Hamburg chickens: description and reviews

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

Today, a lot of people are breeding poultry. With proper care of living creatures, it can still bring a stable income. Hamburg chickens, which will be described below, are very popular with many farmers. This breed is characterized by a proud and majestic appearance, good egg production and unpretentiousness.

A bit of history

The Hamburg breed of chickens was bred by German specialists striving to create an ideal bird that would show excellent productivity and could easily adapt to difficult climatic conditions. Thus, moon Talakshire, pheasant Yorkshire and Spanish chickens were taken for crossing. The first mention of the breed dates back to 1740, but it gained worldwide fame much later.

General information about the breed

Hamburg chickens, photos of which look very attractive, have a slightly oblong body of medium size. The chest is slightly raised, which gives the silhouette a certain grandeur, and the head is slightly tilted down. Despite the small size of the body, the legs are quite strong. Distinguishthese chickens from representatives of other breeds with similar characteristics can be seen in a very lush and long tail.

The characteristics of the Hamburg breed are:

• thin neck of small length;
• comb in shape resembles a rose, which differs in size between roosters and hens;
• short, slightly rounded beak;
• brown eyes with a red tint;
• massive wings with a large span.

The above external signs are typical for all individuals of this breed, so if you notice any differences, then this indicates that the chicken belongs to a different type of bird.

Plumage and color

Hamburg chickens, whose standard is determined by many factors, have very dense and thick plumage, which reliably protects birds from the cold. Most individuals have a white head, neck and wingtips, and a variegated body. However, it is worth noting that, depending on the breed variety, there are certain differences in the color of chickens.

Common features with other breeds

Hamburg chickens have much in common with representatives of some other breeds. For example, with their unpretentiousness and endurance, they resemble the Leningrad chintz chicken, and in size and egg production they resemble the Russian white. In terms of appearance and color, this breed is very similar to the Weandot Leggorn, which is known worldwide for its highest productivity.

Productivity and egg production

Adult Hamburg dwarf chickens grow up to two and a half kilograms, and the weight of roosters can reach 3 kg. As for egg production, chickens begin to lay eggs as early as four months, bringing 195 eggs per year, each weighing an average of 55 grams. In some cases, with proper care and the right diet, productivity can be even higher.

What is needed to increase egg production?

According to experienced farmers, if you follow some rules and recommendations for the care and breeding of this breed of chickens, you can achieve higher egg production.

In order for one bird to lay 220 eggs every year, do the following:

• every spring you should reduce the length of daylight hours, and increase in autumn;
• to release a bird for walking in summer should be at 5 am;
• in winter, chickens should be released outside if the air temperature is no more than 15 degrees below zero;
• in winter, the air temperature should be maintained at 10-12 degrees, which are considered ideal for this breed.

It is important to understand that the highest egg production continues during the first year of life, after which it gradually decreases every year.

Hamburg Chicken Breeding: Care Tips

The Hamburg breed of chickens, described above, is bred not only for the purpose of obtaining eggs, but also for meat. Many farmers choose this breed becausethe chicks grow very quickly and, with proper care, begin to lay just a few months after hatching.

In order for chickens to be he althy and retain their attractive appearance, it is necessary to create optimal conditions for them:

• the chicken coop should be clean, dry and warm;
• the room should be equipped with ventilation, lighting and perches of sufficient size;
• so that the bird does not get sick, you should periodically change the litter;
• regardless of the time of year, chickens should be free-range. In the cold months, its duration should be no more than three hours, and in the summer it is better to let it out for the whole day, while providing the bird with free access to the chicken coop.

Failure to follow these simple recommendations can not only lead to a significant decrease in productivity, but also to the development of various diseases that can cause the complete extinction of livestock.

What better to feed?

Hamburg chickens should be fed three times a day. One individual requires one hundred grams of food to be completely satiated. As for the diet, the best solution would be to use cereals mixed with soft food. In addition, the bird must constantly receive vitamins and minerals, therefore, along with the feed, it must be given specialized supplements. At the same time, it is important to understand that representatives of the Hamburg breed gain weight very quickly, so it is not recommended to overfeed them, as this negatively affectsproductivity.

Hamburg chicken breeding

This breed of chickens is completely devoid of maternal instinct, so if you plan to breed it, you will have to equip an incubator. If for some reason this is not possible, then in this case it is possible to lay eggs for laying hens of other breeds.

Hamburg chickens grow and develop very quickly, and in two months their plumage is already fully formed. However, in order for a bird to grow he althy, it needs to create the right conditions. If done right, about 90 percent of the chickens will survive.

For the first time, a separate enclosure should be built for young animals with access to the chicken coop. It must be of sufficient size so that the bird can move freely along it. This is very important as Hamburg chickens are very active and like to run a lot. Young birds should be given small amounts of food every three hours. The diet should definitely include combined feeds that are pre-steamed, chopped boiled egg and green onions. This diet must be maintained for two and a half months, after which the chickens can be transferred to a normal diet.

Hamburg breed of chickens: advantages and disadvantages

Hamburg chickens are distinguished by their unpretentiousness in maintenance and diet, as well as high productivity, which are their main advantages.

Besides this, the pluses also include:

• small size and low feed intake;
• high chick survival rate;
• quick start of egg-laying period;
• high resistance to various diseases;
• quiet, calm and peaceful nature of the bird;
• Chickens have an attractive appearance, making them a great yard decoration.

The main disadvantage of this breed is that the hens do not incubate eggs, as well as the rapid termination of the productive period.

What do farmers say about Hamburg chickens?

If you decide to go into farming and want to start by raising chickens, then the Hamburg breed is best suited for this. It is very popular among many farmers around the world and has received quite a lot of positive feedback.

The vast majority of people involved in breeding and raising Hamburg chickens note their high productivity, unpretentiousness and high resistance to harsh climatic conditions. However, if winters are very severe in your area, then the chicken coop must be insulated and equipped with a heating system necessary to maintain the optimum air temperature in the house.

After the hens' egg production is noticeably reduced, they can be put on meat, which is of good quality and excellent palatability. However, with proper care and the use of quality feed, chickens will provide you with eggs for quite a long period of time. The most important thing is not to forget about the right diet and proper care of your home.bird, and then a good result is guaranteed.