How many poultry can be grown in the garden

The popularity of a healthy lifestyle and organic food has contributed to an increase in interest in the idea of ​​raising chickens at their summer cottage among a wide mass of people. Both the low cost and low level of complexity are attractive, as well as the ability to provide a family with organic, fresh produce, or even turn the business into a profitable business.

Breeding chickens in the country

Choosing a breed of chickens

The choice of a suitable breed is the most important stage in planning the breeding of chickens, determining all the nuances of the next steps, therefore, it must be done at the very beginning. Each individual breed has its own characteristics, differences in needs and necessary care.

Choosing a breed of chickens

There is a huge selection of chicken breeds, and in order not to get confused in this variety, the main thing is to decide on the purpose of breeding poultry. You should understand what exactly you want to receive from your farm: meat, eggs, or in equal quantities, both.

In order to obtain meat, it is recommended to purchase broiler chickens, raise them throughout the spring and summer periods, and hack them to death in late autumn. This time is enough for the bird to gain the required body weight. However, it is not easy to hatch such chickens on your own (in an incubator or with a hen). They have high meat productivity, but they cannot boast of good egg production. The meat breed of chickens can be immediately distinguished from others by their large size, dense build and calm temperament.

Chickens broilers

It is worth noting that the low-calorie meat of domestic chickens is significantly different from what you can buy in the store. It has excellent taste and aroma, in contrast to the meat of chickens raised in poultry farms in cramped cages and receiving insufficient feed.

Poultry meat has the best taste and quality

In order to obtain eggs, it is recommended to opt for chickens of the egg breed. In terms of egg production, they are significantly ahead of all other breeds. They are in demand in large poultry farms and are very popular in small private farms.For egg chickens, smaller sizes are characteristic; thin legs with medium length; rather dense plumage. They start puberty at 4-5 months of age, which is very early compared to other breeds. As a result of long-term selection, egg chickens have lost their instinct to incubate eggs.

Egg breeds of chickens

The yolks in eggs from domestic hens have a bright yellow color due to the high content of carotene (an important and beneficial substance for the human body). The yolks of eggs bought in the store cannot be compared with them, both in terms of the content of nutrients and in taste.

Bright homemade egg yolk

In order to obtain both meat and eggs, it is recommended to choose universal meat and egg breeds of chickens. They give equal amounts of both. It is this breed that is leading in popularity for breeding in a small household or a summer cottage among amateur poultry breeders. This breed was bred as a result of crossing meat and egg chickens, which are still slightly inferior in productivity. It is considered an unpretentious breed, it is characterized by moments of decrease in egg production, it is often then that they are allowed to eat.

In the absence of experience, it is recommended to start the process of breeding chickens with a small number of birds, and choose a more unpretentious breed.

Where is the best place to buy chickens and what to look for when choosing?

Where is the best place to buy chickens

There are several options: you can buy chickens from a poultry farm, an agricultural market, or buy from a breeder.

The last option is the most optimal, there are now quite a few chicken breeders. A professional can give the beginner tips, instructions and recommendations for the care, keeping and feeding of birds. In addition, the risk of getting sick and unvaccinated chickens is significantly reduced.

It is better to purchase chickens from a breeder

If, nevertheless, chickens are purchased elsewhere, then you should first of all pay attention to the cost. A suspiciously low price should alert you. It is better not to take risks with such a purchase, so as not to become a victim of deception or later to discover some kind of trick.

How to buy healthy chicken

The age of the bird also plays an important role in the choice. Again, in order not to become a victim of deception and not to acquire last year's broods under the guise of young animals, you need to be able to recognize age and know some of the nuances.

On average, the age of the young is 5 months. Count them from the date of purchase. If it turns out that the chickens were hatched in the winter, then most likely they are trying to deceive you, since it is not profitable for poultry farmers to spend additional resources on hatching chickens in winter.

The approximate age can be determined by the legs. These are the legs of an old chicken

A young individual can be distinguished from an old one by the color of the scallop and lobes. At an early age, these body parts have a bright red hue. They will be warm to the touch

Determining the approximate age of chickens should not be difficult:

• the plumage of the bird should be dense and even, the feathers should be smooth. In "spent" chickens, feathers are noticeably frayed, the body becomes overweight;
• the surface of the paws of young females should be flat, without additional tubercles and growths. The old conclusion, on the contrary, has a pronounced unevenness of the paws;
• the activity of young birds should be high; as a rule, they react vividly to humans. Older chickens do not have such enthusiasm.

Choosing chicks will be much more difficult.It all depends on the age, characteristics of the breed and conditions during the hatching period. To select healthy chicks, the main thing is to evaluate their external condition and behavior:

• the chickens must necessarily follow a reaction to the sound of a voice or knocking;
• the reaction to food should be violent when the chicks briskly scamper around the cage at the sight of a treat;
• the cover of the plumage should be even, and the feathers themselves should have a smooth structure.

How to choose chicks

Choosing and arranging a place for keeping chickens

In the photo there is an original chicken coop with pots for growing flowers

Where to build a chicken coop? The correct choice of territory

1. The place should be well lit throughout the day, but in no case be directly under the scorching sun.
2. The place must be dry. You should not equip a room for keeping chickens in a lowland or in a piercing wind, and it is also not recommended to build a chicken coop under a tree.
3. There must be a territory for walking chickens. It is not difficult to correctly calculate the size of the area required for this, given that one bird needs 1 square meter to walk. In rainy weather, water should not accumulate on the walking area, so it is better to choose a place at an angle, then the water will drain and the soil will remain dry.

Wooden chicken coop with walking

Features of the arrangement of the chicken coop, depending on the mode of detention

1. If kept only in the spring and summer seasons, it will be enough to build a small shed with a canopy that protects from the weather and properly equip the nests.
2. When breeding chickens throughout the year, it is imperative to build a strong and insulated chicken coop. To protect birds from frost in winter, it is necessary to insulate the floor of the room, this is not a very difficult process with many options. However, you can do without this, be sure to lay an additional bedding of hay or sawdust.

For the full development of chickens and high productivity, the indoor temperature should ideally be between 11 and 22 degrees Celsius. This temperature should be maintained regardless of the season and weather conditions.

Good lighting is essential for egg laying. The egg production of domestic chickens is considered the most optimal when the daylight hours lasts at least 18-19 hours. So that productivity does not decrease, it is necessary to resort to artificial lighting in winter.

Arrangement of internal space

Recommendations for arranging a chicken coop

The correct arrangement of the chicken coop room is an extremely important stage. Good lighting requires one or more opening windows. However, they cannot be permanently open, so an additional hood is required. It will protect the room from the accumulation of dampness, but there should be no draft.

The hen house should have windows and a roost

And of course, there should be a hole in the chicken coop so that the birds can freely go for a walk. Its minimum width is 0.5 meters, and its height is slightly higher.

Manhole for chickens in the chicken coop

Socket design

Laying nest

Pay maximum attention to creating chicken nests. It is not enough just to put an unnecessary box in the coop. The bird must be comfortable and comfortable, otherwise it will rush, hammering into the corners. This is inconvenient for both the chicken and the owner, and can also damage the eggs themselves. The correct size of the nest is equally important: the height and width are 0.5 m, and the depth is 10 cm deeper. On average, one nest is sufficient for three birds.

Laying hen nests

Feeding

It is important to have an idea of ​​the correct feeding of chickens. Their productivity directly depends on a complete diet. On average, one individual eats 185 g of food daily. Feeding is required twice a day, provided the bird has access to fresh grass. Some breeds have specific needs and need to be fed with something specific.But in most cases, everything is much simpler.

Feeding domestic chickens

1. Special compound feed containing a full range of substances and microelements for the full development and growth of poultry. There is a feed developed taking into account the characteristics of individual breeds of chickens.
2. You can feed your poultry homemade cereal mixes. Cereals are considered healthier and more nutritious for chickens.
3. With great pleasure, chickens eat the so-called "mash". They are prepared from a variety of vegetables, any feed, grass. Also, waste from the table will not be harmful to them.
4. Poultry especially needs fresh grass. Experts say that the abundance of vitamins contained in it has a positive effect on the growth and egg production of chickens. If there is no way to walk or there is no grass on its territory, bring fresh greens from other areas to the birds.

Vegetables in the diet of chickens

Proper care and prevention of poultry diseases

Despite the resistance of modern chickens to diseases, in order to maintain the health of poultry, it is necessary to regularly carry out certain measures in order to prevent and improve the productivity of your household:

• regularly clean and disinfect the chicken coop room. To do this, you must have special equipment: a pitchfork, a shovel, as well as a broom and a scraper;
• poultry should receive a balanced diet, including all the necessary substances;
• periodic ultraviolet irradiation of the chicken coop and birds will be useful;

  The use of ultraviolet radiation in the poultry house

  Irradiators

• it is necessary from time to time to examine your feathered pets for the presence of parasites;
• as necessary, whitewashing and treatment with pest control agents should be carried out in the chicken coop;

  Using lime for whitewashing

• constantly monitor the body weight of birds. Excessive thinness or excessive weight gain should not be allowed. Such deviations from the norm can have a negative impact on the condition of chickens;

  Weighing a bird on an electronic scale

• you need to make sure that the birds always have water. In addition, it should be changed regularly to keep it clean and fresh;
• it is necessary to promptly isolate birds with signs of the disease: refusal to eat, lethargy. This way you will cure them faster and avoid mass infection.

  Sick Chicken Requires Isolation

Breeding chickens

Nowadays, few people acquire day-old chicks; more and more often, preference is given to independent breeding of chicks using incubators, the varieties of which already exist in a great variety. It is much more difficult to care for chickens that have just been born, they are very sensitive to any external factors, so there is always a risk of losing future chickens.

Breeding chickens

Room for chicks

For immature young animals, milder conditions of detention are required. A warm and bright room, where there should be no high humidity and wind. At first, you can keep them in a box in your home.

An important rule: it is strictly forbidden to keep birds of different ages together.

Young growth care

Poultry house in the photo

Until the chicks reach the age of six months, they will constantly need additional heat (approximately +30 C). However, this temperature should be gradually reduced to allow the chicks to adapt (up to +20 C). In order to avoid overheating or hypothermia, it is recommended to put a thermometer in the room with young animals. Strict adherence to these rules is the key to good survival and health of future chickens.

Chicks feeding

Feeding chicken breeds

There are no special differences in the nutrition of young animals from that of adult chickens. The diet should be balanced, include special compound feed, which is also desirable to select depending on the breed. The constant availability of fresh water is required.

Nevertheless, novice poultry farmers should first start grown chickens. With them it will be easier to gain the necessary experience.After that, you can safely purchase daily chicks. Do not have a large number of chickens at once, keep in mind that everyone should be under your close supervision and receive the necessary attention.

Chickens eat feed

What a beginner poultry farmer should know

Sometimes chickens can suddenly stop laying eggs. In the case of meat and egg breeds, this can happen for natural reasons - during the so-called "rest" period. In other cases, the following circumstances are possible:

• bird fright or stressful situation;
• lack of important elements in the poultry diet;
• incorrect temperature regime in the hen house (too warm or, on the contrary, cold);
• seasonal molt;
• period of incubation of offspring.

Breeding domestic chickens in a summer cottage only at first glance is not a tricky business. Practice shows that such an activity requires a certain level of skill and experience. One has only to start right, and gradually your small farm will begin to produce fresh eggs and meat.

Video - Breeding chickens

Video - Breeding chickens yourself

Maxim Provotorov, Alibi Law Firm

Is it possible to keep small livestock and poultry at a summer cottage? How are the measures of influence on the owners who do not want to settle the issues of their content?

In our SNT plots - 6 acres. Chickens, pigs and rabbits were raised in the neighboring area. In the charter of SNT, it is not allowed to breed animals and birds on the site. At the request to remove the animals - scandals, threats. The chairman of SNT talked to the owners of the animals - the answer is no. Tell me, is it allowed to breed animals and birds on the site? What are our next steps?

According to Article 1 of the Federal Law "On horticultural, horticultural and suburban non-profit associations of citizens", a land plot provided to a citizen or acquired by him for the cultivation of fruit, berry, vegetable, melon or other agricultural crops and potatoes, as well as for recreation (with the right construction of a residential building and utility buildings and structures).

In accordance with subparagraph 3 of part 1 of article 19 of the Federal Law "On horticultural, vegetable gardening and dacha non-profit associations of citizens", a member of a horticultural non-profit association has the right to independently manage on his land plot according to its permitted use.

For the sites included in the SNT, such a type of permitted use has been established as "for the conduct of gardening and horticulture by citizens."

Within the framework of horticulture, the cultivation of agricultural crops is allowed; placement of a garden house, farm buildings and structures; and when conducting truck farming - growing agricultural crops, placing a non-capital residential building and economic structures for storing tools and grown agricultural products (Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation of 09/01/2014 No. 540 "On approval of the classifier of types of permitted use of land plots") ...

That is, plots SNT are not intended for breeding poultry and other animals. To conduct such an activity, the land plot must be assigned the appropriate type of permitted use (for example, for personal subsidiary plots).

In this regard, you can contact the Rosselkhoznadzor with a statement to conduct an after-fact check against a neighbor use of the land plot for other purposes (Article 8.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

At the same time, animal breeding is often associated with the possibility of violating various requirements of the legislation on the sanitary well-being of the population (from violation of the rules for storing waste, to requirements for the disposal of animal corpses), the observance of which is authorized by Rospotrebnadzor.

It is also advisable to apply to the chairman of SNT, who will have to take measures to resolve the conflict. If the charter does not explicitly prohibit the breeding of animals and birds, then it is possible to come up with an initiative to establish such a restriction.

Earlier, from individual sanitary rules, it was possible to draw a conclusion about the possibility of keeping livestock and poultry in garden plots.

For example, according to clause 6.4 SNiP 30-02-97. Planning and development of territories of horticultural (summer cottage) associations of citizens, buildings and structures "(approved by the Decree of the State Construction Committee of the Russian Federation of 10.09.1997 No. 18-51), outbuildings can be erected on the garden (summer cottage) plot, including for keeping small livestock and poultry. Clauses 6.7-6.9 of SNiP establish the maximum distances for which buildings for animals should be removed from residential buildings and other structures.

However, SNiP 30-02-97 was included in the list of documents in the field of standardization applied on a voluntary basis (according to the Order of Rosstandart dated 30.03.2015 No. 365). That is, at present, the provisions of SNiP 30-02-9 are only advisory in nature (for example, the need for its implementation can be provided for by the SNT charter).

Svetlana0604 said:

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Yes, it seems, and there are laws about the purpose of land ... use ...
The currents are not respected.
A person buys a plot for a summer cottage for rest ... and then the neighbors give birth to bees ... pigs ...

Svetlana, a lawyer refers to the Civil Code:

“The amount of property owned by citizens is not limited (clause 2 of article 213 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation). And to animals, as the law recognizes (Article 137 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation), the general rules on property are applied ”. These articles say the following:

clause 2 of Art. 213 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation

"The number and value of property owned by citizens and legal entities are not limited, except for cases where such restrictions are established by law for the purposes provided for in paragraph 2 of Article 1 of this Code." Art. 137 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation:

"Animals.
The general rules on property are applied to animals insofar as the law or other legal acts do not provide otherwise.
While exercising the rights, cruel treatment of animals, which is contrary to the principles of humanity, is not allowed ”. All this is in line with the notorious 35th article of the Constitution of the Russian Federation on the right to private property, which our human rights activists like to refer to. Although our laws "what a drawbar ..." Indeed, it is necessary to prove the violation of the rights of neighbors, but if only the sanitary and veterinary standards are not observed.

As for IMHO regarding the maintenance of small livestock and poultry in garden / summer cottages - I can not express myself unequivocally.

Once upon a time, my mother's neighbor on the site in SNT had a goat, and we were glad that our little children could drink goat's milk. And the goat did not bother anyone. On the other hand, when my neighbor in SNT decided in a barn that 1 m from the border with my site, to have rabbits - I remembered about SNiPs. Although it is stipulated that it is possible ... and rabbits "there", but the barn is 4 meters from the fence. They didn't save me and 4 m, tk. my son has asthma and especially on animals. Well, the neighbor's mother-in-law turned out to be sane - she said: “I'll show him the rabbits! The rabbit breeder is unhappy, "- she and herself did not need these rabbits.

Even ancient people domesticated wild birds and began to breed them in order to obtain food in the form of eggs and meat, as well as feathers and down, which were used in everyday life. Today's birds are different from those that our ancestors bred. As a result of selection work, the most suitable breeds for breeding were bred. In this article we will tell you which bird is more profitable to breed at home, because now everyone who has a desire and a small suburban area can breed birds.

Chickens and geese bred at home

Breeding ducks

Ducks were the first on our list.It is no coincidence that they were among the first to be domesticated by our ancestors. This is because these birds are famous for their unpretentiousness and quickly gain weight. The latter circumstance is especially important, because the ultimate goal of duck breeding is to obtain meat that has an amazing taste and high nutritional value due to its fat and fiber content.

Ducks on a private farm

Duck eggs are usually not eaten as readily as chicken eggs, because they have a specific taste. However, they can be used to make sauces and other dishes. Feathers and down are suitable for stuffing pillows and blankets, therefore they are also valuable.

Those who maintain not only a poultry house, but also are engaged in maintaining a vegetable garden will be able to use duck droppings as fertilizer.

Choosing a breed

Before you start self-breeding ducks, you should pay attention to the features of the most popular and suitable species of birds, and choose the right ones for yourself. We present a selection of the most profitable breeds for breeding.

Peking duck

You don’t have to be a gourmet not to taste a baked bird of this breed in a restaurant at least once in your life. The body weight of an adult female is 3 kilograms, and the drake weighs one kilogram more. Fibrous, fatty meat is very nutritious and literally melts in your mouth, the edible portion of duck is about 70%.

Peking ducks lay about 140-150 eggs per year, of which about 100 ducklings grow.

Peking duck

Muscovy duck

Also known as Indo-woman. This breed can significantly surpass the previous one in size: the weight of the drake reaches 6 kg. The resulting meat is soft and lean. The nature of these birds is always calm, which is also a plus. They do not fight in open-air cages, do not make noise. Disease resistance is another undeniable benefit of the muscovy duck.

Indoor woman in water

Read also: Indoor meat breed

Duck Mulard

This breed is a hybrid of the two above. The chicks obtained by crossing the Peking and Muscovy ducks are characterized by a fast growth rate and a large adult weight. Hybrids do not produce offspring, but this can hardly be called a minus, because the version of their maintenance remains very productive due to the large yield of meat.

Ducks breed Mulard

Video - Breeding muscovy ducks at home

What should be the room for ducks

Any building that has been carefully equipped will become a duck house. First of all, you should take care of the insulation of the room, since the egg production and weight gain of birds directly depend on the comfort of the temperature.

An extension made of logs should be caulked and plastered from the inside, a wooden house can be upholstered with plywood, covered with plaster, putty with clay, and so on. In hot weather, the inside of the house should be cool to allow the ducks to rest, and in frosty weather they should be warm and calm inside.

House for ducks on the water

When setting up your duck house, pay special attention to the floor. It should be about 25 cm above the ground to keep rats out. Peat, sawdust or straw mixed with grass should be placed on top of the floor. Dry everything thoroughly and clean from impurities. For one individual, you need to prepare about 12 kg.

The laying of eggs in ducks directly depends on sufficient light and heat. Make sure that they are always warm and dry inside their house, otherwise you risk being left without an increase in livestock. Be sure to consider ventilation inside the house.

Reducing daylight hours in winter can be a serious problem for ducks. Increase daylight hours with artificial lighting in the mornings and evenings.

Bird shade

Arrangement of a duck house

First of all, decide in which part of the house the duck hole will be made. A good option would be to place it in the south or southeast. The manhole size is 40 cm wide and 30-40 cm high.It is a good idea to build a small vestibule to protect the manhole from wind and drafts.

In summer, it is worth fencing off the bird walking area so that they do not wander around the site and do not spoil the garden plantings. You can make such an aviary not only on land, but also on water. As material for the fence, you can use:

• fishing net;
• shingles;
• chain-link;
• metal mesh;
• reiki.

Fenced house

A one-meter fence will be enough for the land plot, but in the water the fence should drop 70 cm below and 50 cm above the surface, as ducks can dive in and accidentally swim out of the fence. If you do not have a small private reservoir, then this can lead to a decrease in the number of livestock.

To protect the birds from the heat, awnings are fitted to the fences in the summer. It would be a great idea to immediately equip the aviaries under the spreading trees, in the shade of which the birds can cool off.

Birds will want to walk not only in summer, but also in winter. To do this, it is necessary to constantly keep the aviary free of snow, and cover its floor with a thick layer of dry straw. When the air temperature is acceptable and there is no wind, ducks can walk from morning to evening, however, in frosts, in no case should they be forced out for a walk, as this will entail hypothermia. The house must be cleaned every day, airing it carefully so as not to blow through the feathered tenants.

Duck pen

Interior decoration

Bird feeders are installed on a wide board, at least 2 cm thick. From above, it is necessary to adapt a bar to it, which will prevent ducks from trampling food. In addition to its main diet, the duck should receive mineral supplements, which it swallowed with silt in its natural environment:

• small seashells;
• limestone;
• gravel, etc.

Mineral supplements in the diet of ducks

Since ducks need a large amount of drink every day, about 600 ml, you should immediately equip a voluminous and comfortable drinker. It can be made of metal or wood. It should be as tall as a duck to keep the water clear (about 20 cm).

Duck nests are located in the darkened compartments of the ducks to help ducks lay their eggs more calmly. However, do not crowd, leave room for free movement of the person, because you will have to regularly collect eggs and clean up in the nests. Each side of the nest should be between 40 and 50 cm, and the height should be 50 cm. To prevent the nest litter from falling out of the perch, equip a small sill at the exit.

Original feeder for ducklings

Count how many layer ducks you have in your charge and arrange nests, one for every three birds. Eggs are collected in the morning.

Be careful when cleaning, because ducks are very shy. Severe stress can lead to the fact that they completely stop rushing.

Creation and maintenance of the tribe

The main prerequisite for creating a duck tribe is uniformity. It should contain birds of the same age and weight. There are about eight females per drake. When picking up ducklings in your livestock, do not take hybrid chicks, because they cannot leave behind offspring.

Hybrid ducks cannot leave offspring

The most important criterion for selection is the appearance of the birds. The feathered constitution must be strong, it itself must constantly move and radiate energy. The number and health of the future offspring depends on how healthy the parent tribe will turn out.

For high egg production of females, you need to create comfortable living conditions for ducks, do not frighten them by bursting into the chicken coop, do not allow other pets to offend the bird. Once you start raising young ducklings into the parent flock, increase the length of daylight hours by half an hour each week, until it is 16 hours. Leave a minimum of light in the house at night to avoid injury. Monitor the cleanliness of the floor and nest litter.

Ducks eat compound feed

The emergence of chicks

Incubation is carried out only from those ducks that are completely healthy. For this, eggs are selected that are no older than a week. They look around and weigh themselves. The mass should be 70-90 grams for light bird breeds and up to 100 grams for heavy ones. Infected or spoiled eggs must be disposed of quickly.

Supporters of natural incubation of eggs need to remember that not all species of ducks have a developed instinct for raising offspring. For example, the Peking duck devotes almost no time to the laid eggs. Below we give a table with which you can recognize whether a duck will hatch offspring.

The ducks preparing for incubation can lay eggs collected earlier. It is important to take into account the size of each layer so that it completely covers the clutch with its body.

Hatching duckling

Breeding chicks artificially is based on an uninterrupted supply of oxygen and constant ventilation. At the very beginning, the temperature in which the eggs are laid should be about 38 ° C. By the 20th day it is lowered to 30. The eggs are examined and the embryo is checked for development on the 8th, 21st and 25th days.

How healthy hatched ducklings are determined by these features:

• on the evenness of pigmentation;
• fluffiness of feathers;
• wings pressed to the body;
• soft stomach;
• dry navel;
• weighing 50 g.

The breeding period for this bird for meat is about 60 days, since after that the birds begin to lose weight.

Let's summarize

From all of the above, it is clear that keeping and breeding ducks is not so easy, however, it is quite acceptable. This lesson does not require specialized education and specific knowledge and brings really great benefits.

Little ducklings

Breeding geese

Geese, being close relatives of ducks, are also unpretentious in keeping. Juicy goose meat has long been an integral part of Russian cuisine, decorating festive tables. Goose down is used for stuffing bedding and winter clothing.

Goose meat is a frequent guest on the festive table

Breed selection

To date, a large number of different breeds of this bird are offered for purchase. Almost all of them are resistant to any climatic features of the territory of residence. However, taking into account the characteristics of each variety, it is better to choose the ideal one for breeding in your region, since the regularity and completeness of offspring depends on this.

Family of geese

We present you a list of the most profitable breeds for breeding.

Gray Kholmogorov geese

Perfect for novice poultry breeders. This ancient breed is considered to be large and meaty. Adults have strong bones and disease resistance. They were bred specifically for keeping in pasture conditions. The ability to acclimatize to any weather is their undoubted advantage. Raising the Kholmogorov breed for meat is very beneficial: an adult drake weighs 12 kg, and a female - 8 kg. Egg production is about 30 eggs per year, which is a high figure.

Kholmogorov geese

Romny geese

Graceful southern birds. Perfect for natural incubation of offspring. Adults reach a weight of 5.5 kg for females and 6 kg for males. Despite the small total weight, the popularity of their breeding does not decrease due to the special delicate taste of their meat and a large amount of down and feathers. Egg production is 20 eggs per year.

Romny goose

Shadrinsky geese

In another way, the Ural. These extreme lovers are able to live in the harsh winter conditions of Siberia. The body weight of adults corresponds to the Romny geese, but the egg production is 25-30 eggs per year. They gain weight quickly and are suitable for feeding in pasture conditions.

Shadrinskie geese by the water

Toulouse geese

Some more heavyweights on our list. They have a formidable appearance, but a calm character. The weight of an adult goose reaches 11 kg, the goose weighs about 8 kg. This variety is bred specifically to obtain fatty liver, the mass of which is all 500 g, but its nutritious fatty meat is also popular among food lovers. This bird denies natural hatching, but it lays eggs steadily - up to 30 pieces per year.

Toulouse geese

Land geese

French nationals are also suppliers of the liver delicacy. The liver of a fattened drake reaches a weight of as much as 700 g, while its body weight is 8 kg. Egg production remains at the level of 25-30 eggs per year. Great for crossing and breeding hybrid breeds that will be even heavier than their parents.

Land geese

Arrangement of the territory and poultry house

First of all, it is necessary to put in order the land for breeding. The site on which the poultry house will be located should be located outside the city. Supporters of free grazing of geese should have a plot based on the number of livestock: an average of 10 meters per goose.

For a comfortable life for the bird, organize a poultry house. This should be a capital structure, the area is also calculated according to the livestock: 1 m2 for 4 birds. Since the air temperature in winter should not fall below 10 ° C, take care of supplying the heating system to the gooseneck. It can be represented by a self-folded brick oven, a diesel oven, batteries, or any other device.

Goose corral

The floor of the room should be made of wood or any other strong and high-quality material, since geese spend the night right on the floor. It is lined with deep bedding of peat, shavings or straw. This is necessary to protect delicate paws from cooling. The house should always be kept clean, so avoid rotting and heavy dirt on the litter by cleaning the inside more often. A large volume of water evaporates from the feather surface of geese, for 10 birds it is about 2 liters. Always ventilate the birdhouse, otherwise its residents will start to catch cold.

Dryness and long daylight hours inside the goose house are the key to productive egg production of geese.

Read also: DIY geese nests

Content

In summer, geese spend all daylight hours in the pasture, and they drive into the house to spend the night. Birds eat up to 2 kg of green grass per day, so the quality of this natural feed on the pasture must be high. Bad grass from dry or swampy fields, as well as tall grass, will not be suitable for birds. Here is a list of grasses that geese prefer:

• bindweed;
• sorrel;
• dandelion;
• yarrow;
• nettle;
• sow thistle, etc.

A canopy should be organized so that the birds can hide from the heat of the afternoon.

Original goose house

If there is absolutely no way to dig a pond on your site, use a trick and buy a spacious children's pool with low sides for the geese.

Several times a month it is necessary to bathe geese in sand and ash, to which fodder sulfur has been added. This substance is a strong antiparasitic agent against the so-called puffer. Bites from this insect are the cause of many bird diseases that lead to stress, feather loss and weight loss.

Feeding

Oviposition in geese is short. To get the most out of it, give your geese complete rest and intensive feeding.

The ration in winter for one head is 150 g of grain-flour feed, 100 g of legumes, 400-500 g of root club crops. Add chopped dry and steamed hay and mineral additives to the list: chalk, gravel, etc. You can feed the bird with mashed potatoes made from carrots, potatoes and hay. In the evening, feed your geese with grain free from other foods.

Geese have lunch

During the period of laying eggs, the daily food rate of geese increases by 100 g of grain-flour fodder and 30 g of fodder of animal origin - milk and cottage cheese. If laying hens cannot cope with the increased food ration, reduce it by cutting back root clubs.

One month before the start of the breeding season, males should be fed. Sprouted oats are perfect, in a proportion of + 100 g per bird.

It is necessary to give clean water both in summer and in winter, despite the fact that in the cold geese will eat snow.

Obtaining offspring

The egg-laying season for geese begins at the end of February. The process begins with 1-2 eggs, next month, with proper feeding and comfort of the bird, up to 10 eggs are laid, up to 9 eggs in April and 5 in May.

Season preparation begins in early February. Nests are set on the floor, one for two females. Standard roosts should be 50 cm wide and 75 cm long. The front part should not exceed 50 cm, the back - 75 cm. It is best to separate the nests from each other so that the birds do not fight among themselves and do not damage the eggs.

Clutch of goose eggs

The litter usually occurs in the morning. After the hens have gone for a walk, eggs must be removed from the perches and stored at 12 ° C.

Let's sum up

No wonder the goose is a generally recognized favorite of poultry farmers. Resistant to any climate, unpretentious in food and care, it gives much more than it was invested in. It doesn't matter whether for sale or for food, it is very profitable to breed geese.

Breeding chickens

The chicken has long been the heroine of almost all Russian fairy tales. This is because even in the past years, keeping chickens was simple and very profitable. It is chicken meat that is used in our country every day and on holidays. It is prepared by hospitable housewives, slimming models, and athletes. And fried eggs from two eggs have long been a traditional breakfast all over the world.

Indoor chickens on the run

Choosing a breed

Let's move on to listing the most popular chicken breeds. They are distinguished primarily by egg production.

Lohmann Brown

Chickens with brown plumage, whose egg production period lasts as much as 80 weeks. More than 300 eggs are produced per year.

Chickens Lohman Brown

Russian white

As the name implies, these chickens have elegant white plumage. The egg production of this variety is about 200 eggs per year. The chickens themselves grow dense, with tender meat. Suitable for both mass and private breeding.

Russian white chicken

Hisex

Real bird fighters, they have incredible resistance to parasitic and infectious diseases. Up to 300 eggs are produced per year, the carcasses have a decent weight. The mass of one egg is a record 60 g.

Chickens Hisex

High line

They produce about 350 eggs a year, which is an amazing result. They perfectly acclimatize and adapt to any conditions of detention.

Breed High Line

Kuchinskaya

Meat breed, chickens can weigh up to 3 kg. Egg production is approximately 220 pieces per year.

Kuchin breed of chickens

Isa Brown

The weight of one egg produced by a hen of this species can exceed 63 g. The productivity is 320 eggs per year.

Chickens Isa Brown

Conditions of detention

The construction and equipment of a chicken coop will not require large financial investments. You can build a bird house with your own hands using boards, beams, cinder blocks, etc. Do not forget to insulate it before the winter season and install a stove inside so that the chickens continue to lay in the winter.

The height of the room in which the birds will live should not exceed two meters. It is imperative to have ventilation and a source of natural light, as well as lamps for artificial lighting to compensate for the daylight hours for the chickens in winter conditions. Inside, it must be cool in summer and warm in winter, otherwise the birds can get sick.

Chickens walk in the paddock

It is necessary to regularly clean the premises, replace the litter on the floor and in perches.You can cover the floor with moss peat, shavings or sawdust of coniferous trees, as well as straw.

The entrance to the chicken coop should be located on the east or southeast side. Inside, the structure should be equipped with nests and common perches, as well as feeders and drinkers. There is one egg-laying area for every four hens.

Common roosts for chickens

Read also: Chicken nests

Feeding chickens

The easiest way to save yourself the hassle of organizing poultry feeding is to buy ready-made feed. However, it costs money and it may stop budding poultry farmers. In this case, the optimal diet per bird would be corn, carrots, potatoes, millet, bone meal, grass and mineral supplements such as shells, sand and gravel. A laying hen eats only 120 g of feed per day. If you personally take up the preparation of the leaf and herbal part of the diet, as well as purchase grain products at wholesale prices, then only 35-40 rubles per chicken will be spent per month.

Chickens eat grain

Read also: Automatic chicken feeders

Rearing and diet of offspring

Chickens are the few poultry that have a strong parental instinct, so they are great for natural incubation. Chicks can also be raised in an incubator, after hatching, by transplanting them into a makeshift aviary - a large, hard box illuminated by a heating lamp.

The menu for babies should consist of fortified foods. In the morning, you should give the protein of boiled eggs, crushed shells, chopped green onions and wheat, mixing it all together.

In the evening, mix the cottage cheese with kefir and put it in the feeders along with the river sand, which acts as a mineral additive.

Shells - a mineral supplement for chickens

Let's summarize

Breeding chickens requires the least material costs throughout the entire process and pays off with a large number of eggs and healthy chicken meat. Beginners should give their preference to these particular birds.

Breeding turkeys

Turkey meat is becoming more and more popular in the health food market. Breeding this bird species is considered very profitable today.

Turkey meat is popular in the health food market

Choosing a breed

Usually, the choice of the breed is carried out after all the characteristics of the location of the future turkey poultry are known, such as the climatic features of the region. However, there is a list of turkey varieties that are most profitable to breed.

Big 6

Highly productive beef breed, gaining weight much faster than other varieties. The weight of an adult male is approximately 19 kg, and that of a female is 11 kg.

Big 6 turkeys

Read also: Big 6 turkeys

Bronze broad-breasted

Very suitable for breeding for meat, the weight of turkeys reaches 15 kg, turkeys - 9 kg. The downside of this breed is its complete inability to graze food, since it was bred to be kept inside the poultry house. It is characterized by high fertility - up to 120 eggs per year.

Bronze broad-breasted turkeys

Read also: Bronze turkeys

North Caucasian bronze

suitable for pasture feeding. The weight of males is 14 kg, females are about 10 kg. Lowered egg production - up to 80 eggs.

North Caucasian bronze turkeys

White broad-breasted

It quickly acclimatizes in any conditions, egg production is maintained at 120 pieces per year. One of the most profitable breeds, as turkeys reach up to 25 kg. live weight, females remain at 10 kg.

White broad-breasted turkey

Cross Big 6

A heavy, beefy breed characterized by instant growth. It is bred and bought for delicious and nutritious dietary meat. A negative feature is the need for artificial insemination of birds for breeding this variety.

Read also: Turkey breeds

Breeding chicks

The turkey house should be spacious, equipped with straw nests, the width and length of which are 40 cm. There are about 15 eggs per female, so there should be enough space.

The hatched chicks should be immediately drunk with boiled water with the addition of green tea and sugar in order to increase immunity. This solution replaces water for the first four days of life, then it is introduced into the diet.

Grown turkey

Young turkeys should be constantly with the light on, which should be gradually reduced by 30 minutes so that by 20 days of life they have enough 15 days of light. The temperature should not be high, but also too low, as chicks are highly susceptible to colds.

Since turkeys are characterized by rapid weight gain, it is better to spend money and buy compound feed for them, which already includes vitamins, amino acids and minerals. However, to save money, you can feed the bird with a mixture of corn, barley and bran, as well as cottage cheese, carrots and even fish giblets. Dry yeast can be added to saturate food with vitamin A. The presence of mineral additives is mandatory, which can be played by ordinary chalk.

Turkey chick

Conditions of detention

Turkeys are willful birds and should not be kept with chickens, geese or ducks at a young age. In the southern regions, turkeys can be grown without a special room, since they are very resistant to weather changes, but in the northern regions, an insulated structure is required.

The enclosures for walking turkeys are fenced off with metal mesh or any other material. Inside the turkey house, feeders and drinkers are installed, preferably vacuum ones. The temperature regime of 27 degrees is provided either naturally or with the help of special heaters.

Turkeys rest on the roost

Drinkers should be rinsed several times a day, avoiding heating the water, which should remain cool and clean. Also, the poultry house itself must be constantly kept clean, otherwise the development of infections cannot be avoided.

An important point is adherence to the feeding regime for turkeys and turkeys. Food is served 4-7 times a day at the same time. Such a schedule significantly affects egg production and body weight gain.

Turkeys in the pen

Let's summarize

Breeding of turkeys is carried out for the purpose of obtaining and selling meat, but eggs and chicks can also be sold. Caring for this bird is not as easy as for others, so experienced poultry breeders should opt for it.

Video - How to breed and keep turkeys

Now that you have learned about the peculiarities of breeding the most popular species of birds, you can get down to work fully armed and achieve real success.