Foxy Chick chicken breed: description and characteristics, maintenance rules, frequent illnesses

The Foxy Chick chicken breed is considered quite popular. It is chosen by many farmers. This is due to the high productivity of these chickens. This is an egg-meat breed, which is versatile. Getting good results when growing it is not so difficult. Chickens are unpretentious in care and are characterized by resistance to many diseases. However, some features are still worth considering.

History of the breed

Hungary is considered the birthplace of this amazing cross. From this country, birds spread throughout Europe. Today they have gained great popularity and entered the TOP of the most successful European hybrids.

Chickens of this breed are called the Hungarian Giant for a reason. They have a characteristic color of feathers, and therefore they are often referred to as "red broilers". The official name of the breed is translated as "fox chicken". This is due to the bright red hue of the feathers.

Description and characteristics of chickens Hungarian giant

For chickens of this breed is characterized by a number of features. They make it popular with many poultry farmers.

Appearance

Birds of this breed have the following characteristics:

1. Chickens are short and powerful. They are characterized by a wide rounded sternum.
2. Birds have beautiful fluffy feathers and tight-fitting wings. This is a colored breed that can be red or light brown. This makes her look like another Hungarian chicken - the Tetra-HB breed.
3. Broilers have a muscular body, powerful paws and a strong neck. The legs are quite short and have a yellow tinge.
4. The head is small. It is adorned with a red leaf-shaped comb.
5. Earrings are red and rounded.
6. The eyes are bulging. They can be brown or orange.

Temperament

These birds have a short temper. They fight each other all the time. This feature is typical for roosters. Therefore, only 1 male should be in the chicken coop. If you combine several breeds, Foxy Chick will kill other chickens.

Puberty and egg production

Birds belong to egg-meat breeds. They are characterized by a high maturation rate. The hen starts laying eggs at 4 months old. At the same time, it takes no more than 4-5 weeks to establish a complex process. The weight of the chicken is increased within 12-14 months. In some cases, this process continues up to 1.5 years.

These birds are characterized by high egg production. Even under less than ideal conditions, hens lay 250 eggs a year. The mass of each of them is 70 grams. In the most comfortable environment, chickens can produce up to 300 eggs.

Hatching instinct

This is one of the productive breeds, which is distinguished by excellent maternal instinct. At the same time, chickens can raise both their own chickens and foundlings. For 1 time, a mother hen can hatch 9-10 chicks.

The bird patiently incubates the eggs. She does not leave the place because of thirst or hunger. The chicken even flips the eggs to ensure they heat evenly. This allows you to get a fairly strong offspring. In some situations, survival parameters are 100%.

Productivity

Foxy Chick belongs to the category of egg and meat breeds. These chickens are raised for meat and eggs.

Productivity Metrics

Chickens are characterized by large sizes. With proper nutrition and proper care, the weight of a chicken reaches 3-4 kilograms. A rooster can weigh 5-6.5 kilograms. In addition, there are individuals whose mass reaches 7 kilograms.

Early maturity and palatability of meat

These birds grow quite slowly. However, growing them is quite profitable. This is due to the versatility of the breed. The meat of these chickens includes a small amount of fat. Because it can be consumed by people on a diet. The product is also recommended for obesity and diabetes.

Conditions and care

Representatives of the breed are distinguished by unpretentiousness to temperature conditions and other factors. However, the content requires compliance with certain rules.

Coop and run requirements

Birds can be caged or allowed to roam freely. In the first case, you can use an insulated room with a height of at least 2 meters. There can be up to 3-4 hens per 1 square meter of area. The height of the perch must be no more than 1 meter, and the width must be at least 40 centimeters.

The key requirements for a chicken coop are as follows:

1. There should be no drafts in the room. Although Foxy Chick is considered a frost-resistant breed, it is recommended to warm the chicken coop. In winter, the temperature should not be less than +10 degrees. For supply and exhaust ventilation, it is recommended to install 2 pipes. They provide normal air exchange.
2. The chicken coop should have windows for light access. It has a positive effect on egg production. In winter, there is a need for artificial lighting.
3. Dry litter must be present in the house. Excess moisture provokes the development of pathogenic bacteria, which will cause infections. Sand and shavings should be poured onto the floor of the chicken coop. Bedding should be 5 centimeters thick.

Installation of drinkers and feeders

Drinkers and closed feeders must be present in the room. When raising chickens, it is worth ensuring the correct supply of water. To do this, it is recommended to buy ready-made drinkers or make them yourself. It is important that the chickens do not soil the container with dirty paws.

Feeding troughs are recommended to be placed on the floor or fixed on the wall. The second option is considered more preferable. Such structures are less polluted.

Seasonal molt

Chickens of this breed are characterized by an annual molt. At this point, egg production drops noticeably. Sometimes egg laying stops completely. At this time, farmers must transfer the birds to another mode. The bird should reduce the length of daylight hours and increase the caloric content of the diet.

It is worth introducing various additives into the diet. For this, it is recommended to use cabbage, clover, alfalfa. It is also permissible to use meat and bone meal. The amount of grain is reduced until new feathers appear.

How they tolerate cold and heat

Birds tolerate heat much worse than cold. To alleviate their condition in the summer, it is worthwhile to ensure full air circulation in the room. It is required for the normal development of birds.

In winter, birds are able to withstand frosts down to -2 degrees. However, farmers still advise to insulate the chicken coop.

Planned stock replacement

Periodically it is worth replacing the livestock. This is done depending on the purpose of breeding chickens. Chickens for meat are grown only up to 3 months. Peak egg production chicken reaches 2 years. After that, the figures drop significantly. That is why it is worth planning ahead to replace livestock.

Diet

To ensure the high productivity of birds, it is worth choosing a balanced diet for them. The daily menu should contain many useful elements, vitamins and minerals.The diet should contain proteins. This is especially important in the cool season, as it allows you to maintain normal egg production.

Chickens start laying eggs at 4 months old. By this time, natural foods should predominate in the diet. Birds should be given bran, fish waste, meat and bone meal, cake. Boiled vegetables are also included in the menu, but their number should not exceed 10%.

For feeding it is forbidden to use green or sprouted potatoes. Particular care should be taken when using boiled beets. It often causes digestive problems.

To increase egg production, germinated grain is added to the feed. It is also important to remember to use s alt and gravel. These components contribute to the digestion of the feed.

To replenish protein stores and reduce the cost of keeping chickens, it is recommended that they be released frequently for free range. Birds eat grass and insects, which reduces the cost of their maintenance by about 60-70%.

Chickens of this breed are strictly forbidden to overfeed. It is important that portions are clearly balanced and dosed. So, laying hens are recommended to be fed 4 times a day.

Chicken breeding

Reproduction of Foxy Chick chickens has certain features. It will not be possible to breed chicks with the required performance parameters within the same breed. To breed chickens of this breed, they are crossed with Rhode Island or Orpington roosters.

Hatching

Foxy Chick chickens have a pronounced maternal instinct. They responsibly approach the process of laying eggs and even turn them over on time. Chicks hatch 20-21 days after hatching begins. To increase the livestock, eggs are recommended to be placed in an incubator. This should be done in mid-April.

Feeding chicks

On the first day after the birth of chickens, they should be fed with mash, which is prepared from steamed millet or oatmeal.It is recommended to add a boiled egg to the composition. On the 5th day, cottage cheese and chopped greens should be added to the menu. At first, supplements are used 1 time per day, after which they are added to each feeding.

On the 10th day, you can use sunflower cake, after soaking it. For 1 chicken take 5 grams of the product. On the 14th day, boiled vegetables are introduced into the diet. Pumpkin, carrots, potatoes are suitable for this.

Chickens are not allowed to give whole milk. It provokes digestive disorders and leads to gluing of chicken down. It is forbidden to add whole grains to the feed of chicks. They are unable to digest such food.

In the early days, chicks should be fed at intervals of 2-3 hours. Food can be left overnight. Gradually, the number of meals should be reduced. In this case, it is recommended to increase the gaps between them.

Care for young animals

A brood of chicks should be placed in a box or box, and then a lamp should be placed above it. In the first 5 days, the temperature should be at least 30 degrees. It should be reduced gradually - every 14 days by 2 degrees. Thus, it is worth reaching 20-22 degrees.

It is important that dry and clean bedding is present in the box at all times. This will help prevent infection. Chickens must have access to clean drinking water at all times. Her temperature should be 22-25 degrees.

Chickens grow pretty fast. From the third week of life, they are allowed to take them outside for a walk for several hours.

Frequent illnesses

With strict adherence to the rules of hygiene and a balanced diet, the survival rate of chicks approaches 100%. Foxy Chick chickens are characterized by high endurance and almost do not get sick. With violations in the care of chickens, there is a risk of various pathologies. These include intestinal infections, mites, parasites.

Quite often ticks get on chickens and drink blood. Birds have a feeling of itching, appetite disappears. Insecticides help to cope with the problem. Ash baths allow to eliminate parasites.

In addition, chickens may experience the following diseases:

1. Coccidiosis. Chicks are susceptible to this pathology. They have appetite disorders, diarrhea, lameness. Feathers often become ruffled.
2. Pasteurellosis. This disease cannot be cured. A sick bird must be disposed of. To prevent pathology, chickens are given chloramphenicol.
3. Marek's disease. This disorder also cannot be cured. Preventive vaccination will help to avoid its development. The main symptoms of the disorder include lameness, convulsions, and a wide goiter. There is also a risk of changing the color of the eyes.

Analogues of the breed

The closest breed to Foxy Chick is Master Grey. The only difference between these birds is the color. The bird is distinguished by unpretentious care and belongs to the egg-meat variety. The name is associated with elegant gray plumage. Feathers of birds are covered with white dots.

Foxy Chick chickens are a common egg and meat breed that is very popular with farmers. These birds are highly productive and are considered unpretentious in care. Therefore, they are bred by many poultry farmers.

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