The Kuchinsky jubilee breed of chickens is well known to domestic poultry farmers. It is considered one of the most promising in the universal egg and meat direction, it is actively grown not only in large poultry complexes, but also in private farmsteads.
History of the origin of the breed
Kuchinskaya Jubilee is the pride of the domestic breeding poultry industry. Breeding work on breeding the breed began back in 1950, and its full formation took place only in 1990. Such a long period of formation was due to a painstaking process, during which the most modern genetic developments were used, the best representatives of foreign and domestic breeds of chickens were involved. So, the Kuchinsky jubilee owes its appearance to the white Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire and Liven breeds, as well as white leggorns and Australorps. Breeding work was carried out on the basis of the Kuchinsky breeding farm with the participation of genetic engineers of the Timiryazev Academy of Agriculture and with the involvement of specialists from the Poultry Institute of Technology.
The main goal of the scientists was to create a highly productive meat and egg breed with excellent taste and excellent health.
After the Kuchinskaya jubilee was described, registered and accepted for mass production, specialists began work on improving the quality of the shell, increasing the size of the eggs and increasing the survival rate of chickens.
Analyzing the indicators of the last 15 years, it can be noted that the work carried out was not in vain, and the first positive results are evident. So, if in 2005 the egg production rates were 215 pieces per year, then by 2011 they increased to 220 pieces. The same can be said about the safety of young animals, the survival rate of which in 2005 was 95%, and in 2011 it increased to 97%. There is also progress in the hatching of chickens: if in 2005 only 81 chicks out of 100 eggs were born, in 2011 this figure approached 85.
At the moment, a number of breeding experiments are being carried out, the main task of which is to reduce feed costs while maintaining the quality of meat and eggs to the maximum. Due to high productivity indicators, the Kuchinskaya jubilee plant is among the permanent winners of agricultural exhibitions and is estimated by experts as one of the best in terms of production and product quality.
Description
The main task of the breeders was to create an egg-laying and at the same time meat breed of chickens, which is why the representatives of the Kuchinsky Jubilee have a discreet, ordinary appearance and are not particularly beautiful. Chickens have rounded curvy shapes and gain weight up to three kilograms. The bird is quite well built and is distinguished by a clearly defined breast, a rounded belly of the correct form, a trapezoidal proportional body and a small tail.
Chickens have a rather powerful downy undercoat, which allows them to easily endure frosty days. The head of the laying hen is not too large, completely devoid of bristles, has a small neat comb and the same miniature earrings.
Roosters are much larger than laying hens, and with proper balanced nutrition, they often reach a weight of 4,1 kg. The body of the cockerel has the shape of a triangle, the chest with the belly is powerful and well defined, the back is voluminous, and the hips are strong and fleshy. The wings of the males are not too large, tightly fitting to the body. The head is decorated with a bright red leaf-shaped crest and large weighty earrings.
The character of the Kuchinsky hens and roosters is quite tolerable. Birds show healthy activity throughout the daylight hours, are distinguished by curiosity and restlessness. They are happy to master the territory offered to them for walking and extremely dislike closed and limited spaces. Roosters are a little wayward, they can show some aggression when putting things in order in the chicken coop.. Laying hens are sometimes too noisy and like to “talk”, but they do not bring confusion into the measured life of the farm and do not annoy their owners.
Separately, it is necessary to dwell on the colors of plumage, of which there are 2 types within the Kuchinsky jubilee breed.
- The most common type is bordered coloring., characterized by the presence of a black edging or stripes of the same color. Roosters of this color look very elegant: golden-brown shades of the neck with black stripes smoothly turn into reddish-brown tones of the wings and further to the tail – black with a greenish tint or reddish-brown shades with black stripes. Chickens of the bordered type of color in comparison with roosters look rather faded, have a lighter plumage of the neck and back with the same black edging. Their tail feathers are bright black in color, and the coverts are golden brown with a black border.
- The next type of coloration is represented by the so-called double outline. Roosters with such plumage have a bright red head, black feathers with a red edging on the neck and black back feathers with a red border. Chickens of this color traditionally look paler than roosters, have a less contrasting outline.
Chicks are born with autosex coloration, thanks to which it is possible to distinguish their sex with an accuracy of 95% already at the day old. So, cockerels are characterized by brightened wings and a light yellow head, and hens are painted in darker tones, have stripes on their backs and spots on their heads.
Advantages and disadvantages
The high demand for chickens of the Kuchinsky Jubilee is due to a number of significant advantages of this breed.
- The bird is undemanding in content and is ideal for both breeding on poultry farms and for personal subsidiary plots.
- Chickens quickly gain weight and have a high slaughter yield of meat.
- Eggs of Kuchin chickens are quite large and tasty.
- The high hatchability of chickens and a high percentage of their survival makes the breed ideal for breeding and makes it possible for people who do not have such experience to engage in poultry farming.
- Chickens adapt well to the new poultry house and do not cause trouble for the owners in terms of behavior. They are very friendly, have a good disposition and are quite balanced.
- Birds are unpretentious to food, love chopped green mass and are able to get their own food.
- Due to early sexual maturity, chickens begin to lay eggs quite early, which compares favorably with laying hens of other breeds. Because of this, the formation of a breeding herd can be started already after reaching 90 days from the date of birth of the chickens. Usually, by this time, young cockerels gain weight up to 1,5 kg and can go for meat.
- Kuchinsky laying hens have not lost the instinct of incubation and can breed on their own.
- Chickens perfectly tolerate lowering street temperatures and are able to rush all year round, provided that the temperature in the chicken coop does not fall below +3 degrees.
- Representatives of the breed are famous for their excellent health and are endowed with excellent immunity. The only problem that poultry farmers sometimes face is the invasion of parasites. However, this is easily solved by installing ash containers in the chicken coop, in which the chickens willingly “bathe”.
The disadvantages of the breed include the risk of bird obesity in the third year of life and some decline in productivity after the second season.
Productivity
The Kuchinskaya jubilee breed of chickens is one of the recognized leaders in terms of productivity and is distinguished by high quality products. Due to the fact that chickens start laying very early, from about 5,5 months, farmers manage to get much more eggs in the life of a laying hen than from chickens of other breeds. The process continues almost all year round, during which the Kuchinskaya chicken is able to carry from 180 to 220 eggs. The only exception is the molting period, which lasts no more than three weeks, during which the hens do not rush.
The peak of egg production occurs at the age of 9 months, after which the productivity decreases slightly. The eggs are quite large, with a dense light brown shell. The average weight of one egg is 60 g.
As for meat productivity, the Kuchinsky jubilee ones are on top here too. The live weight of roosters at the age of three months varies from 1,5 to 2 kg, and by the year it reaches 3,4 kg. One-year-old chickens weigh 2,7 kg.
Features of the content
Growing the Kuchinskaya anniversary does not cause any particular difficulties even for beginner poultry farmers. Chickens perfectly tolerate temperature changes and are well adapted to the conditions of harsh winters. It is better to single out a chicken coop for representatives of this breed, do not settle them together with another bird. This requirement is due to the fact that despite the good disposition and friendliness to humans, chickens react quite aggressively to other feathered animals and individuals of other breeds.
Some poultry farmers, especially in private cultivation, equip the chicken coop with cages. This makes it much easier to control the amount of food eaten by the bird and prevent it from overeating. However, even with a general content on the litter, the bird feels quite comfortable, so the organization of the place is determined by each breeder individually.
An important stage in the maintenance of the Kuchinsky anniversary is food. In the first 45 weeks of life, the main emphasis is on the balance of the feed and the presence of the necessary vitamins and minerals in it, rather than on its nutritional value. This contributes to the correct formation of the reproductive system and in the future has a positive effect on productivity.
In addition to ready-made feed, birds need to be given green mass, which should be up to 60% of their diet, as well as sources of calcium in the form of chalk, shells, limestone, milk, cottage cheese and yogurt.
Phosphorus is also vital, so the bird is given bone meal, bran, cake and fish meal. The average energy value of the daily dose of feed should be at least 310 kcal. A decrease in this indicator leads to a decrease in egg production, the cessation of weight gain and a decrease in immune forces. In rare cases, manifestations of cannibalism are possible – eating weakened individuals similar to themselves.
In general, the diet of an adult chicken should look like this: assorted chopped grains, vegetables, greens, kitchen waste, whole grains and mixed feed. The main thing in the organization of nutrition is strict adherence to the size of portions, the excess of which quickly leads to obesity. An overfed fat chicken practically stops laying and becomes very vulnerable to many bird diseases. In addition, the taste and quality of meat is significantly deteriorating. An increase in portions is allowed only in the winter when chickens are kept in an unheated chicken coop.
The next important condition for the proper maintenance of the Kuchinsky anniversary is the arrangement of the chicken coop and keeping it clean. The use of sawdust and shavings is recommended as bedding for general maintenance, which are very economically beneficial and easy to clean. In addition to clean bedding, birds should always have fresh drinking water.
For the winter period, a high litter is equipped, which is not changed until the onset of heat. In a thick layer of sawdust and straw, microorganisms begin to multiply rapidly, which serve as a good source of heat.
As for organizing a place to sleep, wide, low shelves would be the best option, rather than poles. This is due to the fact that rather large and clumsy birds will fall from the poles and be injured.
If the chicken coop is too small and does not allow all the livestock to freely settle down, then you can put cages for spending the night, thus using the internal space more rationally. An important point is to prevent predators and rodents from entering the poultry house, which can create a real danger to the lives of birds. Enclosures for walks are recommended to be made quite free and spacious, enclosing them with low fences.
Kuchinsky jubilee can not fly, so the construction of high hedges is impractical.
Breeding
The best way to breed chickens at home is to use hens. This does not require an incubator and other additional equipment, since the breed has completely retained the maternal instinct, and the process of incubation of eggs occurs naturally. For incubation, it is recommended to choose not very heavy and rather calm chickens that can sit in one place for a long time. Fortunately, among the representatives of the Kuchinsky anniversary there are a large part of such individuals. In some birds, the instinct is developed so strongly that during incubation they forget to eat.
In this regard, especially “forgetful” individuals should certainly be driven from the nest and sent to eat. When moving a clutch nest to a new location, the chickweed will continue to incubate the eggs without worrying at all that the nest has been moved. Due to the high maternal responsibility, Kuchin hens often become foster mothers for chickens of other breeds: they hatch other people’s eggs without any problems and take care of the chickens as if they were their own.
After the contender for incubation has been determined, it is necessary to start choosing suitable eggs. To do this, select large fresh specimens, and carefully clean them from solid contaminants.
It is strictly forbidden to wash eggs, as this leads to washing off of the shell film and makes them unsuitable for incubation.
From 17 to 19 eggs are laid in one nest, and the nest itself is located in a secluded place, protected from direct sunlight.. The nest is made 40×40 cm in size, lined with clean and dry straw. A drinker with clean drinking water and a container for “bathing” filled with a mixture of ash and sand, taken in equal proportions, must be placed nearby.
The laying of eggs in the nest is carried out in a horizontal position, after which they are carefully turned over every 2-3 days. If this is not done, then the probability of the embryos drying to the inner surfaces of the shell is high. Approximately 7 days after laying, the eggs are examined with an ovoscope, removing “empty” specimens based on the results of the check. Repeated transilluminations are carried out on the 11th and 18th days.
After the first chickens begin to be born, and this usually happens on days 19-21, their shells should be immediately removed from the nest. Otherwise, the sharp edges will injure the hen and drive her out of the nest ahead of time. Hatched babies are left for 2-3 hours next to their mother and allowed to dry a little. Then they are transplanted into a separate basket or box lined with a soft cloth. The air temperature in the room should not be lower than +30 degrees, after which it is gradually reduced to +20 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to lower it very smoothly, by about 2 degrees every 5 days. An incandescent lamp is used as a heater, placing it directly above the box or basket.
The first week, chickens are fed every 2 hours, using a hard-boiled egg with the addition of ground shells and millet to it. One egg will be enough for 25 babies. From the second week, grated carrots, crushed grain, millet in milk and chopped greens are added. Upon reaching 10 days of age, the intervals between feedings are increased to three hours, and two-week-old babies are fed every 4 hours.
Reviews
The owners highly appreciate the Kuchinskaya jubilee and are very pleased that they have chosen this particular breed. The bird is well suited for beginner farmers, does not require the creation of special conditions. Attention is also drawn to the excellent taste properties of eggs and meat, as well as their large number, sufficient not only for personal consumption, but also for sale. There is also a high survival rate of chickens, since it is this moment that most often worries inexperienced poultry farmers.
And for the inhabitants of Siberia, the Kuchinsky jubilee is just a godsend, since, unlike other breeds, its representatives are not afraid of frost. Many farmers, having got to know the breed better, forever remain its adherents, do not want to change it to any other.
More about chickens of the Kuchinskaya Anniversary breed – in the video below.
