Keeping and breeding Chinese silk chickens

Of all the traditional poultry species, the chicken is the most common inhabitant of the household. Moreover, there are quite a few breeds of this bird, among which there are exotic decorative breeds.

Namely, silk chickens of oriental origin, which are not traditional laying hens, but really surprise with their attractive appearance and docile temperament.

The origin of silk chickens - "Chinese"

The birthplace of this bird is considered to be the Chinese state, where almost 1000 years ago the first representatives of the breed appeared. A little later, they spread over the European area, including Russia.

The first mentions of this bird appeared in the 16th century, but even then active disputes began about the exact origin of chickens and their class biology.

Interesting: Some experts believe that silk chickens are a combination of chicken and rabbit.

Feathered appearance

This breed is classified as decorative and domestic. The silky inhabitants have a rounded body, soft pleasant feather coating, which resembles silk fabric to the touch.

Such a silky cover is due to the fact that there are no hook-shaped grooves on the feathers. Such hooks are located only on the tail section and on the tips of the wings.

Among other things, the body of these birds contains a large amount of melanin, which stains the skeleton and skin in a dark blue palette. Due to this feature of the body, the soft areas of the cover turned out to be a rich shade of turquoise, and the beak and scallop are plain blue.

And some representatives of the breed were even awarded the so-called beard and sideburns. Such distinctive nuances of appearance made the chickens look like poodles with "berets" on the top of their heads. Below you can see a photo of this breed.

These birds have a compact and flat back. The lower legs are small and densely covered with plumage. The eyes are almost black. As for the color of the feathers, they are almost always black. But there is a golden color, gray, red, white and blue. The weight of one such bird is about 1.5 kilograms.

Another difference between silk representatives - the number of toes on the paws. Regular chickens have four toes, while the exotic breed has five, and they are also covered with a feather.

The nature of the chickens of this breed

These birds are surprisingly friendly and calm. Moreover, of all types of poultry, these representatives of the breed willingly make contact with people.

Silk chickens can often be found in petting zoos, and in their "homeland" in China, they are kept as pets, as they allow themselves to be taken on their knees and love gentle stroking. And most importantly, they are not capricious to living conditions.

These birds have a well-developed hatching instinct. They are welcoming and affectionate.But the main disadvantage of the breed can be called an insignificant degree of productivity and an expensive incubation "material" for growing.

Care and maintenance rules: tips and videos

This cute variety of chickens does not imply any special housing requirements. It is quite possible to acquire this exclusive pet at home, practically no different from the usual chicken.

Standard Care Requirements:

• feeding is important in a timely manner and only high quality products;
• these birds are very demanding for cleanliness and sanitary standards of cells;
• the silk oriental variety is resistant to low temperatures, however, it is important to provide cages for the winter warm and lightso that the chickens continue to lay eggs;
• for walking, it is important to provide own paddockto protect birds from predators.

Lack of walking will not hurt silk chickens. Eastern brood hens are deprived of the ability to fly, so it is not at all necessary to equip perches in the cages. And do not forget that these birds require full solar conditions, that is, a sufficient amount of light in the house.

You can learn more about the content in this video:

Description of productive features

In China, silk chicken meat is highly valued, as it is surprisingly tasty and has dietary properties.

The Chinese have long studied all the beneficial qualities of this poultry meat, namely, it contains calcium, various amino acids, phosphorus, niacin and many vitamins.

Chinese birds are valued by the Chinese for their down and feathers. In total, pairs of haircuts from one bird give fluff, weighing up to 150 grams. And in general, a domesticated bird of this breed is able to bring a lot of joy to its owner, it is interesting to watch it, especially its awkward movement.

Characteristics and differences between a rooster and a chicken

This breed has several subspecies that differ in color of plumage: red, yellow, blue, black, and so on.

The weight of the roosters reaches one and a half kilograms, and chickens can weigh up to 1.1 kilograms. As for egg production, one individual is capable of producing one hundred eggs annually, each of which weighs 35 grams. The shell is colored brown, and the eggs themselves have an increased nutritional complex.

Growing conditions

Chicks of the Chinese silky variety are sensitive to perceptible temperature fluctuations, so care for them must be competent. The basic rule for young animals: this is a rich nutritious menu, a balanced regimen and ensuring optimal temperature parameters in the chicken coop.

Incubator chicks

If you plan to grow the breed through an incubator, then consider the following points:

• chickens of these birds are much smallerthan traditional chickens, so they are sensitive to temperature changes;
• immediately after hatching, the chicks should be in a room for a long time, where the temperature should be +30 degrees;
• after a week, the indicators decrease by three degreesbut no more;
• monthly chicks develop well already at a temperature +18 degrees.

Nutrition of young animals

It is important to include useful elements in the daily menu of a future adult, such as boiled yolk, low-fat cottage cheese or sour cream, boiled carrots, semolina or corn grits.Do not forget about the finished store vitamin complexes. Hatched chicks are fed every two hours.

As soon as the kids reached the age of one month, then feed them can have three meals a day, while in the diet is actively added to the grain. Also recommended suckle young clover, mint pumpkin, millet, and other variants products. The water in the drinkers should always be clean.

breeding Features

The price of these decorative feathered representatives of the family is much higher than the cost of traditional hens.

For example, one silk "Chinese" egg will cost you five dollars, and you will have to pay about seven dollars for a chicken. Price adult chicken is about 50 dollars.

Acquire such an interesting breed only in specialized pet shops, in professional farms or official market of agricultural land.

When buying silk chickens should help them to adapt as much as possible in the new territory. But the main method of cultivation is still hatching eggs of adult birds.

Diseases silk chickens

Oriental chicken, as well as traditional rural poultry, are also susceptible to many diseases. Chickens are often attacked by such insect parasites like fleas, ticks and menoponidae. And because not control the humidity indicators in the henhouse, youngsters quickly withers and dies in most cases.

With regard to diseases of adults, then the following ailments are common:

• poisoning the body;
• viruses the pulmonary system;
• inflammatory processes in the digestive system;
• rickets;
• infectious intestinal viruses;
• appearance worms;
• coccidiosis.

Disease prevention

To avoid all of the above diseases, it is important to observe the following points.

• First, chicken pens should always be clean, systematic cleaning is important.
• Secondly, food should be fresh, with the obligatory addition of vitamins to the diet, which are the source of health.
• Third, regularly change water in the drinker.
• Fourth, provide the chickens with sufficient walking, and in severe frosts, do not forget to insulate the chicken coop.

Finally, as soon as you notice signs of weakness or illness, immediately isolate the sick individual from the rest of the birds. It is recommended to seek help from a veterinarian, and prophylaxis for other birds.

In fact, the silk "Chinese", with proper care, hardly get sick, despite the harsh Russian climate.

Advantages of the Chinese breed

The chickens in question are not only very attractive but are also highly prized in the rural industry.

• Meat rooster and chicken tender and dietary, rich in vitamins.
• Silk fluffLike sheep wool, it is used in rural industry.
• Eggs silk "Chinese" are quite large, despite the very size of the layers.
• Chickens are calm, do not fly and are happy contact people.
• Silk hens not whimsical to the conditions of detention and calmly reproduce in the conditions of the Russian climate.

Disadvantages of the breed

The disadvantages include the low degree of productivity and the high cost of acquiring incubation "offspring" or chickens.

Owner reviews of the breed

The bulk of people are "bought" by the appearance of the silk "Chinese" and their friendly character. Practice shows that this breed was loved in our country not for the high value of meat or eggs, but for its attractiveness and amusement.

Despite such exoticism, these birds easily get used to new owners, perfectly adapt to the harsh conditions of existence and are considered picky pets.

For the Russian area, the decorative type of silk "Chinese" is relevant, in the homeland itself (in China), such chickens are grown on an industrial scale. In Russia people little engaged in the cultivation of this breed.

Most likely, this is due to the decorative orientation of these chickens. As a rule, the number in a chicken coop does not exceed a dozen.

But all the reviews of the owners are extremely positive, since the meat of these birds and their eggs are suitable for consumption. The owners note that the chickens are neat, and even in the "dirty" seasons they manage to keep the fluffy plumage clean.

Watch a video describing about the Chinese silk aborigines: