The breed of chicken the Jersey giant is the meat and egg direction was created in the twenties of the XX century. It was developed by the American farmers by crossing Arlington, Langano and gate.
Among breeders the appearance of chickens Jersey giant made a splash. Females on average can reach 4 kg and males up to 7 pounds live weight.
Distinctive features of the Jersey giant chickens are the following parameters:
- The elongated shank.
- High foot.
- Graceful posture.
- The large size and power.
There are three main types of color of this breed of chickens:
- Banded ash-blue.
- Bluish-black.
- Snow-white.
Black color is traditional, but blue brought breeders from Germany. The chickens of this breed are very interesting feet. They have large legs and thighs, perfectly muscled, sustainable and widely spaced. These chickens are 4 paws.
The color of the hocks and legs can range from grey to black. Their color, like the color of the beak depends on the main color birds white they are yellow with streaks of dark, but black – completely black. Have observed banded blue bill and legs are black with a light yellowish at the tip. It should also be aware that the tips of the fingers and the bottom surface of the foot should have a lighter color.
Cocks the head is broad and large. The comb is vertical and has the leaf shape. It is divided into six acute teeth. Lobe medium in size and smoothly rounded. They do not have wrinkles, which are common for most chickens. Their color, like crest, bright scarlet color. Not very long, they have a beak, but he is strong and curved.
Eyes in chickens, the Jersey giant is quite large, convex, round. They have a dark brown (almost black) color.
The bird’s body horizontal and long. It’s a bit like landing broilers. Distinctive features of this breed are full deep chest, well-developed abdomen, muscular shoulders and broad back.
The bird’s tail is large, thick and formed from feathers Crescent shape. To back it is at an angle of 45 degrees, which is a great ornament of these birds.
Tail feathers wings long and wide, to the sides fit tightly. Located on top of the braids that they cover. The basic plumage is dense and smooth. Under the plumage, the skin is generally yellow.
If you do not take into account gender differences, it is almost impossible to distinguish cocks from hens in appearance. Unlike other chicken breeds, these chickens have a luxurious tail. But unlike males, it is slightly lower and slightly more elaborate.
The subtleties of the content of such birds
This chicken breed is different in that a greater number of body weight is typed in birds in the first year of life. Most actively this process takes place during the first five months. But growth continues until the age of one and a half years, while his pace is below. For this reason, birds older than 5 months that is meant for slaughter, in order to keep profitable.
Experienced poultry farmers claim that of weight parameters is very difficult to select chickens at the beginning of their life. Life main the power goes to the formation of the skeleton. It was noticed that specimens of this breed have a powerful skeleton. It is therefore necessary to constantly maintain in the bird diet high in calcium.
The necessary balance helps to keep the installation in paddocks or in pens feeders with crushed limestone or sand. Stones of small size are a necessary Supplement for digestion, and especially when the bird gets not parboiled whole grain.
As a provider of calcium, you can apply the chalk. But to completely replace the limestone is impossible. Chalk in the digestive system may form. And this can lead to the formation of lumps and clogging of the intestine. In some cases, it can cause mortality of chickens.
Requirements range
To organize the contents of this breed of chickens better so that they had the opportunity during the warmer time of the year to freely walk around the pasture, collecting pebbles of small size, the pecking of fresh grass, catching insects and picking worms from the ground. The organization of such a range you will not be difficult because these chickens because of its considerable weight to not fly love. High fence they do not have to.
With proper nutrition and captive maintenance of the birds will not greatly hurt her. Calm and peaceful giants feel good in a closed space. Only in this case you should follow the rules of Seating individuals: 1 square meter must not be more than 2 individuals.
Conditions for zimovane
Jersey giants tolerate the winter cold. Does not reduce egg production cold to 5 degrees below zero. But in the room where the bird spends the night temperature should not be below 5 degrees above zero. The most optimum are temperature in the range of 10 – 12 degrees above zero.
In the coop have to be a bed of sunflower seed shells, sawdust or straw. To ensure the bird clean air, the room where they are most of the time, should be regularly aired.
To ensure the outflow of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and other harmful gases emitted by products of decomposition of litter and bird droppings in large quantities, the majority of poultry farmers are recommended to mount the work vent length of about 3 meters with a frame at the bottom of the wall near the floor.
To prevent drafts, the air supply should meet an obstacle before you get into the room with the bird. Because of this it is recommended in the middle of the vent to make the air pocket.
Feeding the birds
Jersey giants should be fed about 3 times a day. The preferred feed is a wet mash feed. For them, the best is the one which includes grain coarse fodder. Most useful, such a mash at night. Chickens need to eat enough so they went to bed with filled with goiters. Besides the fact that such a feeding will give a gain in body mass, increase egg production, the more the pellets contained in the feed will contribute to the purification of the esophagus.
For representatives of the breeds of beef recommended this diet daily:
- Vitamin supplements, limestone, cake – 10%.
- Wheat – 40%.
- Corn – 40%.
All breeders who have had birds of this species, argue that adults are excellent foragers. If it is let out to pasture in the spring and summer, then its the lure you should not worry at all.
It is with great pleasure eats:
- Stones.
- The seeds of grasses.
- Caterpillars.
- Worms.
- Ants.
Eating supplementary feed is reduced by approximately 70%. And in this period it is not necessary vitamin supplementsthat have been produced artificially. And it significantly saves budget of the breeder.
But, about the food the chickens should take care better and pay more attention to him.
The content of laying hens
This bird is a meat-egg breed. Despite its large size, egg production they have is excellent. Egg shell has a brown color and it is sturdy in its structure. Basically the first egg the hen lays in the age of 6 months. The first egg has a weight of about 56 grams. After the weight and size increase over time, the average weight can be 68 grams. But much larger eggs can be expected.
In one year, hens can get up to 180 eggs. In other words, each hen takes down to 1 egg every other day. With the advent of cold weather, this process does not stop.
To ensure that the egg production was regular chickens need: balanced food, light and heat. When bearing eggs pay special attention to the presence of calcium in poultry diet. In a separate feeder shall be crushed limestone, sand and limestone. These birds are balanced and calm, which is a huge plus for carrying eggs: no stress, so there is a stability and uniformity in bearing.
But it is necessary to take into account the fact that due to its heavy weight laying hens can crush eggs that have postponed the other chickens in the nest. And they can throw them. To prevent losses to the poultry farmer should do everything possible for the comfort of birds.
Some suggest to collect the eggs more often, but it 100% will not be able to prevent losses. To help solve the problem of specially equipped sockets with a slope and a hole for the egg rolling out.
Caring for chickens
Insufficient amount of calcium and protein in the diet slows the growth of chickens, but also leads to disease. In some cases, there may be loss of chickens. Chickens that are not received at the time of active growth enough vitamins A, E, D sit on my feet. It is very difficult to bring youngsters from this state.
It is recommended to place the just-born Chicks in a warm place, where the temperature range will be approximately 26 – 28 degrees above zero. Excessive moisture and drafts are detrimental to chickens.
Instead of litter, you can use wheat bran or dry feed. This is due to the fact that the chicken is still weak and prefers to sit instead of to stand on legs or a run. Soft bedding would suit him best. But if he wants to eat, you will be able to do it without getting up from his seat.
Feeding
Very often the chick during the first days of his life refuses to eat. Don’t worry about it. This suggests that the chick embryonic yolk in the desired quantity. During the first days of his life the yolk dissolves into the esophagus and completely absorbed by the body. When this happens the immune system of the baby. On the first day do not feed the chicken separately.
But, to give him water in the first day of his life is necessary. The water in the bowl of a newborn chicken should be about 50 degrees. Recommended it add the glucose and vitamin C. Remember that at the beginning of the chick’s life, cold water might just destroy it. Ensure that the water in the drinking bowl was always clean. If it gets manure, it will lead to poisoning.
Experienced poultry farmers is not recommended to put on all day brood in a closed box. Even in the first days of a newborn must be a sufficient amount of oxygen and light.
Chickens recommended to feed up to 6 times per day. During the first two days is recommended to give them cool boiled finely chopped egg yolk with a rate of 1:20. Then you need to transfer the chicken to a specialised feed mixture. When kids turn 3 the day, the more eggs they give is not worth it.
Useful for chickens will be products like:
- Natural sour fresh cheese.
- Corn.
- The wheat is crushed.
- Cooked millet.
Be sure to strain the mess through cheesecloth. Cereal should not contain any liquid and should be crumbly. It should not stick together. Otherwise, Chicks can get clogged up nostrils, and because of this he will just suffocate.
On the third day of life in the diet include chicken natural vitamin supplements like alfalfa, nettle, clover. Chopped herbs can be mixed with feed or grain mixture. After habituation of birds to green, it is hung at eye level of the Chicks on the walls of the house.
At the age of 7 days, the chickens can be given boiled potatoes and carrots. The mash should be added, and root vegetables. In order to strengthen the bird’s immune system add fish oil to the food that is given to kids in the morning.
Approximately 2.5 month Chicks accelerates growth. In this period they need the protein in the diet in large quantities.
To gain the necessary weight for the birds will help added to mash the following products:
- Soaked or fresh bread.
- Dairy products.
- Barley.
- Legumes.
- Boiled meat and fish.
In unlimited quantities during this period, give vitamin supplements such as herbs and shredded vegetables.
Health
Chickens of this breed, like many others, suffer from mycoplasmosis. Because of this, in the first two months of life birds for her must be carefully watched. If you recently purchased chickens, then some time will keep them separately from individuals that you have a long time. And even birds can be exposed to fleas, ticks, peredam and parasites. Carriers of these diseases can be wild birds, which are found in the pasture and to avoid them is almost impossible.