In the early 2000s, Sverdlovsk breeders began to conduct an experiment to obtain a productive breed of chickens with maximum performance by the number of eggs, which will, in addition, be perfectly adapted to the difficult Russian climate. The final work should have been birds with the following indicators:
- maximum egg production;
- the ability to survive in harsh climatic conditions;
- no decrease in egg production with the onset of cold weather.
The work lasted for six whole years, and in 2008 the breeders had something to brag about. To form a new breed, the most egg-bearing crosses with the highest performance were used. These are Broken Browns (German breed) and (American bird). If you look closely at rhodonites, you can see character traits both ancestors.
The uniqueness of the new chickens is entirely the merit of the breeders, who completed all the tasks they set for themselves. Laying hens do not actually reduce their egg production at sub-zero temperatures. For the sake of the experiment, chickens were placed in rooms without heating, and even there, amazing results were achieved.
Appearance Features
The external features of rhodonites are similar to broken browns and rhode islands. Those special features of which genes the chick has acquired more of will prevail more clearly. The head is small in size, the beak is yellow with a stripe in the middle. The comb is leaf-shaped, red in color and impressive in size. The color of well-developed earrings is red.
The feather cover is dense and fits well to the body. The most common color is light brown. There is a tint in the tail feathers and on the wings gray. The bone structure corresponds to egg-bearing breeds, the skeleton is compact and light.
Productive qualities
The maximum weight of an adult rooster reaches 3 kg, chickens gain weight of 2 kg. The egg-laying period for laying hens begins at four one month old. In one season, you can get approximately three hundred eggs from a chicken. Representatives of the breed reach their highest level of productivity at 1.5 – 2 years. After this, a rapid decrease in the number of eggs is observed.
One of the ways to temporarily restore indicators is the introduction of a rejuvenating vaccine, thanks to which egg-laying activity is maintained for at least another 80 weeks. The product itself is small in size, weighing 60 grams.
Selective selection has made hens incapable of hatching offspring, and therefore laying hens are not used in breeding. However, the breed has another advantage - a large number of eggs, which makes the birds very valuable for keeping on farms.
Subtleties of content
Thanks to its unpretentiousness to conditions external factors Rhodonites are successfully bred by many owners. For raising birds, both a regular barn and a specially constructed room with a walking yard are suitable.
Note to the poultry farmer!Young animals (under favorable weather conditions) are released on Fresh air no more than a couple of hours. From the age of one month, chickens can be outside all day.
The area of the premises is calculated from the number of livestock and the following parameters: for 20 individuals there should be at least 10 square meters with a wall height of 1.7 to 1.9 meters. The floor surface is covered with bedding, the role of which can be played by the following materials:
- sand;
- peat;
- sawdust;
- straw.
The main requirement for the premises is the presence of a good ventilation system without drafts, as well as the provision of free access to the walking yard.
The first parameter can be easily observed by installing window openings in the poultry house on the south side, or by installing exhaust pipes.
The chicken coop should have a perch no more than a meter high. Containers for feed and water are installed in such a way that the bird cannot turn them over, but at the same time can easily approach them. Nest houses are installed at the rate of 1 piece per 2-3 individuals. Sub-zero temperatures do not have a serious effect on the egg-laying qualities of rhodonites, which means that in moderate winters there is no need to install heating devices. If we turn to the opinion of experts, it says that the temperature in the chicken coop should not be below zero.
Walking space
Another feature of rhodonites is that they cannot be kept cell method, chickens need regular walks. To lead active life, the birds are provided with a fenced area next to the poultry house. The height of the fence should not be less than one and a half meters, which is associated with the ability of chickens to fly.
The breed was bred to withstand harsh climatic conditions. They are able to adapt to both cold and heat. In theory, rhodonites can continue to lay eggs even at -20 degrees, however, not a single hen will live long in such conditions, which will be associated with severe exhaustion body. The owner may face the same danger if he does not equip the premises with a ventilation system for the summer and does not make canopies on the street. The temperature in the chicken coop during the heat should not reach +28 degrees or more.
Features of feeding
Young animals need special nutrition compared to adults. After the chicks are born, they are transferred to boxes or wooden boxes with sand bedding. IKUFs are installed on top for heating. As soon as the chicks are dry, they need to be given a finely chopped or mashed boiled egg. The next day, the diet is introduced Wheat groats. After another day, curd products with chopped herbs are given.
Upon reaching 10 days, complementary feeding begins with waste from meat and fish production in order to provide the growing body with the required amount of protein. It is recommended to give as a drink not water for several days, but a pale pink manganese solution, which must be changed 2-3 times.
In rhodonites, one can easily determine gender chicks already on the first day of life:
- cockerels have yellow down, and hens have brown down;
- near the eyes of males there are dark circles, while those of laying hens have light circles.
An adult, independent bird is provided with a complete diet, consisting of the following components:
- wheat grain;
- corn;
- oats;
- feed chalk;
- ground shell rock;
- green mass;
- roots;
- crushed eggshell.
It is important to know!The diet should contain sufficient quantity calcium so that the egg shells of laying hens are properly formed, which should be hard. The deficiency results in soft film production.
Many farmers prefer special feeds that are balanced in terms of the content of vitamins and microelements necessary for chickens.
Adult birds should receive food twice a day, in such quantity that individuals can empty the feeders in half an hour. Faster consumption indicates a lack of food and the need to increase the portion. If food remains, then the norm decreases because... Obesity leads to health problems for chickens.
Rhodonites will not refuse wet mash prepared in fish or meat broth. IN summer time It is necessary to ensure that such food is quickly eaten by the chickens and does not turn sour in the feeders.
It is also necessary to ensure that there are bowls with gravel or shell rock, which play an important role in regulating digestion in laying hens.
Both in the chicken coop and in the walking yard, it is necessary to install containers with water, which is just as important as feed. The fluid is changed daily, and when it gets hot, twice a day. For prevention various diseases can be given weekly instead of water herbal infusions based on chamomile and calendula or manganese solution.
Breeding Features
Selective selection has deprived laying hens of the brooding instinct, and therefore, in order to obtain young animals on the farm, you will need to install an incubator, or purchase already hatched chickens from a large poultry farm.
The high survival rate of the livestock makes it easy to obtain chicks in private farming. If poultry is purchased from a third-party farm, it is recommended to buy one producer for the entire flock of laying hens. Its presence or absence will not have any effect on total egg products. But the rooster will maintain order and discipline in the flock.
Advantages and disadvantages
Each breed, including rhodonites, has its own positive and negative qualities. The advantages include:
- productivity remains at high level regardless of the season;
- chickens are unpretentious in keeping;
- adapted to harsh climates;
- egg laying continues even at sub-zero temperatures;
- friendly character.
Among the disadvantages are the following:
- too harsh meat products suitable only for first courses;
- lack of maternal instinct in laying hens.
Rhodonit chickens, being active and extremely easy to care for, are the dream of many poultry farmers. And this is not surprising, since these productive birds do not need any special conditions content, but their egg production rate is really impressive.
This egg breed was bred individually. It looks similar to the Rhode Island Red, but in reality there are many differences between these breeds.
Origin of the breed
Back in 2002, Sverdlovsk breeders began an experiment with the goal of breeding an extremely productive breed in terms of egg production, which at the same time would be perfectly adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of Russia. The result of all this work was the creation of a layer that is characterized by high productivity, as well as the ability to lay eggs and hatch eggs in cold climates. Breeders continued their work for 6 years, crossing a variety of breeds, and by 2008 they finally managed to succeed in this.
To create laying hens, specialists used the most productive crosses:
- German Lohmann Braun;
- American Rhode Island.
The successes of breeders were unprecedented, because the new chickens turned out to be truly unique. The main task of the specialists was completed: the laying hens actually retained the ability to lay eggs even at subzero temperatures. IN winter time the birds were kept in unheated houses, but the results were still excellent.
On a note! Such measures were taken solely for the purpose of experimentation, because initially the breed was bred for keeping in poultry farms, and not for harsh street conditions.
External features
If we consider external features, then you need to once again contact the “parents” of these chickens. Everything is extremely simple: birds are endowed with certain properties depending on whose “parental” gene is more manifested. However, laying hens in most cases have a medium-sized head with a yellow beak, which is marked with a yellow stripe down the center.
The comb is leaf-shaped and quite large, but it attracts attention primarily with its bright red color. Yellow earrings are also well developed, as you can see for yourself when looking at the photographs. As for the plumage, it is dense and fits closely to the chicken carcass. The feathers have an attractive light Brown color, although at the tips of the wings and tail it fades to a less striking gray. The skeleton of Rhodonite chickens is the same as that of other representatives of egg breeds - compact and small. In addition, the skeleton is light in weight.
Interesting! The sex of the chick can be determined already at one day of age. The down of males is light yellow, and there is a specific dark marking on the head; The areas around the eyes are light. Distinctive feature females have light down on the head and back, and the areas around the eyes are darker.
Productivity indicators
Birds of the Rhodonite breed are characterized by high egg production, but relatively low live weight. Let's get acquainted with the main indicators of birds in more detail.
Table. Productivity of the described breed
It should also be noted that chickens begin to lay eggs at the age of four months, but the greatest productivity occurs precisely in the first 1.5 years of life, which has been experimentally proven. When a laying hen reaches 2 years of age, her egg production begins to decline quickly and significantly, although this problem can be dealt with. So, to restore productivity, hens are given a special vaccine (it is known as the “rejuvenation vaccine”), thanks to which the birds will be able to lay eggs for another 80 weeks.
On a note! The inactivated emulsified vaccine against SSY-76, according to the manufacturer, is completely harmless, and its effect is the accumulation of antibodies in the blood of birds. None side effects not detected, except in rare cases for the appearance of a slight swelling at the injection site, but such formation disappears after a few weeks.
There are also more affordable stimulants - for example, regular yeast. They are added to feed at the rate of 100 g/kg.
It should also be remembered that the brooding instinct of Rhodonite hens is not well developed, so no one uses them for breeding. But poultry farmers value these chickens for other advantages, in particular for increased level calculations.
Video – Chickens Rhodonite
Caring for the breed
The key to keeping poultry is a well-ventilated house. As a rule, this is achieved by installing a simple window, although, as an option, you can make a hole in the wall of the poultry house and then cover it with a mesh (this will prevent rodents from entering the room).
The chicken coop itself in our case must meet the following requirements:
- height within 170-180 cm;
- no draft;
- temperature not less than -2°C and not more than +28°C.
Feeders should be located near the walls on the floor of the poultry house, with separate feeders for wet and dry food. It is advisable that the feeders have sides - this way the food will not spill out. As for drinking bowls, it is better to place them at a low height.
In order to minimize the risk of disease development, the chicken coop should be disinfected periodically. To do this, you need to dilute lime (2 kg/10 l of water), mix everything thoroughly, and use the resulting solution to whiten all surfaces (including perches). Disinfection can also be carried out by washing the room with lye, for which wood ash must be diluted in water in the same proportion as lime.
Features of feeding
Birds of this breed, as well as other egg-laying chickens, need good nutrition. The diet should consist mainly of fresh greens (dried nettles in winter), vegetables, grains, chalk, crushed eggshells, etc. It is also recommended to feed special feed.
By the way, in the case of mixed feed, it is better to add PC-2 to chicks aged from 1 to 8 weeks, and then you can switch to PC-4.
What about mineral supplements?
Diet of laying hens mandatory should include minerals, taking part in the formation of eggshells. If there is a deficiency of these substances, the egg shells may be too thin or absent altogether.
Chickens need to be given calcium, the sources of which can be:
And in order to improve digestive functions Laying hens, they can additionally be given fine-grained insoluble minerals (such as gravel, for example).
Basic breeding rules
As noted earlier, these chickens have practically lost their brooding instinct, which means that an incubator should be used when breeding. The reason for the weak development of instinct is extremely simple: the Rhodonite breed is the result of artificial selection.
On a note! The creators of the breed were focused primarily on factory farming, but practice has shown that chickens do well in ordinary private farms.
It should also be emphasized that the Rhodonite breed is an ideal option for beginning poultry farmers, as it does not require special care, which, combined with high productivity, attracts many farmers. Moreover, the birds are very active, making them interesting to watch. Finally, sometimes they are bred for slaughter, despite the fact that they represent the egg direction.
Conclusion. Interesting fact about Rhodonite chickens
Several years ago, employees of the Izhevsk poultry farm conducted a study that compared 3 egg breeds:
- Hysek White;
- Hysek Brown;
- Rhodonite described in the article.
The comparison was carried out according to several criteria, including egg production, feed consumption and nutritional value of eggs. Several thousand representatives of each breed were used for testing.
The research results were amazing: the Rhodonite breed was inferior to its competitors in almost all indicators (although we are talking about a slight lag - no more than 0.5-1%). But these chickens had the highest egg production in low temperature conditions, which can be considered an indisputable advantage of the breed.
Video - How to feed laying hens in summer
It is hard to imagine subsidiary farm no chicken inhabitants. Every farmer strives to increase the productivity of his activities. The Rhodonite breed of chickens will become the best option , since it is considered the most egg-bearing. Since ancient times, humanity has known and fully appreciated profitability of keeping a farm laying hens.
Chicken breed Rhodonite
Until now, the demand for them has not decreased. Breeders tirelessly continue to work on new, more productive breeds. This is how this cross came about a few years ago.
Chickens Rhodonite: description
All feathered representatives can be divided into 5 categories:
- meat-egg;
- egg;
- broiler;
- fighting;
- decorative.
Our heroine belongs to the egg species. The main task of the breeders was to develop a breed that would not reduce its productivity under harsh climatic conditions. The progenitors are Loman Brown chickens and Rhode Island roosters.
In external description The following features can be distinguished: yellow beak with a stripe down the center, small head, deep purple earrings and a flat, spreading crest. The feather cover is light brown with individual white patches, smooth. Females weigh about 2 kg, roosters are slightly larger - 3 kg.
Already a few days after birth, chicks can be distinguished. Hens have a light circle around their eyes, while cockerels have a dark circle. Females are brown, with a light back and neck. Males have yellow eyes.
In addition to high egg production, there are a number of other advantages of the breed:
- high percentage of survival in infancy;
- quick adaptation to any environmental conditions;
- unpretentiousness to food;
- Ideal for keeping in private backyards.
Among the disadvantages, the inability of chickens to hatch their offspring independently was noted. Hatch the chicks yourself only possible in an incubator.
Productivity characteristics
The chickens are starting your active productive activity 4 months after hatching. In a year, one individual is capable of laying about 300 eggs, each weighing 60 g.
After 80 weeks, their egg production begins to decline. On an industrial scale This problem is solved by introducing a special vaccine. Then the useful period is extended by the same amount.
Features of keeping and caring for Rhodonite chickens
Chickens Rhodonite are active, do not show aggression towards to their brothers, they easily get along with other breeds of birds. Due to their frost resistance, they can be bred with equal success in private and industrial production. Although, they feel much more comfortable in the courtyards.
Caring for them is not difficult, and the unpretentiousness of chickens makes their maintenance much easier. Only a number of basic requirements must be met.
The chicken coop cannot be lower than 1.7 m, so that it is comfortable for both the inhabitants and the owner caring for them. Drafts are unacceptable, but ventilation is essential. You should adhere to a certain temperature regime from -2 to + 28 degrees. The calculation of the territory is carried out based on the number of laying hens: per 1 sq. m. two units . Perches are mounted at height one meter from floor level. There should always be water in drinking bowls. It is recommended to install a box of sand in the shed. Regularly required sanitization, whitewash the walls and ceiling.
The diet of chickens can include both mixed feed and ready-made feed. The mash usually includes: chopped vegetables, fruits, herbs, salt, chalk, mineral supplements . Some people dilute the mixture with fish broth.
Dry food is wheat and mixed feed. To improve the quality of eggs and improve digestion, chickens are given shells, pebbles, and ground shells.
Reproduction of chickens of this breed is possible only with the help of an incubator. If this is not available, then it is better to buy chicks at poultry farms. Even with regular replenishment of the flock with young animals from a farm, the presence of a rooster is mandatory. Its presence does not in any way affect the ability of chickens to lay eggs, but it stabilizes discipline in the flock.
Characteristic diseases and treatment methods
Any birds, no matter how resilient they are, can get sick. And this will primarily affect its egg production. Living conditions and nutrition are the primary source of this risk. To prevent this, it is necessary to regularly disinfect in the chicken coop, feed complete food for laying hens. Don’t forget to include minerals, vitamins and various supplements in your diet.
Based on reviews from many breeders, we can conclude that this breed occupies a leading position among other similar breeds. Such chickens are unpretentious, produce a lot of eggs, and have a cheerful disposition - these are the main indicators of demand. Those who already have them in their household experience only positive emotions.
From 2002 to 2008, Sverdlovsk breeders crossed German breed Loman Brown chickens and Rhode Island roosters. Their goal was to create a breed resistant to the harsh Russian climate. The result of the experiments is cross-Rhodonite chickens. Cross - these are breeds of increased productivity that were obtained by crossing different breeds. Cross-Rhodonite chickens are the most common at this time. Approximately 50 percent of the eggs on the market come from Rhodonite hens.
Rhodonite laying hens
Rhodonite chickens are mainly bred for their egg production. Rhodonite is an egg breed of chickens; they hatch eggs poorly because they have almost no brooding instinct. Rhodonit chickens retain their egg production even in harsh climatic conditions. You can even breed this breed outside heated barns. Laying hens will lay eggs even in such conditions.
But we must not forget that this breed was originally created for breeding in poultry farms. They are mainly bred in incubators. But they excellent layers. From about 4 months of age they begin to lay eggs. Moreover, they do not require special care, as they are adapted to harsh climatic conditions. The only thing that is required of you is to provide cleanliness and normal nutrition. Poor nutrition negatively affects both the quantity and quality of eggs. And the eggs of Rhodonite laying hens are the most in demand.
On average, one hen lays up to 300 eggs per year, which indicates their high productivity. The eggs weigh approximately 60 grams and have a brown tint, which is highly sought after by customers. Laying hens up to about 80 weeks of age are most productive.
Also, the main advantage of the breed is that already on the second day you can identify half a chicken. The chickens have a brown tint, but the head and back are light in color. Bettas are yellow, light in tone, but have a brown marking on their head.
Description of the breed
The weight of laying hens is approximately 2 kg, and the weight of a rooster is about three. Outwardly, they are very similar to the Rhode Island and Loman Brown breeds. Chickens of the Rhodonite breed are quite cute. Have brown plumage color, the average size heads, a yellow beak with a brown stripe and a red erect crest.
Birds of the Rhodonite breed, although they were bred for factory breeding, are also an excellent solution for homestead farming. They are great for beginners who have just started raising chickens, as do not require special care. But what we should know about the care and maintenance of laying hens will be discussed below.
Caring for cross-Rhodonite chickens
As with all breeds, for the place where laying hens of the Rhodonite breed are kept, it is required ventilation hood. To create a hood, just make a hole in the chicken coop and tighten it tightly with mesh to prevent rodents from getting through. If there is a window, then installing it is the most effective solution.
Sometimes hens can lay eggs wherever they want. Can we get them to run where they belong? To do this, you can put “fake eggs” on the nests. Such “liners” can be made from plaster, alabaster or paraffin. You can also use the eggs themselves. To do this, you first need to carefully make a hole in the shell and get rid of the internal mass and fill the shell with paraffin.
- On 10 square meters You can keep up to 20 chickens.
- Cage height from 1m 70 cm to 1 m 80 cm.
- Rhodonite is resistant to temperature fluctuations from -2 to +28 degrees Celsius.
- There should be no drafts in the place where Rhodonite chickens are kept.
Feeders should be organized at ground level. Having a height at the feeders will prevent food from spilling out. Drinking bowls need to be installed at a height consistent with the growth of the chickens themselves, so that it is convenient for them to drink.
Perches should be installed at a level of 1 m. For laying eggs, you can place separate boxes covered with straw.
Feeding chickens Rhodonite
In order for chickens to lay eggs regularly, it is necessary to provide them with the best possible feeding. After all, poor feeding can negatively affect the number of eggs. Basic diet chickens Rhodonite includes fresh (dried in winter) vegetables and herbs, grain, chalk, eggshells, various combined feeds, etc.
Calcium is known to form the basis of the diet. The presence of calcium in their diet has a positive effect on the quality of eggs. What does calcium contain?
- Chalk (crushed).
- Shells (crushed).
- Lime.
Prevention of diseases in the Rhodonite breed
Should also be done every 2-3 weeks disinfect the chicken coop a solution of lime and water. 2 kg of lime is dissolved in a bucket of water and applied to the walls, floor and boxes of the chicken coop. Lime can also be replaced with ash.
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