13 best egg and meat breeds of chickens

Currently, there are many different breeds of chickens of the same or combined direction of productivity. Selection of successful breeds was carried out in ancient Egypt. And since then, the process of gene modification has been actively developing. Today, breeders are able to obtain a chicken that meets the required productive and decorative characteristics. In this article we will talk about egg-laying thoroughbred birds, what they are and their characteristics.

The best breeds and types of chickens

When choosing the right breed, it is easy to get confused and make the wrong choice. Therefore, in order to make the right decision, you should thoroughly approach this issue and collect the necessary information.

Eggnose Leghorn

Leghorn is a popular egg-laying breed in America, Europe and Central Asia. The bird has earned such popularity due to its adaptive abilities and high egg production. Leghorn is a highly productive breed, therefore it is grown both in large enterprises and at home. The bird is calm and friendly, quickly getting used to the owner. Easily tolerates temperature extremes.

As for the shortcomings, the Leghorns have a significant drop in egg production in the second year of life. Experienced farmers and poultry farmers advise changing poultry every year and a half. But, due to the fact that this breed does not have an instinct for incubation, eggs have to be incubated in an incubator, thrown to other chickens or bought new young.

Meaty Loman Brown

Lohmann Brown is a popular German meat and egg breed, originally bred in Germany. Although the bird is of a combined type, it gained its fame due to its high egg production.

Advantages:

• Eggs are large and strong, up to 65 g (small eggs at the beginning of clutch). With quality feeding, about 300 - 320 eggs are carried per year;
• The survival rate of a newborn bird is almost 100%;
• Unpretentious to the conditions of detention. They quickly acclimatize and get used to the environment.
• They reach puberty at 135 days and grow at 161 days;
• They begin to rush in the fifth week of life (the peak of intensive clutching occurs at 160-180 days).

Flaws:

• After 80 days of intensive clutching, egg production decreases (bird renewal is necessary);
• Reproduction is possible only by selection, since crosses are not bred at home.

Egg-bearing highsex brown

Large breed of highsex brown chickens of brown egg color. Hisex Brown adapts quickly to the environment, but despite this, the bird needs good care and a large area for walking.

Advantages:

• Highly productive breed (300-320 eggs);
• Low feed intake (10 eggs - 1.4 kg);
• The eggshell is strong;
• The survival rate is 98%;
• Responsiveness.

Flaws:

• Are deprived of the hatching instinct;
• Egg production is not passed on to the next offspring when crossed with another species;
• Requires a lot of free space;
• Poultry is productive only with proper and balanced feeding.

A variety of domestic chicken - Andalusian blue

Andalusian blue - exotic breed, refers to chickens of meat and egg direction. Chickens are popular among poultry houses because of their appearance; they are bred in small private plots for decorative purposes.

An adult bird weighs 2-2.5 kg. In the first year of life, egg production is 180 pcs. weighing 60g. Puberty occurs at six months of age, the survival rate of newborns is 93%, and in adults - 87%.

Breckel

Breckel is one of the very first representatives of the egg direction chickens. The bird has good immunity and good health. The meat tastes like game, which is why it is appreciated. The breed is large, roosters weigh up to 2-2.75 kg, and chickens - 1.75-2.25 kg. The color is golden or silver.

Advantages:

• High rates of egg production;
• Energetic - they can walk around the walking area all day in search of food;
• Get along with other domestic animals;
• Chickens fledge quickly and gain weight;
• Unpretentious to external weather conditions.

Flaws:

• There is no maternity instinct;
• Does not tolerate closed spaces and cells.

Hamburg

The Hamburg breed is a decorative and sports variety of chickens. The bird is productive and hardy, white with black spots in color. It is possible to keep two or more roosters, as they are friendly and do not attack each other. The weight of an adult rooster is within 2-2.5 kg, and for hens - 1.5-2 kg.

Advantages:

• Easily adapt to a new environment;
• It is profitable to breed at home - good productivity with low feed consumption;
• Delicious meat;
• High nutritional value of eggs.

Flaws:

• There is no maternal instinct;
• Short period of maximum egg production.

Italian partridge

The Italian partridge (brown or brown Leghorns) is one of the first birds of the egg direction. Thanks to excellent genetics that have been passed down from generation to generation, layers have high egg production and survival rates, as well as strong adaptive abilities. Chickens are common in Russia and European countries.

Most of the farmers and poultry breeders who breed this breed speak well of it. They especially highlight the fact that chickens are calm in character, unpretentious to the way of keeping, and have great productivity.

Minorca

Minorca chickens are a decorative species that has an amazing color - it is black with iridescent green shades. The comb of a rooster is of an interesting shape, somewhat reminiscent of a crown, while that of a chicken is small, beautiful and slightly inclined. The lobes are large, white.

Advantages:

• Chicks grow rapidly and have a high survival rate;
• They begin to rush early - at the 6th month of life;
• Egg-laying all year round;
• The eggs are large, strong and nutritious;
• Friendly nature.

Flaws:

• The bird is shy, so it is difficult to approach it;
• Poorly tolerates high humidity and low temperatures;
• Does not incubate eggs.

Egg breed I-33

B-33 is a type of mini egg direction created in Russia. Nowadays they are becoming more and more popular as they are great for small households.

Advantages:

• Chicks grow quickly;
• It digests various food well;
• Feels great in a cage or aviary;
• They lay large eggs in relation to their body size;
• Don't dig the ground;
• Highly profitable;
• The character is calm.

Flaws:

• In damp weather, due to short legs, chickens, touching damp ground, risk getting sick;
• Weak point - paws, which are recommended to be checked periodically;
• Birds with different colors cannot be crossed, therefore they are kept in separate cages.

Ushanka

Ushanka or Ukrainian earflaps - common in southern Russia and Ukraine. It is often bred for decorative purposes due to its bright color and interesting appearance. The weight of adults is: rooster - 2.8-3 kg; laying hen - up to 2 kg.

The number of Ushanka has recently decreased significantly, since the productive indicators are below average, and mainly private and collection farms are engaged in breeding.

High Line

The High Line is a well-established bird with no major flaws. Calm and unpretentious, friendly to other farm animals. Thanks to its good immunity and high vitality, chicken is considered highly profitable.

Experienced farmers note that High Line chickens are well bred both in large poultry farms and in small home areas. Separately, it should be noted that this bird must be vaccinated on time, otherwise the almost complete extinction of the livestock cannot be avoided. As for the conditions of detention, there are no individual requirements.

Highsex White Thoroughbred Layer

Hisex White stands out among other breeds of the egg direction in that high egg production is matched by low feed costs.

Advantages:

• Puberty is reached at 20 weeks of life;
• The survival rate of young animals is 96%;
• The weight of one egg is up to 70 gr.

Flaws:

• When crossed with other breeds, productivity decreases;
• Large walking area;
• Ventilated coop with constant lighting.

Shaver

Shaver Red Layers are well known for their high egg production and low feed intake. The breed is one of the calmest and friendliest birds, which makes it stand out from the rest of the crosses. Was bred in Holland. No significant deficiencies or deviations were noticed.

Advantages:

• High immunity;
• Laying time is 80 weeks;
• Young growth quickly gains weight;
• Excellent taste of the egg.

Over the entire period of breeding work, about 50 breeds and crosses of chickens of the egg direction have been created and improved: they all have their own characteristics and productive indicators that allow you to choose a more profitable breed.