Liven chintz chicken: description of the breed

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

In today's world, chicken breeding is incredibly relevant, although it is worth noting that vegetarian and vegan diets are becoming more and more popular. It is possible that in the future these movements will be able to replace the consumption of the meat of the once living birds and animals, but for now it is worth considering the situation as it is. Now chickens are raised in huge quantities both for meat and for the production of eggs. Absolutely everyone knows about the cruelty of the treatment of birds and animals of large corporations, however, households usually treat the same animals and birds as their own pets, which are well fed, cared for, loved and caressed. And this is exactly what the article will discuss, or rather, about one particular breed of chickens, which has recently become increasingly popular.

The Liven chicken is a special breed that was incredibly popular fifty years ago due to its large size, as well as the size of the eggs it carried. And if you want to see such chickens and such eggs in your own household, then you should read this article more carefully. Here you will find all the information you need, from the educational history of this breed to what the Liven chicken eats and how it iscan be bred. All this data can be useful to you if you really set yourself the task of breeding this breed of chickens and getting the famous huge chicken eggs.

Origin of the breed

How did Livenskaya chicken appear? Why does she have such a name? The fact is that now the selection of chickens is carried out by specialists who cross breeds in such a way as to achieve the necessary goal. However, in ancient times there were no professional breeders, and the peasants were engaged in the withdrawal of new breeds. They were not graduates, but pursued, in principle, the same goal. They wanted the hens to gain weight quickly, lay as many eggs as possible, and stay he althy for a long time. As for this particular breed, it appeared in Tsarist Russia, in the Livensky district of the Oryol region. That is why she received such a name. That is, the Liven chicken is called so because of the place where it was bred and gained its fame. Naturally, such performance did not go unnoticed, and the Liven breed began to spread further across Russia. In the meantime, Livensky Uyezd became one of the key areas responsible for relations between Russia and Great Britain. After all, it was from there that large amazing chicken eggs were supplied to Foggy Albion, which are in incredible demand. However, people who understand the breeding of chickens may ask the question: why for a long period of time this breed could not be found anywhere? Unfortunately, the answer to this question israther sad.

The fate of the breed

For a long time, Liven chintz chickens were a real source of large chicken eggs, but everything changed in the sixties. Then new breeds began to appear, which were more productive than the Liven breed. Do not misunderstand the situation, Liven hens lay eggs in large quantities and even in winter, when many breeds stop doing this. But chickens like leghorns are even more productive, which is why people chose them. As for the Livensky chickens, they began to be massively destroyed. As a result, in the sixties, this breed became virtually extinct. And only recently, in private farms, they began to find chickens that, according to the description and characteristics, correspond to the described breed. From that moment, painstaking work began to restore the breed, which is now gradually regaining its former popularity. So we can safely say that Liven chintz chickens successfully avoided complete extermination thanks to those individuals that survived in private farms after the mass destruction of the sixties.

Appearance

The Liven breed of chickens does not have the most common appearance. The fact is that these chickens are much larger than most of their relatives, while their physique can be called plump. In addition to size, plumage distinguishes them from the rest of the hens. Most often there are Liven chickens with chintz plumage, so manypeople even call them Liven prints. Chickens have small scallops, but their tufts are extremely rare. Scientists have calculated that tufts are found somewhere in three percent of cases. These chickens have four toes, in rare cases there are those that have five fingers. It is also worth noting that sixty percent of chickens have feathers on their legs. As for the appearance of chickens, they also have a rather unusual color of feathers, which begin to grow already by the 13th month of life. Well, the beak of these birds is quite ordinary, painted in the color of the sun. The neck of these chickens is quite massive, the roosters have a rather impressive "mane". In addition, roosters also have a larger comb than chickens, but its size almost never exceeds five centimeters. Also, roosters have a short, but rather impressive tail. Another distinguishing feature that the Liven breed of chickens possesses is a slight hump on its back. This means that the back cannot "sag" down, the hump should always be groped in pure representatives of this breed.

Egg production

Livensky chickens, the description of which you have already read, also have a rather impressive egg production, and this parameter is of great interest to almost every person who would like to breed this or any other breed of chickens. In this case, this parameter is quite impressive. It’s worth starting with the fact that puberty and, accordingly, the ability to carry chicken eggs are reached at the age of eight months. FROMwhen they reach puberty, they produce at least 150 eggs per year, which can tempt any household owner. It is worth noting that in the spring months, that is, from March to April, chickens lay the largest number of eggs. Their productivity in these three months can be up to half of the total annual number of eggs laid.

What are eggs?

Well, now you know what the Liven chickens themselves look like, the description was provided above, but not only they themselves need to be characterized. So many people immediately begin to be interested in how the eggs of these chickens look, about which there is so much talk. Are they really so impressive that the British bought them from Russia? A young hen about a year old lays eggs that are slightly less elongated than most other breeds. Such an egg weighs about sixty grams, and its size exceeds the size of a matchbox. The color of these eggs is also unusual: it is neither white nor yellow. Rather, it is something between the standard white and yellow colors of eggs. As for the composition, it can also please. The yolk accounts for about thirty percent of the total mass of the egg, and the shell - 12 percent. As you can see, the protein content is dominant, but that's not all. The so-called dense type protein in these eggs is contained in much higher quantities than in eggs of other breeds, which makes this breed even more attractive. What else can be said aboutare liven calico chickens? The description, characteristics of the chickens themselves, their eggs and egg production have already been studied by us, so it's time to move on and pay attention to other equally important aspects.

Breeding and selection

What breeding conditions does the Liven breed of chickens require? Reviews of people who are engaged in breeding report that special conditions are not needed, because this breed of chickens is not overly demanding. In most cases, the chicks that are born are strong, hardy and hardy, so the average survival rate is kept at a very high level. It is also worth noting that feeding chickens is extremely simple. You will have to give them a little more time in the early days, but pretty soon they will be able to eat the same thing that adults eat. So, if you follow the basic recommendations, then you can safely breed chickens of this breed even at home.

As for selection, everything is a little more complicated here, since a professional hand is needed. The Liven chintz breed of chickens, whose photos you could see on thematic sites and in specialized newspapers and magazines, is a good object for selection. Experts have determined that with the right approach, you can even increase the egg production of chickens without mixing them with other breeds that differ in a more impressive indicator. However, one should not forget that breeding and selection are two completely different processes that should not be confused betweenyourself.

Breed today

Now you have a much clearer idea of what Liven chickens are. The photo and description of this breed are presented in the most accessible and simple form, but this is far from all the information that you will learn today from this article. For example, you should be aware of the current state of the breed in order to understand whether you should mess with it or whether it will lead you to a dead end. As mentioned above, in the modern world this breed is much rarer than before. However, experts are working to revive it, although there are doubting critics who suggest that this breed is not the one for which it is given out. They believe that this is just a subspecies of another more common breed. An amateur will not be able to answer this question, so you will either have to choose another breed for breeding, or take a word for it. If you choose the second option, then you will not be disappointed, since the Liven calico breed of chickens, whose characteristics are impressive, has an optimal ratio of meat and eggs quality. Firstly, mature individuals reach six kilograms of weight in the case of roosters and 4-5 kilograms in the case of chickens. The average lifespan of a chicken is about six years, but it can fluctuate. As for egg production, this parameter has been significantly increased by selection to date. If earlier such a chicken laid about 150-200 eggs a year, now this figure canreach 300 eggs per year. It is also worth noting that a couple of years ago, not only the Liven calico breed of chickens was encountered, the characteristics of which are now accepted as the standard of the breed. At that time, you could find Liven hens with black plumage and a golden crest, as well as chickens with golden plumage and a black crest, but during the selection they turned out to be not as impressive as their calico counterparts, so you can now meet such chickens quite rarely.

Chicken care

What kind of care does the Liven breed of chickens require? The characterization of the chicken itself is just a description of what you might like about it. Now it's time to look at what you will have to deal with on an ongoing basis. First, you need to carefully prepare the coop for keeping chickens of this breed in it. The thickness of its walls must be at least 15 centimeters, these walls must be insulated from the outside so that the chickens can survive the winter. You should also take care of the field: it must be either wooden or insulated if it is made of concrete. The roof also requires insulation, and you also need to check the chicken coop for cracks, since all your efforts will be in vain if there are several cracks through which heat will leave the chicken coop. And, of course, you need to provide for the presence of special heating devices in case there are especially severe frosts outside. But at the same time, you should not forget that such a chicken needs fresh air, so your chickens should have an aviary in which they will go out daily. For the rest, careis pretty basic because, as mentioned above, Liven chickens, which have only positive reviews on the Internet, are absolutely undemanding.

Secondly, you can use a wide variety of foods such as corn, oats, wheat or barley to feed this breed of chicken. You can also use wheat bran, millet or peas. Some even feed chickens with sunflower cake and potatoes, and there are those who keep them on a diet of meat and bone and fish meal. You should pay attention to the fact that chickens require an additional portion of calcium if you want the shell of the eggs to be strong. Therefore, add either specialized vitamins or ground eggshells to the feed.

Character of chickens

What character does the Liven breed of chickens have? Photos of these chickens show that this is a very beautiful breed, so you will be happy to keep it in your own household. However, it is not the appearance that is the main criterion, but egg production. This criterion has already been discussed above, so it is also worth taking time for another indicator that should be of concern to you. Liven chickens are very gentle and friendly, so they can even become real friends for your children. As mentioned earlier, they are extremely unpretentious, which attracts many breeders. Another feature that attracts people to these chickens is silence. The fact is that roosters of this breed do not sing like representatives of almost all breeds do. Accordingly, those people who are looking for silence can highlyevaluate this feature. It is also worth noting that these chickens are quite passive, which has a positive effect on the ability to incubate eggs. Liven chickens, photos of which you can explore in this article, can be an excellent choice for your household.

Should I wind it up?

Well, now you've learned everything you can learn, and you know what the Liven breed of chickens is. The description of the chickens themselves was offered to you, you also learned how the eggs of such chickens look like, what is the composition of these eggs and much more. In general, you have received enough information to make a conscious and considered choice. So is it worth it to start this particular breed of chickens? The answer is most likely to be yes, because the advantages of this breed are very numerous, and, in fact, there are no disadvantages. These are productive hens, which in modern conditions can produce from 200 to 300 eggs per year without any problems. If you properly organize your chicken coop and aviary, you will be able to achieve maximum results, and your chickens will lay eggs even in winter. Buying your first chickens from an experienced breeder will give you all the benefits of a better breed. In addition to the increased egg production mentioned above, modern hens of this breed also carry much larger eggs, the weight of which can reach eighty grams, and if you feed your laying hens properly, the eggs can reach as much as a hundred grams. It is also worth noting that breeding chickens of this breed begin to lay eggs earlier than the original predecessors. Livenskayathe calico breed of chickens (reviews of experienced breeders confirm this) begins to lay eggs at the age of eight months, however, selection allows increasing its productivity in this aspect as well. And modern hens can start laying eggs as early as five or six months of age.

Well, it's time to sum up the study of this breed. In the Oryol region, where this breed once originated, now it is in great demand and is very popular. An almost extinct species gradually reproduces and develops, so you should consider putting your hand in this process. And at the same time, you will not be at a loss - the purchase of chickens and roosters of this breed will definitely pay off in the near future. This breed has repeatedly received the highest score at the specialized chicken shows held around the world, so you can be sure that it will be a great start in your career as a poultry farmer. Naturally, the final choice is up to you, but the number of advantages of this breed over others is so impressive that you better not waste time and start a divorce right now.

Where can I get it?

If you have already decided in favor of this breed of chickens, then you should think about where exactly to get the first individuals. Given the rather sad history of the breed and its almost complete disappearance from the face of the earth, you can find a large number of the most diverse hybrids in households, but they are unlikely to interest you. The best option is to visit one of the specialized exhibitions mentionedearlier, and purchase a he althy thoroughbred chicken there. Only in this way can you guarantee that the bird will have all the necessary documents, all vaccinations will be given to it, it will be he althy and prolific. You can also contact poultry farms that breed this particular breed. On other poultry farms, you may be referred to certain people, farmers, and coop owners who have appropriate chickens for sale. Thus, you can get yourself birds with which you can start breeding. After some time, you will also be able to sell chickens of this breed in order to further distribute it throughout the territory of the Russian Federation, and at the same time receive additional benefits that hardly anyone will refuse. Now, thanks to this article, you know much more about this breed of chickens and understand why you should choose it and not any other.