Cross coral chickens are a breed of egg direction. The first chickens were bred in Germany by selective breeding. Coral chickens were born by crossing several breeds. The young were better than their parents in all respects. In the modern world, any buyer can purchase such chickens at a fairly low price. The acceptable price tag is the result of a long collaboration between Russian and German scientists.
In this article, you can study the features of this breed of chickens, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as get advice on growing and caring for young animals.
Features
Coral is not the most popular hybrid of chickens in Russia, as they were brought here relatively recently. Active reproduction of this breed is carried out in the Sakhalin region. The main feature of the genetics of these chickens is that they completely adopt all the positive traits of their parents. Chickens have white feathers with black patches. Due to this color, the people call them “Dalmatians”. And if a few years ago it was difficult to find eggs of this breed of chickens in Russia, today every farmer who wishes can grow and breed these birds.
Experienced poultry farmers note that chickens of the coral breed are distinguished by vitality and adapt well to any climatic conditions. German scientists have been thinking for a long time about how to create a hybrid that will reproduce and improve the characteristics of its parents. As a result of the experiments, two breeds of chickens came up to this request: White and Super Nick. Chicken Super Nick is a bird of the egg direction. She reaches sexual maturity in the fourth month of life.
White chicken is unpretentious in food and does not require special conditions. These qualities were transferred to the coral breed. This species perfectly tolerates cold, is resistant to inflammatory diseases and is not susceptible to the Marek virus.
Appearance in Russia
A few years ago Germany was the only supplier of cross corals. Moreover, only eggs were imported to Russia. Therefore, the quality left much to be desired. Starting from 2018, these types of chickens began to be bred at Russian factories, which is what domestic breeders are actively doing today. The main advantage of direct hybrid deliveries is no customs fees and logistics fees. That is why this breed boasts an acceptable price. For the entire laying period, the German supplier can provide their services to accompany you to the result.
Birds bred in Russia are no different from those bred in Germany. Chickens fully comply with Russian GOSTs and any other European standards. Previously, delivery affected the price, so not every poultry farmer could afford to breed such chickens.
Breed description
Farmers who have never encountered this breed of chicken will be surprised by the light pink color of the eggs. Poultry farmers have compiled a list of indicators of this type of chicken:
- calm character;
- the bird does not need a large amount of feed;
- high rates of egg production;
- endurance.
The older the hen, the heavier the eggs it can lay. The egg of a one and a half year old female weighs no more than 63 grams. By the age of two, this figure increases to 64 g. In the third year, the mass of eggs is 65 g. Please note that the chicken is unpretentious in content. The bird feels good both in the aviary and in the cage.
Food
The important nuances of feeding will be described below.
- It is desirable that the diet remains unchanged. Adjustments to the menu are made twice: in adolescence and in the process of masonry. Other changes are made as needed.
- Cross corals do not need additional food during the winter season. This species can lay eggs in both cold and warm. The hybrid is not afraid of even severe frosts.
- At 4 months, when the hens are ready to lay their eggs, a fattening menu should be added. The main focus should be on calcium. During this period, the bird needs this element more than ever, so the calcium content in food should be at least 2.5%. You can add proteins or proteins.
The amount of feed required depends on the conditions of detention. If the chickens are in cages, then they will not need much food. If you keep them in pens, then they lead an active lifestyle, therefore, their body requires more food. Please note that if the diet is not followed, chickens will quickly gain weight. Excessive obesity of the bird will negatively affect egg production.
The main method of feeding is the dry method, which is actively used in all poultry farms. Thanks to this method, chickens will not lose weight, and feed consumption will be significantly reduced. The main product of the diet is a mixture of cereals. You can also add raw vegetables, some fish, meat, cottage cheese here. Feeding is done early morning, afternoon and evening. Feed restriction for 1 adult chicken – 100 g per day. If you decide to add third-party products to the feed, then you should make a calculation: the minimum norm per day is 350 kcalif the birds are in the aviary.
If you breed chickens in a cage, then the minimum rate is reduced to 280 kcal. Oats are a source of fat and fiber. Sprouted oats prevent feathers from falling out. In the cold season, it is recommended to give barley. It contains a huge amount of carbohydrates. Corn is considered the most favorite delicacy of any breed of chickens. Before adding, it is advisable to chop, and serve only in small quantities so that the bird does not gain excess weight.
Maintenance and care
As mentioned above, cross coral can withstand low temperatures very well. The cold will not affect the health of the birds in any way, however, if you want the chicken to lay well, then it is advisable to keep the temperature in the region of + 15-20 ° C. But it is advisable to keep a close eye on the chickens. For them to grow fast humidity in the room should be no more than 70%. If you keep this hybrid in an aviary, then be sure to take care of the presence of a mesh ceiling.
Such a chicken can fly high enough, thereby getting out of the aviary or injuring itself. To protect birds from diseases, it is recommended to periodically disinfect the cages and the aviary. This point is especially important if the chicken is in contact with other birds.
Forced molting
To increase egg production, many farmers arrange forced molting. This process has the following positive aspects:
- chickens begin to consume less feed;
- the number of eggs produced increases;
- the productive period increases.
Forced cover change is recommended by many poultry farmers. The fact is that the process of natural molting takes a long time, and during this period the bird begins to lay fewer eggs. Therefore, almost all farmers use various preparations to help laying hens shed.
Please note: if the chicken is sick with something, then the process of forced molting may end in the death of the bird.
To artificially replace the cover, the following means are used:
- thyroidin;
- progesterone;
- thyroxine.
Substances are added to feed. Each package contains instructions for use. Plumage change is a big stress for a bird. Therefore, after molting, it is recommended to add vitamins to the feed: A, B1, B3, D. Iodine and manganese can be added to the water. They contribute to the accelerated growth of new plumage. Few people know, but insects, grasshoppers, locusts can be added to the feed. Thanks to them, the chicken will quickly replenish the lost proteins.
Lighting nuances
The brightness and duration of lighting in the chicken coop affects egg production. The chicken eye is designed in such a way that it has a lot of nerve endings. Therefore, the brighter the light, the more irritation the bird receives. From the pupil, the impulse enters the hypothalamus. It begins to produce endocrine glands responsible for the release of hormones. In January-February, daylight hours should not last more than 14 hours. At 21:00 the lights should be turned off.
An artificial extension of daylight hours will not affect egg production in any way, but chickens and roosters will not get enough sleep, and the owner will start overpaying for electricity in vain. Also, do not overdo it with the power of the illuminator. Recommended 20 lumens per square meter. It is forbidden to abruptly create an artificial day. On the first day, the lamp should burn no more than half an hour, then – 1.5-2 hours. Every day you need to increase the duration by an hour and a half. Reduction is desirable to produce in the same way.
A sharp change in daylight hours will entail stress, which will negatively affect egg production. Lighting always turns on and off at the same time.
For information on how to properly care for the coral chicken breed, see the following video.
