Lakenfelder is a very rare breed of chickens. Many amateur poultry farmers want to have such feathered pets in their backyard. They are characterized not only by a bright, beautiful and unusual plumage color, but also by high productivity, both egg and meat.
The annual laying capacity of Lakenfelder laying hens is about 180 eggs, with an average weight of 55 grams. Adult chickens reach a live weight of one and a half to two kilograms, roosters – up to two kilograms of three hundred grams.
This breed was bred in Belgium and Holland. It attracts the attention of numerous poultry farmers with its unusual color: the head, neck and tail of the bird has black plumage, the rest of the body is covered with white feathers. However, it is not uncommon for single-color chickens to appear from eggs, which contributes to some extent to the “extinction” of the Lakenfelder breed.
These chickens quickly adapt to the conditions of detention, endure cold and harsh winters. In this they are “helped” by their magnificent, plentiful plumage. Lakenfelders react quite calmly to sudden changes in temperature and high humidity. The maintenance of such feathered pets in the backyard is slightly hampered by the specifics of feeding, since the bird needs to make up the right diet, which must include certified feed and professional mixers. Otherwise, chickens significantly reduce egg production and lose muscle mass.
The Lakenfelder feed should contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. You can improve the egg production of laying hens by including boiled eggs and shells in her diet. Of great importance for this bird is the constant availability of green food or its full-fledged substitutes – in the winter.
The content of this breed of chickens implies not just a spacious poultry house, but also a mandatory daily walking. Thanks to walks in the fresh air, feathered pets improve their productivity, both egg and meat.
Lakenfelders have a voluminous body – horizontally set, straightened. The shoulders and back of this breed are wide. Laying hens are more complete than those of a rooster, belly and chest. The bird has a small stature, its legs are not very long. The eyes are usually red, sometimes orange-red. The beak is gray, very strong. The earrings are slightly rounded, the lobes are small in size, have a white color.
