Redbro chickens: description of the breed, characteristics and conditions of detention

Redbrough is a variety of chickens ideal for breeding. The bird is known not only for high-quality meat, but also for high egg production. Today, Redbrough chickens are profitable to breed for both small farmers and large industrial organizations. Let's get acquainted with the characteristics, conditions of detention and features of caring for the bird of this breed, as well as measures to prevent its diseases.

Origin story

Redbrough chickens were bred in England by crossing representatives of the Malay and Cornish species. Thanks to the inherited traits, the bird turned out to be large in size, with strong immunity and a good-natured character.Today, chickens of this breed are popular not only among farmers, but also in industry, as they are universal in terms of meat and eggs.

Description and characteristics of the breed

Redbro are grown for quality meat. Due to the special structure of the muscles, the bird has practically no fat layer.

Appearance

At a young age, the bird has a light color, which makes it difficult to recognize the breed.

Signs of breed:

• big head;
• bright red plumage, tight to the body;
• small wings;
• red comb and leaf lobes;
• clear, short beak;
• dense strong legs.

Chickens become brightly colored after the first molt.

Hens and roosters weight

Redbro breed birds are considered large. They inherited this feature from their fighting ancestors. The mass of an adult chicken is 3-3.5 kg, a rooster is 1 kg more.

Birds are unpretentious in content, quickly gaining weight on regular food. At the age of one month, chickens have a mass of 1-1.2 kg, by three months - 2.5 kg. They reach the main weight after six months.

Character

Despite fighting ancestors, Redbros have a peaceful nature. They easily get along with other types of birds. However, chickens do not like enclosed spaces. You can't keep them in cages. Spacious enclosures with a place for walking are created for them.

Productivity

The bird belongs to profitable breeds. By 5-6 months of age, the female begins to rush. A chicken produces up to 300 eggs weighing 60-75 g per year. In addition, the breed is valued for dietary meat with a low fat content. The average weight of a broiler carcass is 3-4 kg.

Chickens are sent for slaughter at the age of one year, since during this period egg production decreases, and it is unprofitable to raise a bird further.

Pros and Cons of Redbrough Chickens

Redbro breed is valued among farmers. Breeding these birds has certain advantages.

Pros:

• quick weight gain;
• easy adaptation to the conditions of detention;
• unpretentiousness in food;
• good he alth, endurance;
• non-aggressive nature;
• nutritious, dietary meat;
• high egg production.

Chickens are easy to keep. They do not require special feed. They have a strong immune system and can walk even at sub-zero temperatures without losing productivity. The breed is characterized by a high level of survival of chicks, regardless of whether they are hatched by a laying hen or bred in an incubator.

The breed has one drawback - the color of the young. Redbrough chicks do not look different from ordinary chickens, so inexperienced breeders can be deceived when buying birds.

Content Features

Redbro chickens are unpretentious in content and quickly adapt to the environment and place of residence. But there are some requirements that must be met for the successful rearing of birds.

Coop Requirements

The chicken coop should be spacious. For 10 sq. m inhabited by no more than 20 individuals. The room for keeping is made square, with a ceiling height of 1.8-2 m. The floor is covered with dry grass flooring, perches and nests with a depth of at least 30 cm are formed at the back wall.

The bird house should be well ventilated, but without drafts, the flooring should be dry. It is necessary to change the filler at least once a week.

Temperature, humidity, lighting

Despite the unpretentiousness of the breed, birds must always be kept warm. In chicken coops in winter, the temperature should not fall below +6. If necessary, you can artificially heat the room. In summer, the temperature should not be allowed to rise above 27 degrees. Air vents are made in the houses to eliminate overheating.

An important factor in the proper development of offspring is humidity. In the wet season, it is necessary to change flooring more often, to dry the air with artificial methods.

In order for the chickens to rush continuously, there must always be enough light in the chicken coops. In summer, a 14-hour day is achieved naturally; in winter, feathered lamps are turned on. For 10 sq. m - 60 W. Lighting is installed on the ceiling, near the feeders and drinkers.

Playing yard

Walking is very important for birds. Breeders need to think about the location, shape and size of the enclosure in advance. For manufacturing, a galvanized metal mesh is usually used, fixed on wooden bars. Install enclosures next to the chicken coop. At least 2 square meters are allocated per individual. m. square.

Installation of feeders and drinkers

In the summer, when the bird spends all day outside, it is worth installing feeders and drinkers in the same place. In winter, chickens are in the coop all day, so sources of water and feed are transferred indoors. Containers are attached to the wall at a short distance or installed on a shelf. Feeders and drinkers should not be placed on the floor, as birds often climb into them, scatter grain and trample it.

Feeders can be different, replenished manually or automatically. But it is worth considering that it is impossible to overfeed the bird, it is especially harmful for laying hens.

Bird food

Despite the fact that Redbrough are unpretentious in food, the diet of birds should be balanced. High performance in growing poultry is achieved by introducing compound feed. Vegetables, fruits, herbs are essential components of feathered dishes. In summer, chickens can forage for insects and grass while walking.

It is important to consider the amount of food per individual, depending on age. A 2-week-old chicken is given at least 100 grams of grain.

The norm increases in accordance with the development of the bird and by 6 months reaches 300 g.

Reproduction and breeding

Redbro chickens lend themselves well to breeding. Laying hens have a pronounced maternal instinct and conscientiously incubate the clutch. However, after puberty, birds do not produce good offspring.Chicks are born weak and small. Therefore, incubators are often used to breed birds.

Tips:

• to breed offspring, choose eggs of the first clutch, of the same size;
• before laying in the incubator, wash the eggs from dirt and wipe with a cloth dipped in potassium permanganate;
• control the temperature and humidity in the incubator.

The time of day at which the chicks appear depends on the time of laying them in the incubator. Chicks are born with light brown plumage. At first, babies should be kept in a box, the bottom of which is covered with warm material. The temperature in the room should not be below 30 degrees. Every day it must be lowered so that by the age of one month the chicks are ready for cool conditions.

Feed chickens for the first days with soft food rich in proteins. They are transferred to broiler feed no earlier than a week later.

Frequent illnesses and their prevention

Despite good immunity, the bird is prone to some diseases.

Views:

1. Tiff.

The disease occurs as a result of infection in the feathered organism. The bird does not take food, it develops vomiting, loose stools. Body temperature rises. The pet looks weak and inactive. The disease is transmitted from individual to individual. Treated with antibiotics.

2. Coccidiosis.

Birds are infected by parasitic insects. From the signs emit an increase in body temperature, diarrhea, apathy. Treat with antiparasitic drugs by adding them to food and water.

3. Salmonellosis.

An ailment develops as a result of untimely vaccination of individuals. Signs are manifested by swelling around the eyes, weakness and apathy of the feathered. Chickens are treated with Furazolidone, adding it to the drink for a week.

4. Pasteurellosis.

Sign of disease - blue comb and earrings. Mucus is released from the nose, the bird stops eating and moving. Diarrhea appears, body temperature rises. Chickens are treated with sulfonamides.

To prevent the occurrence of infections and inflammations, every spring a complete cleaning is carried out in the chicken coops, the walls of the room are covered with slaked lime to eliminate harmful microbes. From skin parasites, containers with ash are installed in the houses, in which the birds bathe. Vaccination is carried out every 3 months.

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