Chinese downy chickens keeping and breeding. Silk chicken is a luxury that comes from China. Breeding Chinese Silk Chicken

Chinese silk chicken has been known since the 13th century. The first description of birds was made by Marco Polo. Chickens came to Russia in the 18th century, according to legend, penetrating into Siberia and the Far East from Persia (modern Iran). The appearance of Chinese downy chickens directly from China is more likely, since the contacts of Siberians and residents of the Far Eastern Territory with China are denser than with Persia. Today, Chinese chickens are bred in zoos because of their original appearance and as an ornamental breed in private farms.

The origin of silk chickens - "Chinese"

The breed has been known since the 7th century. Due to antiquity, a reliable origin has not been established. Chickens have two types of mutations:

• dominant mutation of the gene responsible for the synthesis of melanin;
• recessive mutation of the gene responsible for the formation of feathers.

In the world there are several more chicken breeds with black meat and internal organs. The birthplace of the breeds is Southeast Asia. Foreign associations of poultry farmers have developed a scale for evaluating chickens according to the saturation of tissues with black pigment. Only the breed has a 10 on the scale, Chinese black meat chickens are rated below 5.

Whole grains should not be given to chickens and should not be given to adult chickens.

Greens are introduced into the diet gradually to prevent indigestion. Protein supplements for the diet:

• blood meal;
• meat and bone meal;
• cottage cheese;
• serum.

Protein feed for chickens is necessary for the normal development of bones and muscle fibers.

Adult nutrition

The diet of adult birds differs from the menu of young birds in a variety of grain feed. Productive chickens are given feed that increases egg production and fertility. Roosters intended for slaughter are given food for broilers.

Laying hens should not be overfed, otherwise their egg production decreases.

The rate of compound feed is calculated so that the chickens eat it in 15 minutes. Feed adult stock 2 times a day.

Breeding features

The Chinese downy chicken is a well-known breed in Russia, but not so common as to avoid inbreeding problems. Breeding standards require replacing the broodstock on the breeding stock every year. Self-repair breeding stock is also completely renewed annually: old layers are replaced with pullets of the last year of birth. AT real life it will not be possible to replace a rooster annually due to the small number of “Chinese” compared to the total number of chickens in the country.

When breeding "for yourself" there are several ways out:

• Hybridization. It will reduce the pressure of inbreeding on the livestock, but the offspring will turn out with the usual plumage.
• Creating two lines and then crossing the lines with each other. Requires significant living space for chickens, allows you not to infuse fresh blood for 5 years.
• Access to rooster breeders.

Breed defects

If you dream of starting a farm and raising chickens, it is recommended to pay attention to a very unusual breed of birds - Chinese Downy. These birds are significantly different from the chickens we are used to. By external description downy chickens look like fluffy lumps, consisting of soft feathers. Where does this breed of chicken come from? On this issue, the opinions of experts differ. Some believe that birds were brought to Europe from America by Darwin himself. Others believe that fluffy chickens come from China.

Peculiarities

Be that as it may, but the Chinese downy breed of chickens attracts the attention of farmers and ordinary people. Due to the delicate, silky feather cover, these birds are often called silk. Indeed, no other bird species has such delicate, silky feathers. Description of these birds, many begin with the color of feathers. As a rule, they are white. But, there are downy chickens of brown, black and yellow.

An interesting fact is the impossibility of crossing downy chickens with a regular breed. Such a union does not produce offspring. Chinese downy chickens in the photo are unimportant laying hens. One hen brings 80 to 10 eggs a year. According to the description and shape, they differ from the eggs of ordinary chickens. The egg of the Chinese downy chicken is small, dyed brown.

consumer benefit

The content and breeding of Chinese downy chickens in the photo does not bring significant income to the farmer. The meat of this bird is different from the usual chicken meat. By color and taste, this product resembles game meat. But since the size of the chicken is small, the weight of meat from one bird is no more than 700-800 grams. Given this fact, crested chicken is not a product of mass consumption. In most cases, keeping Chinese down chickens is necessary for the preservation of the breed and visual enjoyment.

Breeding and keeping

Chinese crested downy chicken is not demanding in care and maintenance. For the normal development of the bird, it is necessary to place the pets in a regular poultry house. Given that this breed cannot fly, it is not necessary to equip the room with a perch. If the owner wishes to receive eggs of crested hens all year round the house must be clean and warm.

Breeding chickens also does not require special knowledge and conditions. Obtaining chicks is carried out by the method of incubation of eggs by a brood hen, or by warming them in an incubator. Of course, the first option is less expensive and troublesome. In order for a chicken to hatch eggs, it is not necessary to create special conditions. These are responsible birds that carefully monitor their offspring.

In the video, an experienced farmer will talk about the nuances of keeping and breeding Chinese crested downy chickens.

At the end

Chinese downy chickens differ from the usual breed in their excellent appearance. But, this is where the benefits of these birds end. If we consider them from the point of view of profitability, then breeding and keeping them will not bring profit. Despite healthy meat and eggs, chickens are not popular. Often they are kept only for visual enjoyment and preservation of the breed. If you consider yourself a connoisseur of the original breeds of birds, then you can get a few crested birds and enjoy the contemplation of peculiar pets.

The most popular poultry kept on their plots by amateur poultry farmers are chickens. Everyone has long known how they should look, but there is one breed, appearance which is so unusual that it can surprise anyone. We are talking about Chinese Silk chickens, which are bred not only for the sake of unusual meat, but also because of the decorative effect. A description of the breed and its performance characteristics will give an idea about these chickens, and a description of the rules for growing them will be useful to those who want to keep them in their backyard.

It is known about this breed of chickens that its first representatives were bred in China already 1000 years ago. Then, gradually, Silk chickens spread to other Asian and not only countries, and in the 18th century they also appeared in Russia. Although the first mention of Chinese downy chickens was recorded in the 16th century, and at the same time the discussion of their origin began, this issue has not been finally clarified to this day.

Description

The exterior and plumage of the representatives of the Chinese Silk breed of chickens is very different from the appearance of many other chicken breeds, so it is very difficult to confuse them with any other chickens. The description of the breed gives a visual idea of ​​what exactly this difference is. In Chinese silky:

• rounded small squat body;
• head with crest;
• dark blue skin, meat and even bones;
• red-blue rose-shaped comb;
• bluish color of the lobe;
• 5 toes on feet.

But the most important distinguishing feature of these chickens is their special structure of feathers. They have a soft, flexible shaft, no hooks that interlock the beards, as on a regular feather, so they look like soft, fine wool. It is they who create the very Silky plumage, because of which these chickens got their name.

The color of the plumage of Chinese silky chickens is varied. They can be:

• white;
• black;
• blue;
• wild coloring;
• red;
• yellow.

There are other options for the color of the plumage, of different colors and even with a pattern, but due to the structural features of the feathers, the brightness of the color and the clarity of the pattern may not be expressed.

Breed signs of roosters

By these very characteristic features, one can distinguish the Chinese Silk Rooster from representatives of other breeds:

• a small cube-shaped body;
• a small head with a tuft, the feathers of which are directed backwards;
• short crest, pink type;
• the face is black and blue;
• black-brown eyes;
• representatives of the bearded variety have a lush uniform beard covering the earrings and lobes;
• round earrings of red-blue color, in "bearded" cockerels are underdeveloped;
• short but powerful neck;
• short and at the same time wide back;
• full short tail;
• wide short wings that do not fit tightly to the body;
• the legs are short, there are short feathers on the outer side of the metatarsus;
• the whole body is covered with silky, very soft plumage.

Appearance of chickens

In general, the exterior of a fluffy chicken is similar to the appearance of a rooster, but her body is slightly smaller, her earrings are also smaller in size, and their color is not red-blue, but bluish.

Unacceptable flaws

If any individual of the Chinese downy chicken has the following shortcomings in the exterior, then such a representative is not allowed to breed:

• hard feathers;
• plumage is sparse;
• no fifth finger;
• the back finger is underdeveloped;
• the color of the comb, lobes, skin has an uncharacteristic color for the breed;
• the tail is not short, but long with long pigtails.

Productivity characteristics

Despite the fact that this breed is classified as decorative and domestic, it is possible to obtain both meat and eggs from roosters and chickens. Silk hens are capable of laying about 80 brown-shelled eggs a year. Their mass averages 35 g. Chickens begin to lay at 6-7 months, and continue up to 3-4 years. The mass of a rooster is on average 1 kg, chicken - 0.8 kg.

In the homeland of the breed, in China, the meat of Chinese Silk chickens is popular, despite its unusual color. It is even used in traditional medicine to treat tuberculosis and other diseases.

Soft silk down, feathers are also used: these birds are sheared, getting about 150 g of down for 2 times. After shearing, the feathers grow back in about 1-1.5 months.

Advantages and disadvantages

To the merits of this Chinese breed can be attributed:

• tender dietary meat, rich in minerals, vitamins;
• silk fluff used in light industry;
• unpretentiousness;
• adaptation to the Russian climate;
• well developed incubation instinct;
• calm, contact character, friendliness towards people.

The latter characteristic and small size make it possible to keep these hens at home as pets, which many people do.

Disadvantages include rather low productivity and the high cost of chicks or eggs for incubation.

Content Features

Chickens of this original breed do not require any special conditions. They are so unpretentious that they can be kept even at home. As for the content of Chinese Silk chickens as an agricultural bird, it is no different from the content of ordinary chickens.

The poultry house for crested chickens should be dry, bright, with a good ventilation system: they do not like dampness, they can get sick. They need to be kept on a bedding made of plant material, sawdust, peat, which must be removed as it gets dirty and replaced with a new one.

Although these birds can tolerate slight frosts without harming themselves, it is advisable to insulate housing for the winter so that egg production does not suffer. The same goes for lighting: if you want chickens to rush in winter, you need to provide the necessary daylight hours in the house, including lamps in the evening.

It is advisable to install perches in the house at a low height. If possible, it is necessary to provide them with a fenced area for walking, where they will be in the fresh air. During the stay of chickens on the street, you need to make sure that they do not fall into the rain and do not get wet.

Breeding

Breeding thoroughbred specimens is possible in two ways: natural, that is, with the help of a brood hen, and artificial - in an incubator. Both the first and the second can be used in the household. Chickens of the Chinese Silk breed are excellent hens and mothers, they can easily hatch and raise offspring, and not only their own, but also other birds, such as partridges, pheasants. They are even bought specifically for this purpose.

If an incubator is used for breeding, then special attention should be paid to compliance with the temperature regime, since deviations from the norm can lead to disastrous results. It is necessary to adhere to the correct temperature regime even when the chickens have already hatched. In the first week of life, the chicks should be kept at t not less than 30°C, then the next week at 27°C, then you can lower the temperature by 3°C every subsequent week and bring it up to 18°C.

What to feed

The diet of young Chinese Silks differs from the menu of adults, which should be taken into account and compiled in accordance with these features.

young offspring

Chicks in the first days of life are fed boiled egg. To maintain flowability and prevent pieces of food from sticking to the paws and fluff of chickens, the feed is rolled in semolina. From the second day, chicks can already be added to the diet of low-fat cottage cheese, boiled carrots, crushed corn, barley or millet, fresh chopped greens.

Feeding frequency - every 2 hours. Gradually, the intervals between giving feeds are increased and monthly chickens are fed after 3 hours, and then only 3 times a day. The diet of young animals should consist of grains and vegetables for more than half, the rest may be grass, garden greens, tops, bran, vitamin supplements, chalk, fish oil, meat broth.

In addition to food, Chinese Silk hen chickens need clean and fresh water. It needs to be replaced in drinkers every day.

adults

Feeding adult Chinese Silk chickens is fundamentally no different from feeding ordinary chickens. They are mainly fed grains of wheat, rye and barley, although other types of grain can be included, vegetables, raw and boiled root crops, greens.

A little salt, egg shells, fish and bone meal, chalk, premixes are added to the feed. To maintain plumage in perfect condition, chickens need to be given sunflower and nettle seeds, oatmeal, but no more than 2-3 times a week, as they contain a lot of fat.

For many, poultry breeding is limited to the purchase of familiar breeds of chickens, which are grown exclusively for practical purposes. However, even in this area, among the ugly ducklings, you can find a beautiful swan. Special attention deserves Chinese silk chicken, which has an incredibly fluffy plumage and meat that is unique in taste.

The breeding of Chinese silk chickens dates back to ancient times. As the name suggests, these birds originate from East Asian lands. Initial information about outlandish birds with soft silky down was found in the records of Marco Polo in the 13th century. Five hundred years later, this type of domestic chicken was brought to Russian empire, after which fluffy beauties became one of the indispensable elements of the peasant and, in the future, farming. One of the legends of obtaining such a thick and lush plumage is the opinion that the breed was obtained by crossing an ordinary chicken and a rabbit.

What features of physiology can be distinguished in Chinese silk chicken:

1. Unlike the common chicken, its Chinese silk cousin has five toes, each separate from the other and with its own plumage.
2. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by black bones and feathers that do not have hooks.
3. The skin of such chickens is dyed Blue colour with less pronounced shades of brown. Their muscle mass is greyish-black in color.
4. The plumage of chickens is dominated by black, snow-white, yellowish and close to blue colors. The feathers themselves, due to their volume and length, create the effect of a soft fur coat inherent in fur animals. On the head there is a pronounced tuft, beard and sideburns.

Breed characteristics

At first glance, it may seem that Chinese fluffy chickens are bred mainly due to their decorative appearance. However, in addition to beauty, their advantage is high productivity and delicious meat. Although the appearance muscle mass looks unusual and perhaps unpleasant compared to ordinary chickens, silk chicken meat is very tender and tasty.

Reference! AT East Asia, where the representatives of this breed come from, the meat of Chinese silk chickens is used in pharmacology in the development of medicines. All this thanks to the content a large number vitamins and rare amino acids.

Although these birds originate from warmer places on the globe, they also breed well in the Russian climate, without requiring special conditions for rearing and keeping. Such pickiness is another plus in favor of purchasing Chinese silk chicken.

As mentioned above, the fluff of silk chickens is comparable in its softness to the fur of fur-bearing animals. Moreover, due to good growth chicken plumage can be cut once a month and get about 150 grams of fluff for two haircuts. It can be used for the same purposes as sheep's wool.

Chickens do not grow large, and their adult weight varies from 0.8 to 1.1 kg. With such indicators, the birds will not be able to please the farmer with high productivity. On average, about 100-120 eggs weighing 35 grams each can be obtained from one chicken per year. The color of the shell is light brown. Silk hens also have a highly developed brooding instinct. Thanks to this desire and perseverance, they can take care not only of their offspring, but also of foundling eggs. For example, they can be entrusted with eggs of other types of chickens, ducks or kachek.

These representatives of the chicken family have a calm, gentle character. They do not fly, but willingly accept affection from the owner. This makes them easy to cut.

How to keep and care for Chinese silk chickens

Since representatives of this breed are very unpretentious, their conditions are not much different from growing ordinary chickens. Here are the basic rules that should be followed when caring for silk chickens.

1. Observe the feeding regimen and use only high-quality bird feed.
2. Maintain cleanliness in the chicken coop with regular cleaning, comply with hygiene and sanitary requirements.
3. Support optimum temperature in the chicken coop.
4. Protect chickens from predators if you plan to run them. One of the simplest solutions is to make a special paddock for walking in the yard and enclose it with a net.

Attention! In winter, it is necessary to heat the chicken coop where the silk hens are placed. This will help keep the number of eggs at the same level.

Another reason why winter heating of the chicken coop is required is poor cold tolerance in Chinese silk hen chickens. In general, breeders will need to follow three basic rules for caring for and raising chickens:

1. Diverse, rich diet nutrients necessary for the healthy growth of birds.
2. Mandatory maintenance of the diet.
3. Maintaining the temperature necessary for the growth of young animals.

Cereals are an important component of the diet of fluffy chickens

What should be included in the diet of young decorative Chinese chickens:

• sour milk such as curdled milk, some cottage cheese, etc.;
• boiled chicken yolks;
• boiled carrots;
• semolina, millet or corn grits;
• ground eggshell;
• broths cooked on meat;
• fish oil, which must be added in drops;
• mixtures with vitamins available in pharmacies.

Advice! It is necessary to compose the diet so that about 60% of the volume is accounted for by grains and green fodder. Also be sure to include boiled vegetables.

In the first days of life, the chicks will need to be provided with an air temperature of 30 degrees. At the end of each week there is a decrease of three degrees. At the age of one month, silk hen chicks can already feel good at 18 degrees. These figures are required to be maintained without deviations. Otherwise, the brood may get sick due to the cold or even die.

Reference! Since Chinese silk hens cannot fly, they do not need to equip perches, which also makes it easier to raise and breed these birds.

Breeding Chinese Silk Chicken

The acquisition and further breeding of a silk breed is practically no different from similar actions for more familiar breeds of domestic birds. Farmers who decide to purchase silk chickens have two options for obtaining individuals - buying eggs and growing them in an incubator, or purchasing adults that will produce eggs for consumption and further increase in livestock. Each of these methods has its positive and negative sides. Consequently, each breeder independently chooses the goals that he wants to realize with the purchase of silk chickens, and the breeding method that will be more convenient for him.

Reference! If there is a mother hen, then the process of raising chickens will be much easier, because the female will be able to give the amount of heat that young chickens need.

To breed Chinese silk hens in an incubator, you will need to take into account several basic features. The first is the temperature regime, which was described above. The main reason why it must be observed is the small size of the chickens. They are almost two times smaller than their relatives from more common breeds. At first, young animals are fed every 2 hours. Over time, the interval gradually increases by 10-15 minutes. After the onset of the age of one month, the feeding period increases to 3 hours.

The BI-2 incubator meets many of the requirements of farmers, has all the necessary functionality and is considered one of the best offers in its price segment. In our article you will find detailed description device, its types and operating instructions.

Diseases of Chinese chickens, and how to deal with them

The breed of domestic exotic chickens, which came out of East Asia, was also not spared by various diseases that a breeder may encounter over time. The list of the most common diseases in fluffy chickens includes:

• diseases digestive system, in particular infectious diseases bowel and inflammation of the digestive tract;
• the appearance of worms in the body;
• intoxication;
• lung diseases;
• rickets;
• coccidiosis.

As they say, the best way to get rid of diseases is to make every effort to prevent them. To do this, breeders will need to follow certain rules:

1. Regardless of the size of the house and the degree of its pollution, it is necessary to carry out regular cleaning of the premises where the birds are located.
2. To keep chickens immune and healthy, be sure to feed them fresh feed, maintain a varied diet, and add vitamin mixtures.
3. In the drinker, chickens should always have fresh and clean water.
4. In case of frost, even if the climate in a particular area is mild enough, it will be necessary to provide the house with heating to maintain a comfortable temperature for the birds.
5. Provide the livestock with a spacious area for walking, where they can move freely. Physical activity will contribute to overall health and musculoskeletal system in particular.
6. As soon as signs of any disease have been detected, it is necessary to transfer a sick bird to a separate room as soon as possible. After that, be sure to show it to the veterinarian and carry out the prevention of infectious diseases for the rest of the birds.

Attention! Drinkers are selected and installed in such a way that the birds cannot wet the fluff while drinking. Silk hens do not tolerate moisture.

If you provide Chinese silk hens comfortable conditions living in compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards, you can practically not worry about the appearance of serious diseases. In many ways, this is possible due to the good adaptability of the representatives of this breed to the living conditions in Russia in the local climate. In addition to the rules from the above list, we add that, in addition to the temperature regime, it will also be necessary to control the humidity level so that it is not elevated.

Is it worth it to breed at home

To this question, everyone who wants to purchase an exotic breed of chickens must independently answer. The financial component plays a significant role here.

• if you plan to buy eggs for further breeding in an incubator, you will need to pay about $ 5 for each. Or you can buy chicks, but they will cost more than $ 7 apiece;
• if we talk about adults, then one chicken will cost about 50 USD. e.

The prices shown are indicative and show the possible level of costs for breeders who decide to start their own farm or increase their existing poultry house by purchasing an exotic breed of Chinese silk hens.

Additional costs will be required for heating the chicken coop. Especially if you plan to maintain a stable number of eggs throughout the year. Therefore, not everyone can afford such birds. However, if it is possible to spend a certain amount on the initial purchase of hatching eggs or already grown silk hens, you can get beautiful representatives of birds in your household. They will not only produce eggs, but also serve as a source of nutritious meat, which, according to the inhabitants of East Asia, can prolong a person's life.

On the one hand, the high cost of silk hens at the first purchase can scare away a breeder who is interested in the characteristics of the breed. But we can safely say that the valuable properties of the output meat and eggs obtained by breeding fluffy chickens, as well as soft fluff, which is in no way inferior in its properties to sheep's wool, can compensate for the effort and money spent. Because of this, they are becoming more and more popular among farmers. Despite the fact that for European countries they are still considered a curiosity.

Chinese silk chickens are one of the oldest breeds in the world. Chickens with black skin and amazing plumage have been known since the early Middle Ages, from the moment the Europeans got to China.

In the country rising sun The breed was bred as an ornamental and industrial breed. However, traditional Europe and America, where the birds got in the 18-19 centuries, for a long time considered the bird as a decorative, exhibition bird and developed it in this direction.

To this day, breeders in Europe do not attach much importance to the productive qualities of Shelks (as this breed is abbreviated in Russia). Meanwhile, at home, chickens are kept in factories and used to produce eggs and meat.

This division led to a branching of two lines, one of which (productive) is called aboriginal. The second is kept mainly because of the decorative qualities in Europe and America.

Description

Chinese silk is shaped by egg type chickens - lean, but strong and dense body, well-raised chest. Legs of medium length, metatarsus - feathered. The neck is short.

The main difference in the description of the breed of Silk chickens is the color and structure of the feather and skin. The plumage is silky, long soft feathers do not have a rough core, swell. The tail is short and almost completely hidden under the back feather.

They have a pom-pom-shaped tuft on their heads, sometimes covering their eyes. In roosters, braids stand out and the tuft is thrown back. Perhaps the presence of a beard and sideburns (in this case, there is no tuft).

The skin, bones, metatarsus, beak, crest are bluish-black, gray-gray. Any shades of red, crimson and pink are unacceptable. Earrings are gray or gray with a white gleam, turquoise.

The eyes are black or dark brown. The scallop in chickens is practically absent, in roosters it is nut-shaped, with underdeveloped processes. Sometimes it has a clear horizontal division into two parts.

Farmers describe Silk Chickens as small birds. The rooster reaches 2.5 kg of weight, the chicken - 2.1 kg. There are dwarf Silks that match the characteristics of bantams. But the native bird, as a rule, is larger.

Eggs are small, on average 35 gr., Egg production 80-180 pcs. per year, the beginning of the ovipositor - from 5-6 months. Meat and egg, according to reviews, are delicious, although they look unusual. The carcass is lean, slightly different from poultry with a thicker skin.

Acceptable colors

There are many colors of Chinese silk chickens. Most popular:

• black;
• silvery;
• blue;
• lavender;
• red;
• wild;
• yellow, etc.

The basic "aboriginal" variety is white.

Content Features

The main feature of the appearance of Silk hens - their plumage, dictates the features and "whims" of this breed. The best content for them is cellular or on a deep and loose litter (preferably from sawdust or hay), otherwise the plumage will be very dirty.

There are conflicting reports about the thermophilicity of birds. Some poultry farmers try to keep them in warmer conditions than other breeds. Others say that when hardened from childhood, birds are no different from ordinary chickens. But from drafts it must be protected.

On dry winter days, they enjoy sunbathing (photo from the farm of Kirill Mostryakov, Novgorod region)

Birds do not fly, so they arrange a low perch for them, or one that can be reached by a ladder. The same is taken into account when arranging nests. Otherwise, the family will spend the night on the floor.

It is preferable to make feeders remote so that the bird does not have the opportunity to get dirty. For the same purpose, nipple drinkers are placed.

Free range is allowed only in dry areas, and foragers from them are not very good.

Sometimes the Silks have to cut their tufts, because of which their vision is spoiled (especially for chickens). It is better to keep them separately from others, and when keeping them on the floor, be sure to install nests with a margin, since chickens are very prone to incubation.

The bird has a good, calm character, but can be aggressive towards other birds, especially when competing for food. It quickly gets used to the owner and becomes almost tame.

Photo of black carcasses against the background of ordinary broilers.

Productivity

The meat and eggs of the Chinese silk in their homeland is considered a delicacy and healing. medicinal properties meat, according to doctors, are the presence of a large amount of eumelanin, which is an effective antioxidant, enterosorbent, microflora regulator.

The carcasses of purebred birds are small, but well muscled. At seven months, the net weight of males reaches 0.7-0.8 kg.

If you plan to use eggs for food, it is worth considering that the number of chickens per rooster needs to be reduced, then the likelihood that the chicken will sit on the nest is less. With a cellular content, egg production increases by 20-30% compared to the floor.

On the left in the photo - a silk chicken egg against the background of a tape measure, on the right - in comparison with the usual meat and egg breed for estimating the size.

Nuances of breeding

The first thing you should pay attention to is the tendency to incubate. The only way to fully artificial incubation is to keep a Chinese silk hen in a cage.

Otherwise, most females become hens, and then caring mothers. Some poultry farmers use this for their own purposes, breeding rare breeds of birds and even ducks under them (in the latter case, the eggs need to be sprayed).

For breeding, the bird is kept separately from the rest, divided by color. Roosters are very active, so it is not recommended to keep more than one male (and one spare) for 7-10 females. The spare with the main male needs to be changed in 1-2 months.

Shelkov laying hens can be used for up to five years. At the same time, egg production decreases, but the fertility rate does not. Males are culled earlier, after 2-3 years of work.

It is quite difficult to form families, since the sex of a bird can be reliably distinguished only by secondary signs. They develop by the time of sexual maturity, most often after 4 months.

Caring for offspring is in the blood of these chickens.

Hatchery-bred Chinese silk hen chicks can be placed with a mother hen who has recently bred her own chicks, and she will care for and protect them. It is best to do this in the dark.

The survival rate of chickens depends on the conditions of detention, but most often the Silk babies are tenacious and active, with good immunity. When hatching, crested birds have a fontanel (cerebral hernia) visible on their heads, which overgrows with time.

From a very young age, chicks need large grains of sand for digestion, top dressing with bifidobacteria and quality feed appropriate for their age. Greens can be introduced into the diet starting from the second week.

There is a funny video with silk chickens on our channel:

Selection

The results of crossing the Chinese Silk with other breeds deserve special mention. Often this allows you to keep the dark color of the meat and skin, but increase the weight and egg production.

In addition, in this way, breeders avoid inbreeding by using the absorption cross method when there is a shortage of livestock. At the same time, the generation of the first crossing is subsequently crossed only with Silks, which restores the typical feather cover.

Crossing options

• with Brahms, Orpingtons (weight gain);
• Yurlovsky, Leghorns, Rhode Islands (egg weight increases);
• Araucanami (the egg is larger and green in color);
• Sussex (autosex chickens).

Many poultry farmers, starting Chinese silk chickens, are guided by curiosity. However, the bird is so good, affectionate to the owner and original that it fully justifies this choice.