Traditionally, breeds of domestic chickens are divided into egg, meat and decorative. Choosing among them, the owners thus focus their efforts on one or the other direction of their farm. but there are universal birds, possessing excellent meat, high egg production and at the same time (small but nice!) pleasing the eye with its bright plumage. It is to these breeds applies foxy chick. This hybrid appeared on our market quite recently, but has already managed to get a lot of rave reviews.
- History of origin and description
- Breed characteristic
- Weight indicators
- Egg production
- Where to keep chickens
- Place for walking
- Requirements for the house
- Feeding rules
- Chickens
- Adult bird
- Breeding characteristics
- Advantages and disadvantages
History of origin and description
The homeland of this amazing in its characteristics of the cross is Hungary, from there the birds came to Europe, where they immediately gained immense popularity and today are not just known worldwide, but are among the ten most successful hybrids of European descent. For impressive sizes they are also called "Hungarian giant", and for the characteristic color of plumage - red cross or red broiler. The official name of the hybrid, in translation from English meaning "fox chicken", is also associated with the fiery-red color of the feather, reminiscent of fox fur, which distinguishes the foxy chick breed and makes it extremely attractive in appearance.
It is the thick, fluffy and bright plumage of red, red or brown color of varying intensity that is the hallmark of the foxy chicken. The abundance of fluff makes the hybrid extremely resistant to cold and frost. Continuing the description of the appearance of the bird, it should be noted a large head with a straight or slightly inclined red comb and round earrings of the same color, perfectly in harmony with the color of the feather. The color range is complemented by small and slightly bulging orange eyes, as well as paws and beak of a soft yellow hue.
The birds have a strong, well-built constitution, a massive neck, a wide chest, a deep belly and strong legs. The wings fit tightly to the body, the small tail is flirtatiously raised. With a small height, the chickens look very proportionate, neat and harmonious.
Breed characteristic
The foxy chickens, as already mentioned, have excellent characteristics both in meat indicators and in egg production. At the same time, the breed is characterized by endurance and unpretentiousness, which makes it especially popular among poultry farmers.
Weight indicators
Hungarian broilers are rather large birds. The average weight of roosters is 4.5-5 kg, although individuals are known to gain up to 7 kg. Layers are slightly smaller, their weight usually does not exceed 3.5-4 kg.
Age of bird in days | Weight in grams | Percentage increase |
newborn chicken | 40 | - |
21 | 460 | 1 050 |
28 | 690 | 50 |
35 | 980 | 42 |
42 | 1 370 | 40 |
45 | 1 500 | 9 |
49 | 1 730 | 15 |
Of course, at one and a half months, the growth of the chicken does not stop, although its pace is somewhat slower.The bird usually reaches its final size by the year, although sometimes it may gain some weight up to a year and a half.
What else the Hungarian cross is valued for is meat quality. In addition to excellent taste, it is completely non-greasy, and therefore great for children and diet.
Egg production
A fox chicken in the heyday of its productivity can carry 250, and with good care even 300 fairly large (up to 70 g) eggs during the year. For meat and egg breed is an excellent indicator.
The first laying of red broiler eggs can be obtained by the end of the fourth month of the hens or several weeks later. The eggs of the breed have a rather dense light beige shell. Their size increases with the maturing of the chicken, reaching its maximum size within a month after the first laying, but after passing through the peak of productivity, they again begin to decrease.
Completing the description of the productive qualities of foxy chick, it should be noted that the hens of this breed are not record breakers of egg production and do not possess particularly outstanding indicators regarding meat.The main advantage of the Hungarian hybrid is a balanced middle between the two indicated directions. Moreover, if the poultry meat is simply very good, then they even benefit somewhat in terms of egg production compared to other breeds of meat and egg orientation.
Where to keep chickens
Due to its unpretentiousness, excellent health and the ability to easily adapt to a variety of climatic conditions, including quite aggressive, chickens foxy chic well suited for breeding at home. For this you need to create literally the minimum conditions.
Place for walking
Free walking outdoors is very desirable in the warm season for adult birds and chickens from the age of one and a half months. The time of such walks can not be limited.
Hungarian cross perfectly mastered in nature and easily earn their own food on their own, so that for the farmer such activities - a solid economy.
If for one reason or another, free-range walking for a bird cannot be organized, can be equipped for her so-called tanning bed - a place where the chicken will breathe fresh air and bask in the sun, while remaining at the same time limited in movement. To this end, on the southern side of the house, with the help of a metal grid, a small space about 2 meters high and with an area which the yard allows, is enclosed. Since the amount of pasture in such a solarium is limited, it is necessary to place a trough in it, however, it is necessary to monitor its cleanliness especially carefully, because on the street food spoils much faster than indoors.
If chickens in the house are kept on the ground, walking, even if limited, is simply necessary for them.
Requirements for the house
It is not necessary to heat the house in which the foxy chic will be contained.It is only important that the litter is clean and dry, in which case it will ensure the preservation of heat at the right level. Peat, straw, dry leaves or branches or sawdust will be suitable for bedding. In the warm season, the thickness of this layer should be no more than 12 cm, in winter, especially in extreme cold, the material will need more.
There should be no drafts for the well-being of feathered pets in the house, but the ventilation system should be well organized: favorable conditions for reproduction of pathogenic and putrefactive bacteria, as well as pathogens of fungal diseases are created in musty and humid air. In order to avoid such a problem, in addition to ventilation, it is necessary to clean the house in a timely manner, change litter and carry out preventive antifungal treatment of the walls.
Hungarian cross - the bird is quite large, therefore, it is often kept on the floor, considering that such a giant would be problematic to climb a high perch. Nevertheless, many farmers note the excellent flying ability of the foxy chicks, therefore a wooden perch with a diameter of 3.5–5 cm, located at a height of 0.8 m, will be suitable for this breed as well as possible.Do not forget to equip the nests for layers at the rate of from three to five for each bird.
Bathing is an integral part of the hygiene of poultry. With regard to chickens, of course, it is not about water, but about dust. In the house it is necessary to provide special baths (baths), filling them with a mixture of ash and sand of small fraction (one-to-one ratio). Cleaning the feathers in such a composition, the chickens reliably protect them from various dangerous parasites.
Feeding rules
Foxy Chick is not only unpretentious to the conditions of detention, but not picky in food. Of course, the rules for feeding adult birds and young animals have their own characteristics.
Chickens
Feeding Chicks Hungarian Cross special feed for broilers. Conventional food, which is traditionally used for young chickens meat and egg breeds, for this hybrid is not suitable!
Some poultry farmers recommend feeding the chicks with a mixture of boiled chicken eggs and milled grain, gradually adding boiled vegetables and finely chopped green clover, nettle or alfalfa to it. After some time, food begins to diversify with lime additives, meat and bone or fish meal.
By the age of four months, when the chickens of the Hungarian cross-country race begin to nest, they should be completely transferred to natural food.
Not only food, but also drink is of great importance for the health of young birds. Drinking bowls should be constructed in such a way that the chicks could not get there with their feet, otherwise the water will immediately become dirty.
Adult bird
With adult food it's much easier. Any combination feed will be suitable here, including concentrates used for meat and egg chickens. In a balanced state, they contain all the main components necessary for maintaining the health of the bird.
When choosing a natural feed, one should proceed from the fact that cereals and legumes, such as wheat, barley, corn, and peas, should form its basis. Also, do not forget about the green component of the diet.Chickens with pleasure eat finely chopped shoots of alfalfa, nettle, clover and the same peas. It is good to supplement the feed with fresh or boiled vegetables. Blend of boiled root vegetables (potatoes, carrots) and milk, dairy products have remarkably proven themselves.
As already mentioned, in summer, chickens that have the ability to freely graze in the open air, independently provide themselves to the animal (small insects and their larvae, worms, etc.) and vegetable (grass, seeds, seeds) food. But in winter, in order for the diet of the bird to be fairly balanced, it’s still need to enrich the various additives. In particular, at this time it is necessary to add vitamin components to the mash beans, to give the bird germinated millet, in addition to the usual, as well as to diversify the feed with fish and meat components, meat and bone meal, fish oil, dairy products, maggots. Special vitamins for broilers are available for sale, and they can also be purchased to make the poultry nutrition truly complete.
One more an important element of the diet - mineral supplements. In the house should always be crushed chalk, eggshell or rakushnyak.
Breeding characteristics
Thanks to the excellent health and excellent survival of the young, fox chic breeding of chickens is a real pleasure. Prophylactic vaccinations and compliance with all the above requirements for feeding and care - this is all that is required of this bird.
A dozen chicks at a time - a very real result for one hen. At the same time, the bird not only does not leave its “post” and is not distracted by trifles, but even conscientiously turns over hatched eggs so that the warmth of the maternal body warms the future babies as evenly as possible.Such care gives the results.
Still, a fox chic cannot be called a chicken with an ideal character, and this applies not only to roosters, but also to laying hens. With all their responsibility towards the offspring, towards each other, the clubs are quite quarrelsome and often foul "over trifles." And already cockerels' temperament in general can be a serious problem. Experienced breeders strongly advise to limit the male part of the livestock to one mature individual, otherwise serious fights and even injuries cannot be avoided.
If the results obtained by Hungarian scientists seem to someone not impressive enough, you can try to correct the hybrid yourself.
Advantages and disadvantages
Having studied all the characteristics of foxy chickens and having admired the photos of these luxurious fire birds, it is safe to say that This breed has a lot of undeniable advantages. As a matter of fact, all of them have already been listed above, but to summarize:
- the bird is unpretentious, does not require the creation of any special conditions for housing, easily tolerates severe frosts and temperature drops, and also perfectly adapts to different climates
- Hungarian cross, unlike beef breeds of chickens, practically does not get sick and has excellent immunity;
- feeding red broilers is also not associated with particular difficulties, besides, when there is the possibility of free-range, the bird can pretty much feed itself;
- the hybrid has excellent egg production (above average), puberty comes early enough;
- taste and dietary quality of meat is quite high;
- hens of this breed are very responsible for their maternal responsibilities, so that the survival rate among chickens tends to be one hundred percent;
- young animals gain weight very intensively;
- Add to this charming appearance - and the list can be considered complete.
Perhaps the only drawback of "fox chickens" (except for the hateful nature and craving for constant disassembly among themselves, as well as zapoloshnosti and noisiness) is a rather short period of productivity - as it was said, the largest eggs in the maximum number of this breed are not one year. However, this deficiency in the farm is easily compensated by the rapid replenishment of livestock, as well as excellent meat, which has a broiler slaughtered at the age of two.
Thus, foxy chik - A great choice for a novice farmer, wishing with minimal effort and money, always have fresh eggs and tender meat on the table, and also cause white envy among the neighbors who watch the hens of fiery red fox coloring proudly nursing free grazing.