Breed of barbezier chickens: description, characteristics and photos

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Not all types of European chickens are able to quickly adapt within the harsh climate of our country. However, there are such representatives among the meat and egg areas. We are talking about the breed of barbezier chickens, which are beginning to gain great popularity among Russian farmers. Our article contains all the questions related to the characteristics of birds. Such information will be useful for those who are interested in obtaining high-quality products, both meat and eggs.

General information

The barbezier chicken breed is the fruit of the hard work of French breeders and is considered one of the most ancient. Scientists have bred many different interesting species of birds. But it is this breed that stands out from the background of other representatives with its uniqueness. In the second half of the 18th century, interest in domestic chickens began to grow in France, and the Barbezier breed becamedemanded not only in the conditions of private farms, it has also been bred on poultry farms.

Origin story

The birds owe their name to the district of France from which they spread throughout the world. Due to the fact that the Barbezier region is located near the sea coast in a wetland, breeders have managed to achieve high adaptive abilities of individuals. Therefore, they tolerate cold weather and humid climates well. As a result of long work on the breed, excellent indicators of its productivity were obtained. At the same time, a rigorous selection of the best individuals that were used for crossing was carried out.

Although in their homeland the birds are classified as aboriginal, there are suggestions that their blood contains impurities of other species, possibly Minorca. For some time, the so-called village chickens were on the verge of extinction. But they were restored and received official recognition (in the 20th century). Below are photos of the Barbezier chicken breed and a description of standard individuals in all details.

Scale of distribution in Russia

When typical domestic chickens migrated to our country in the 2000s, they did not make any special sensation. Only medium-sized poultry farms and people with their own farms became interested in them. Perhaps some physiological characteristics of individuals and the history of their development played a role in this. Before the formation of capitalism, no one practiced breeding birds for sale. Domestic individuals were onpasture, were kept mainly in poor families. At the same time, no attention was paid to stimulating their growth.

A significant role in the slow spread of the breed was played by such a factor as the unprofitability of its breeding. It turns out that the cost of keeping and feeding birds is too high compared to the profit from them. However, not everything is so bad, as birds have a future perspective thanks to the excellent quality of meat. Currently, domestic farmers are not yet engaged in natural breeding of young animals. Chicks are usually hatched in an incubator.

Further prospects

Despite the fact that the Barbezier chicken breed was not previously grown on an industrial scale, now it has spread widely outside its homeland, as many poultry farmers have been able to appreciate it. For example, using their entrepreneurial spirit, American farmers assumed that they could make a significant profit from breeding birds. They saw for themselves two areas of promotion of these individuals - in the market of high-quality poultry meat and lovers of rare species of chickens. By the way, in France, feathered products are highly valued. In the restaurants of the country, dishes from them are much more expensive than from any other bird.

Interesting fact

Perhaps the experience of foreign farmers will serve as an incentive to start breeding these birds for sale. There is evidence that poultry farmers in some parts of the world have been able to make a lot of capital by raising these chickens. One of them was able for the proceedspurchase an old building that has been restored as a farm museum. And this is not surprising, since, referring to the description of the breed of Barbezier chickens, one can draw the appropriate conclusions. First, let's pay attention to the exterior features of birds.

Breed of barbezier chickens: description

Birds have a lot of exterior features that distinguish them from other species. Knowing such features, a novice farmer can easily determine this breed when buying chickens:

1. Females have a rather beautiful plumage that fits snugly to the body. The color is black, glossy, with a green tint. In roosters, the overflow effect is slightly more pronounced. In the tail area, some of their feathers are colored green. Legs are grey. The hips of birds are powerful.
2. The most remarkable thing about the appearance of individuals is their long legs. Due to this, birds, especially roosters, look graceful. Females are slightly shorter.
3. Another feature of the Barbezier breed of chickens is the structure of their torso. The body of birds is distinguished by proportionality and correct posture. Females are about 60-65 cm tall, roosters are 65-70 cm.
4. The leaf-shaped comb has a simple structure, large. Its standard size for a male is usually up to 13 cm in length and 7 cm in height.
5. The lobes stand out very clearly in birds. They have a pure white color and are visible from afar against the background of the general color.

Defects leading to rejection of specimens

If when choosingbirds were noticed any discrepancies with the above listed signs, then it is better not to buy them. These defects include:

• disharmoniously folded torso;
• non-standard colors of plumage and legs;
• discrepancy in weight and height.

Behavioral features

In the breed description and reviews, barbezier chickens are presented as humble and good-natured, but at the same time active and overly curious. They won't sit indoors all day. Birds love to explore space, dig in the ground in search of worms. In the poultry yard, individuals behave peacefully, like to walk in flocks. From the numerous reviews and descriptions of the Barbezier chicken breed, you can find out that because of their massive body, the birds almost do not fly. Their readiness for breeding begins at the age of five months.

Productivity characteristics

By type of productivity, the breed belongs to the universal meat and egg direction. A full return on birds can be expected only after a year. Although females begin to rush at 6 months, they can give the maximum number of eggs only after a year. This process develops gradually. The eggs they carry are white, large (80 g). During the year, their number can reach from 160 to 200 pieces.

Poultry meat is incredibly tasty, reminiscent of game. The weight of an adult female with a full diet can be 4-4.5 kg, the weight of a rooster is 5 kg.

Breed advantages

Through the conditions under which the characteristictraits of this breed, birds have developed a strong immunity to various weather changes. They have an amazingly high survival rate (nearly 90%) and almost no disease. We list the main characteristics and features of chickens:

• barbezier breed is universal;
• has high palatability of meat;
• large eggs with hard shells;
• noted the peaceful behavior of birds in the poultry yard;
• adaptability to extremely harsh conditions;
• beautiful exterior.

Cons

Feathers have few disadvantages, but a novice poultry farmer should pay attention to them. According to the description and reviews, barbezier chickens grow very slowly, and many farmers prefer to grow more early maturing species because of this. After the restoration of the breed, the maternal instinct in females decreased significantly. Another disadvantage is that the feathers in the chicks take too long to grow. In view of this, it is necessary to lay eggs in the incubator only in the spring. So the young growth will have time to fledge and get stronger before the cold weather.

Content Requirements

Given the description of barbezier chickens and the characteristics of birds, we can conclude that they need to create suitable conditions. For example, due to the fact that the birds are hardy, some farmers partly compensate for the cost of their maintenance by the fact that the house can not be heated. If only in severe frosts. Although this issue must be approached in a balanced way and not abuse the abilities of chickens. Despite the fact that the temperature and humidity in the roomdoes not play a special role for birds, they must be protected from drafts.

Representatives of this species love cleanliness and need quality bedding made of sawdust or straw. In winter, they must be provided with additional lighting. Otherwise, the productivity in relation to eggs in birds will decrease immediately. They need to build comfortable nests, and put a bathing container with enough water within the range. It is important not to forget about the increased activity of birds. Given the external characteristics of the Barbezier chicken breed, it is necessary to create free range conditions for them. It will be difficult for large birds to be crowded.

Feeding the birds

To get delicious meat with all its inherent qualities, the poultry breeder needs to create a diet for birds that is as close as possible to the requirements of this breed. Birds need to be given a spacious place, where there is a lot of green grass with pasture. If they are in an aviary, then they need to be given supplements of animal origin, fruits, vegetables. Juicy green food should be an essential part of the chicken diet.

In winter, you need to add mineral supplements, herbal and bone meal, fish, and various vitamins to the feathered menu. Of winter crops, they prefer wheat, rye and barley. Chalk must be added to grain mixtures. All feed should be concentrated. You can cook them yourself or buy industrial compound feed. In order for the young to develop the correct skeleton, food must be enriched with minerals.

About breeding

For home breeding, individuals with an age of at least a year can be allowed. It is important to consider that the breed needs timely blood renewal. In this regard, it is necessary to monitor the breeding process in order to prevent inbreeding. If you use the best, selected eggs for breeding chickens, getting excellent meat will be guaranteed.

Chickens should be kept out of the cold as they fledge slowly. You can use a special lamp or heaters. Young animals need to be released outside only in sunny weather. It is necessary to control the temperature in the room so that it is stable. At two months they need to be vaccinated to prevent common bird diseases. Wellness manipulations can only be performed on strong chicks.

Information from reviews of poultry farmers

The fact that birds, in particular, are bred at home or on small farms, makes it possible for more thorough observations of birds. Therefore, it will be useful to consider what the hosts write in their responses.

According to most poultry farmers, the breed is able to provide high-quality products, survives well in difficult conditions. There are no diseases that would be characteristic of these particular representatives. There may be some problems in the form of cannibalism and beriberi due to malnutrition. Vaccination and a balanced diet make birdsinvulnerable to resistant.

After three years of age, judging by the reviews, egg production decreases in barbezier chickens. Bird meat also becomes less tasty. Therefore, it would be advisable during this period to replace laying hens with young hens.

Many poultry farmers keep birds just for fun. They really have a beautiful exterior, which cannot be said about chicks up to two months of age. Small discrepancies were observed regarding the period of egg production. In fact, laying hens are only able to return at eight months. When this process begins to decline, they lay larger eggs during this period.

The owners saw a big plus in the fact that the males of this breed do not fight. Many agree that meat can rightfully be called the best. Another advantage of elite chickens was also noticed - during molting, they do not stop laying eggs. This process sometimes takes them about three months, if daylight hours are not shortened. Usually, starting in autumn, molting can continue until winter. Some owners are inclined to believe that if it were not for the decent cost of chickens, then the French representatives would walk around in every yard.