The breed of Hercules chickens is of great interest to poultry farmers, it enjoys enviable popularity not only in our country, but also abroad. Farmers highly appreciate its unpretentiousness in care and feeding, as well as high productivity.
History
Hercules chickens were bred for the first time in the XNUMXs, so they are considered one of the fairly young breeds. This cross, that is, an artificially bred breed, was created in Ukraine by poultry farmers of research institutes. To achieve this result, scientists had to work hard for almost a decade. The name of the breed is due to the hero of myths Hercules, who became a symbol of strength, strength, endurance. The hybrid became popular in the CIS and Russia quite quickly.
Description
Massiveness and serious dimensions have become the main distinguishing features of the breed. The bird has the following appearance characteristics:
- strong skeleton;
- chest of a wide type, the same back;
- round belly;
- wings do not bulge;
- small head, without plumage in front;
- the scallop is large, bright in color, serrated in roosters;
- reddish tint of the eye with dots of orange tone;
- feathered limbs;
- the color range of colors is wide: pockmarked, snow-white, gold, cuckoo, silver, black with stripes.
As for habits and temperament, this breed is considered to be very calm, friendly, non-pugnacious.
They get along well with other varieties of chickens and, in general, with any bird. Therefore, such chickens can be safely kept next to ducks, geese, and other birds. Conflicts in the entire short history of poultry breeding have not yet been identified.
The productivity of this breed is also extremely good. Averages:
- egg production – about 200 pieces annually;
- the weight of a one-year-old bird is from 3,3 to 4,5 kg, depending on the sex;
- egg weight – up to 70 g;
- sexual maturity occurs after 5 months of age;
- the survival rate of chickens is more than 90%.
Advantages and disadvantages
Before you start breeding this breed, you need to consider that it has both significant advantages and certain disadvantages. Among the advantages are:
- young growth very quickly;
- the weight of an adult bird is impressive;
- high-quality, large eggs, the yolk is large, more than 35% of the weight of the whole egg;
- peaceful disposition;
- strong immunity, with proper care they are not susceptible to diseases;
- simple care, even easier than for a broiler;
- suitable for both egg and meat directions;
- high profitability.
As for the minuses, here, first of all, there is a decrease in the characteristics of the breed in subsequent generations – the second and third. In addition, the maternal instinct of hens is undeveloped, so they will be reluctant to incubate eggs.
A large number of pluses and insignificant minuses make these birds very popular. They are willingly bred by both farmers and poultry farms. Chickens cost twice as much as hens, and young ones are more expensive than day-old chicks. Investments pay off well due to the rapid growth of chickens, because already at 2 months of age a 2-kilogram weight is reached.
Reproduction
Like any hybrid, Hercules does not retain the characteristics of the breed in subsequent generations, so the offspring becomes just as productive. Further, the second generation does not breed them, the exception is the mixing of the Cornish breed with a rooster, which contributes to the revival of Hercules. In order for the first offspring to be as productive as possible, a chicken up to 3 kg and a rooster up to 4,8 kg are selected. A prerequisite is good health, excellent constitution, proper development. Since the incubation instinct is extremely low, it will be necessary to take care of the offspring.
In order for the chickens to be born, it is necessary to use an incubator, and immediately after the laying out, since the chicken will avoid hatching by any means.
Hatched chickens are quite strong and do not require special care. The main thing is to survive the age of three weeks – this period accounts for the largest percentage of cases. Upon reaching this age, young animals can be kept in the same way as adult birds. In order to reduce the mortality rate and raise good-quality chickens, the following conditions for keeping Hercules chickens must be observed:
- the first three days the chickens should be under constant light, with a temperature on the first day of +32°C, with a gradual decrease of 2 degrees per day to +18°C;
- after one month can be transferred to adult birds.
Proper feeding of young animals significantly increases the chances of survival and excellent development:
- use drip or nipple type drinkers, make sure that the chickens do not get wet;
- be sure to include fiber in the diet of the first days of life.
Content
The undemandingness of birds of this breed is amazing, they perfectly tolerate any changes, they are distinguished by excellent adaptability. First of all, it is necessary to organize a room for keeping chickens. It should be spacious, as the birds themselves are quite large. Crowding is unacceptable, so too many chickens should not be placed in a small chicken coop. Since chickens weigh a lot and cannot fly, they do not need perches. Pay as much attention as possible to the floor, because the chickens will have to spend almost all the time on it. Provide insulation with sawdust, hay or straw, the layer should be thick.
The chicken coop should be ventilated, but drafts are unacceptable.
Hercules tolerates cold very well, suitable for breeding in any region, so heating the chicken coop is not required even in cold weather.
Birds walk perfectly in the snow, swim in it, walking for at least an hour or two a day will only benefit them. However, walking must be stopped if the air temperature drops below -20°C.
Another important part of keeping chickens is feeding, its proper organization is very important for the development of birds. It is necessary to control both the quality and quantity of feed, because this breed is prone to gaining excess weight. It is advisable to feed them with special feed mixtures that are produced for breeds of egg and meat. Feeding hens should be fed high protein broiler feed. Compound feed can be purchased ready-made. You can make it yourself. Experts recommend adhering to the following proportions:
- 4 parts corn kernels;
- 3 parts millet;
- 1 part sunflower meal;
- 1 part bone or fish meal;
- 1 part mineral supplements.
A small amount of crushed shell rock perfectly increases the nutritional value of the feed mixture. It can be replaced with lime, chalk, nitrogen. In winter, it is good to feed the birds with herbs and vegetables. Be sure to provide constant access to fresh water.
Do not forget about the change in nutrition during the molting period, which is natural for all types of birds. At this time, the chicken becomes more bald, plumage subsides, egg production decreases. However, in addition to an unsightly appearance, molting does not bring other negative consequences. One and a half months is enough for the plumage to return to normal. During this period, feed the birds with fatty foods. Suitable fish oil or broth on meat.
Diseases, their prevention and treatment
Despite a fairly strong immune system, sometimes birds get sick. We offer you a list of the most common diseases of the infectious type of Hercules chickens.
- Typhoid pullorosis. The stomach suffers the most, infection occurs through the air, affecting both chickens and adults. Symptoms: refusal of food, shortness of breath, thirst, frothy feces, comb becomes bluish. Young individuals have very little chance of surviving; one chicken survives three of them. Treatment: Furazolidone, Biomycin.
- Salmonellosis. You can get infected through food, eggs, droppings, air, the disease affects the internal organs and can be transmitted to humans. Symptoms: refusal to eat, thirst, foamy feces, watery eyes, swollen joints, abdomen, cloaca. Treatment: “Furazolidone”, “Streptomycin”, disinfection of the chicken coop is required.
- Colibacillosis. It is also dangerous for humans; chickens infected with such an ailment most often die. Symptoms: loss of appetite, thirst, shortness of breath, loose stools. Treatment: Terramycin, Biomycin.
- Pasteurellosis. Infection occurs from rats, mice, young animals are most often infected. Manifestations of the disease: blue scallop, increased thirst, decreased appetite, beak with mucus. Treatment makes sense if the disease has not developed: Tetracycline, Norsulfazol.
The list of non-infectious diseases is also impressive.
- Goiter atony. This is an obstruction resulting from the accumulation of food. Symptoms – hardened and drooping goiter. Treatment: massage, instillation of vegetable-type oil, followed by removal of food.
- Dyspepsia. This is most often the problem of too early transfer of chickens to adult food, indigestion occurs. Another reason is stale water. Symptoms: diarrhea, hard belly, temperature. Treatment: diet according to age, water with potassium permanganate or soda.
- Bronchopneumonia. This ailment is a consequence of severe cooling, can be fatal if run. Symptoms: difficulty breathing, no appetite, there is mucus in the beak. Treatment: Terramycin, penicillin antibiotics.
- Avitaminosis. Most often it affects chickens that are kept in cages when there is no juicy type of food. Symptoms: baldness, apathy, no weight gain, pus in the eyes. It is necessary to conduct a vitamin course.
In addition to these problems, you can still encounter parasites.
- Worms. The standard variety of worms is visible in the litter, tapeworms live inside and provoke various diseases. Treatment with drugs for helminths.
- Trematodes. If eggs are laid without a shell, then the chicken has this parasite. And also the bird becomes lethargic, feathers stick out. Treated with carbon tetrachloride.
Preventive measures are very important, they will avoid all these troubles and serious consequences.
Prevention should not be taken lightly, since a number of diseases can lead to the death of not only an individual bird, but the entire poultry yard. Experts recommend observing the correct conditions of detention.
- Avoid keeping young and mature birds together. After all, it is chickens that are more susceptible to various kinds of diseases. A mild form of the disease in an adult bird can be fatal to a chick.
- Observe quarantine. Any suspicious specimen showing disease symptoms should invariably be housed separately from other birds. This will protect you from infection of the livestock. The room must be disinfected. The quarantine room is cleaned regularly.
- Nutrition quality. The diet should be balanced, nutritious, fresh. Much of the disease is due to poisoning and other problems of poor nutrition.
- Sanitary and hygienic standards. This is one of the most serious problems – dirty chicken coops, uncleanliness, unsanitary conditions. All this provokes a huge number of diseases. The poultry house needs to be cleaned regularly.
These simple recommendations will help you protect your poultry yard from diseases, parasites, infections, and, accordingly, the death of a bird.
Tips for choosing
Birders recommend applying for Hercules to trusted nurseries, to well-established breeders. Be sure to check the reputation of the breeder, read reviews. Unscrupulous farmers can sell illiquid chickens at a high price. It is better to acquire chickens at the age of three weeks, the survival rate in this case increases to almost 100%. When choosing chickens, pay attention to the following nuances:
- activity, mobility – you should not acquire lethargic, apathetic chicks;
- clear eyes;
- response to sounds
- a low price should be suspicious.
Reviews
Birders are not too unanimous in their reviews of the Hercules breed. Sometimes they are completely opposite. Someone writes that chickens carry huge eggs, someone that the egg barely reaches a weight of 55 g.
The same goes for meat: many consider it extremely tasty, but you can also find reviews that the taste is inferior to broilers.
The speed of achieving weight for a couple of weeks is inferior to broilers, this is also noted by the owners of hercules. Feedback on the quality of young and mature meat can be considered very valuable. Two-month-old individuals have very tender meat, mature ones are suitable only for broth.
Of the negative aspects, a tendency to obesity is noted. The least controversy causes a high percentage of survival, good immunity. On the run, the bird perfectly feeds itself.
You can see the content of Hercules chickens in the video below.
