with special means and organize ash baths.

Also, the risk of developing diseases increases during the seasonal molt. This is due to a lack of vitamins.

Where to buy in Russia?

You can buy chickens of this breed in the club "Fauna". Poultry breeders breed birds, take part in exhibitions and share their experience in raising chickens.

Mechelen cuckoo is a popular breed that is characterized by high productivity and rapid development. In order to achieve success in growing birds, it is recommended to properly equip the house, provide them with a balanced diet, and protect them from diseases and parasites.