Kuban red breed of chickens: the main features of excellent layers
The Kuban red breed of chickens is a successful hybrid or cross, created by domestic breeders. This breed has several names. It is also known as UK Kuban-7 or Kuban laying hen. Chickens of this breed are chosen for breeding if the owner's goal is to make money by selling eggs.
Detailed description of the Kuban red breed of chickens
Chickens of this breed are characterized by increased egg production, which does not decrease in the cold periods of the year. Therefore, the majority of breeders who have unheated poultry houses, most often opt for Kuban layers.
The sex of birds can be fairly accurately determined at the age of one month.
Young and adult chickens almost never get sick, their good health is due to strong immunity.
Some physiological features can also be noted.:
- compact skeleton;
- wide chest;
- small head on a short neck;
- leaf-shaped crest;
- massive belly;
- paws are stable, widely spaced;
- the plumage is red, but the wings and tail can be grayish.
Despite the fact that red chickens are egg breeds, they are quite large.
Kuban chickens have many advantages. All expenses for their maintenance pay off pretty quickly, since they do not eat too much and do not belong to broiler breeds.
They differ:
- quick adaptability to new conditions;
- congenital phlegmatic and stress resistance;
- calm character, both in chickens and roosters;
- undemanding to feed;
- high survival rate of young animals.
Chickens of this breed are considered unpretentious, they are successfully grown in small farms, in private farmsteads and large poultry farms.
Productivity and conditions of detention
The development of all egg-laying chickens occurs rather quickly. As layers, Kuban red chickens are noticeably different from the rest. Already at 4 months they begin to receive the first eggs of a small size and sometimes completely without shells. Their contents are in a film. But after half a month, the formation of eggs is completely improving. By the age of six months, all hens begin to lay standard eggs. They retain the greatest egg-laying activity for two years.
With good care and normal keeping conditions, Kuban chickens lay up to 330-340 eggs per year, which is considered an excellent indicator of productivity. Their eggs are brown, large, with a dense and strong shell.
With the onset of egg production in birds, puberty ends. At this time, they need calcium supplements to their food, otherwise they begin to peck eggs.
The young stock is rapidly gaining weight. The meat of chickens of the Kuban red breed is juicy and tasty. It is quite mild and has many beneficial properties, which is why it is often used in the preparation of dietary meals. The weight of the laying hen reaches 2 kg, and the rooster - 3 kg. If roosters are raised for meat, they are kept in cages. For normal fertilization of eggs, one rooster is enough for 10 chickens.
Keeping red Kuban chickens is not particularly difficult.Despite the endurance of birds, they need to create comfortable conditions for a normal existence. In a heated chicken coop, the temperature in winter should be about + 17 ° C. If the room is not heated, it is well insulated. Care should be taken that the thermometer does not drop below -2 ° C. If chickens freeze their combs or catkins, they will stop laying.
In the hot season, hens overheat. And at temperatures from + 27 ° C, the shell of their eggs becomes thin.
Kuban red breed of chickens: features of care and feeding
In order for the farmed poultry to demonstrate its full potential and its maintenance is profitable, it must be properly cared for. Then all the costs of lighting and heating the chicken coop, the purchase of feed will quickly pay off.
Like any crosses, Kuban chickens do not tolerate dampness and moisture, therefore they install forced ventilation... If this is not possible and the number of birds is small, a simple window will help out, but it must be opened regularly. If there are drafts, the room is additionally insulated.
In winter, a layer of sawdust is poured on the floor. The perches are placed up to 1 m above the floor. Drinking bowls and feeders are installed at a certain height sufficient for normal eating or drinking. Chickens scatter food less and do not climb into them, so the food stays clean.
The nests are filled with hay or straw and equipped with egg collectors. Most often they are nailed to the wall at a height of 70–80 cm. A fixed small ladder will allow chickens to easily climb into the nest at any time.
If there are few birds, the hen house should be disinfected twice a year. If more than 100 individuals - 4 times. For this they carry out general cleaning of the entire room, clean the floor well, wash windows and doors, treat ventilation with a disinfectant solution. The walls, and, if desired, the ceiling, are whitewashed with lime mortar. Then thoroughly ventilate.
Cuban laying hens require feed with the addition of minerals and vitamins. The basis is crushed grain, accounting for at least half of the total volume.
Chickens are fed twice a day, their diet should also include:
- bran or compound feed;
- vegetables or fresh grass, depending on the season;
- protein supplements;
- legumes;
- shell rock;
- bone or fish meal;
- a piece of chalk;
- milk whey.
Small amounts of hardwood charcoal should be given separately to layers and chickens.
This simple method will prevent chickens from getting coccidiosis and will increase egg production in adult chickens. For bathing and getting rid of feather parasites, they are given a low ash bath.
Breeding chickens
The easiest way to breed birds is with an incubator. Kuban red hens are good brood hens, but chickens, busy with incubating chickens, stop laying. And for their egg production to fully recover, it will take a long time.
Chick survival rate during incubation is good, about 95%. But a person will have to take care of them. If there is no time for this, you can use an old chicken as a brood hen, the productivity of which has already decreased.
Chickens of the Kuban red breed are active and curious. They themselves will find everything they need on the pasture. But with cellular maintenance, the owners must certainly think over a rational diet for them.
A decrease in egg production is always associated with inadequacies in the organization of heating and lighting in the house in winter conditions. This breed is grown not only industrially, but also bred in numerous farms in various regions of the country.
Despite the high resistance to stress, crosses must always create suitable conditions and ensure sufficient nutritional value of the feed. Consider the age of the hens. Their productivity noticeably decreases by the second or third year of life, which leads to a planned replacement of the entire livestock during this period.