Hamburg breed of chickens belongs to the representatives of the sports-decorative type. These birds are quite original and beautiful. Some consider them to be the "kings" of the bird yard.
An interesting fact is that the hens of this breed are inhabited by families, at the head of which is always the owner-rooster. Hardy and very productive.
About other features of the species, as well as the specific conditions of breeding and rearing of birds, read on ...
Breed this breed from far 1740 year. Chickens got their considerable fame much later, but first things first.
In the 18th century, an interesting by all indications breed of chickens began to be imported from India to Holland. Due to the fact that the arrival of the goods went through the port of Hamburg, the breed of the same name appeared.
Further development and conclusion of the new breed was already carried out in Germany. German breeders set themselves the task of breeding amazing little chickens and roosters, who would easily survive and get to their feet without too much difficulty, as well as have a high egg-laying.
The process of crossing the hens of the Ramelsloer breed with the Kokhinkins gave its result, and gonoristy and wayward ornamental birds were born that perfectly supplemented the list of varieties of hens of the egg direction. The Talakshir lunar, Spanish black and Yorkshire pheasant species also took part in the derivation of this breed at different times.
For the first time the English researcher Albin described this breed of hens.
Breed description
Hamburg chickens - representatives of the sports and decorative subspecies of domestic birds. Few are engaged in their breeding, but, despite this, they stand out among many similar breeds.
Appearance betrays their capriciousness and ambitionThey seem to act among other birds, proudly carrying their low, but stately back.
The Hamburg breed is very light, slender chickens with a moving body. They are difficult to catch, as their quirky, upturned bodies are very quirky. The body firmly "sits" on the average length of the legs. In birds of this species, the lines of the tail and feathers are pronounced, they are united by grace and a noble, rich look.
The head is in a surprised-inclined position, the body is slightly lowered and tending upwards. The chest high rises above the graceful body, massive shins and contrasting thin metatars allow the birds to run fast.
The small beak is equal in color to the fingers and gives a slate-bluish color.
Hamburg breed chickens are unpretentious to housing conditions, they grow very quickly. It is worth noting that almost 80-85% of all young animals survive.
Specifications
As already mentioned, the Hamburg hens belong to the sports-decorative appearance. But, besides this, they are also good eggplants.
From one adult Hamburg chicken per year you can expect about 175-195 eggs. Record indicators fixed the maximum annual laying equal to 250 pieces. eggs
Speaking about the external differences of the hens of this breed, it is worth to highlight such specific characteristics:
- The head of the bird is framed by bristly feathers. The entire front part is completely bare with deep-set eyes of red color;
- The pinkish comb combed back has small tubercles and hollows;
- The body extended slightly narrowed to the tail is raised above the ground in a practically vertical form.
- A small head and a flat forehead, dangling white earlobes and scarlet oblong earrings;
- Small beak of a light shade;
- Thin and long neck, slightly arched back;
- Developed long wings with a wide scope slightly lowered down;
- Large, well-defined tail;
- Fingers stand out for their unusual, bluish color;
- Plumage is bright, diverse.
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Interesting is the fact that depending on the specific placement of the pattern on the back and wings of the bird, as well as the color of the pen depends on the Hamburg chickens to one of the five subspecies, or varieties:
- Golden striped.
- Silver-striped.
- Golden with spots.
- Silvery with stains.
- Classic black.
The most popular is still considered the fourth species of birds - silver-spotted. They are also called pheasants, or lunar.
Hamburg breed of chickens differs from its nobility and elegance. As if this countries did not sound, but the roosters of this species are very calm and balanced, they seem to be above the rest, not considering proper conflict with other roosters during mating.
Hamburg chickens are not at all whimsical, ready for different living conditions. Birds are accustomed to freestyle and mobile living mobility, very sociable and tame. Quickly mastered in the new conditions.
Chicks are active and require good walking. Chickens of this type consume little food, which makes them profitable in the household.
A photo
Several individuals of our beautiful breed walk in the outer courtyard:
This photo shows a rooster in the foreground and an almost inconspicuous chicken in the background:
An excellent example of a white Hamburg rooster:
A handsome cock in great shape is standing on the fence, raising one paw:
Well, here you see representatives of this breed after the exhibition:
Young chickens in their home environment:
The chicken is engaged in a very serious business - drying the chicks:
Productivity
To date, the quantitative indicators of this breed are as follows:
- Podroshchenny chickens, whose age from 1.5 to 2 years have an average weight of about 1.7 - 2 kg;
- Roosters at the same age - about 2.6 kg.
- Egg production - one chicken gives an average of 180 eggs per year;
- The average egg weight is 50-60g.
In order to have in his farm Hamburg chickens, it is necessary to prepare for the breeding of this breed properly.
Despite the fact that chickens are growing very rapidly, are rapidly feeding, and are very unpretentious in care, poultry farmers must provide them with the most favorable conditions for egg laying. Also note that the chickens themselves are not chicks and do not “sit” on the eggs.
Rapidly adaptable to various changes, chickens are distinguished by their enormous vitality. For them, it is enough to organize a free enclosure, which smoothly passes into the house, provide places for roost and select poles made of sticks, natural bars or boards.
The ideal option would be a quiet, warm chicken coop, from which the birds could, if they wanted to, go out into the barrage of the open-air cage and look for insects there, “sweep up” the litter, etc.
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This breed can be easily bred in regions with harsh climatic conditions.
At the moment, in the developmental stage, breeding takes place with the Hamburg breed of chickens and their Minorca brothers.
How to achieve maximum egg laying?
Hamburg chickens are excellent laying hens. They delight their owners with two hundred eggs a year, and this is far from the limit.
Experienced poultry farmers engaged in breeding chickens of this breed will help you to increase the productivity of laying hens up to 220 eggs per year.
In order to increase egg laying, you need to know some of the features in the development stages of Hamburg residents. Representatives of this species begin to carry eggs already from 4.5-5 months, and, as usual, this hour falls on the autumn-beginning of winter. Lighting in this period of time is not enough, walking the chickens in the fresh air is also significantly reduced. Need to fix it!
Having planned the optimal mode of daylight in the house go to the organization of walking. In the summer, from 6 am, special manholes should be opened, allowing the birds to move freely. In winter, it is also necessary to open and sprinkle with straw to a temperature of minus 15 ° C.
And the third, but not the last factor is the support of a favorable temperature regime of approximately + 12 + 6 ° С. If the temperature drops to + 5 ° С, then the productivity of the hens will decrease to 15%. But do not think that when the temperature rises, egg-laying will increase. Quite the contrary - it will decrease by as much as 20-30%.
Growing in Russia
Hamburg chickens belong to the category of rare breeds, so you are unlikely to buy them on a specialized farm. They are not "put" on a wide production, for this reason, you can buy eggs or the chickens themselves, you can only search well for the proposals of amateur poultry farmers who breed this species.
Here are the contact details of the most successful and sought-after poultry farmers who deal with the divorce and sale of Hamburg chickens throughout Russia:
- Kennel number 1 in Russia - "BIRDS VILLAGE". Here you will find more than 500 species of various domestic birds, among which the proper place is occupied by the Hamburg hens;
- Household "Fun ripple"- Kurgan, Omskaya str., 144. Phone: +7 (919) 575-16-61. Email: [email protected]
- Hamburg and other rare hen breeding specialist Alexander - Moscow, Art. m. Vykhino. Phone: +7 (495) 772-67-32.
Growing chickens of the Hamburg breed provides for the ability to deal with birds, knowledge of the basics of their breeding, housing conditions and nutritional specifics. Turning to the issues of acquiring eggs or chicks on farms and from individuals, you can consult on the issues you are interested in, get a lot of information about incubators, drinkers, feeders and other goods.
Analogs
Hamburg chickens can be replaced by the following similar breeds, similar to them in characteristics, appearance and productivity:
- Russian white breed - chicken, referring to the egg direction. It has increased egg production, the average body weight of a mature individual is 1.8 kg., The rooster - 2.5 kg;
- May Day - chicken meat and egg category, small in size, to be quite productive. To date, experiments are being conducted aimed at increasing egg production;
- Leningrad calico - poultry meat and egg category, unpretentious to the conditions of detention, mobile and characterized by a high level of survival. Selection work are now underway aimed at increasing the mass of this small bird and the mass of eggs.
Summarizing it can be noted that hens of the Hamburg breed - beautiful egg-laying. These birds are small in size, very proud and peculiar.
They are unpretentious in care and cultivation, but in order to achieve a real result in increasing their productivity, it is necessary to provide them with certain living conditions.
In the wide sale of representatives of this type is not found. Buy eggs or chickens can be from farmers or individuals involved in breeding.