Spanish chickens: description, photo

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

Spanish chickens are a southern and heat-loving breed and quite rare for Russia. However, the productivity of this bird of the original color is quite good. Therefore, some farmers, especially those living in the southern regions of the country and in the North Caucasus, are still interested in the characteristics of this breed, as well as the methodology for its maintenance. In this article, we will give a detailed description of the Spanish whiteface and talk about how to breed it.

History of the breed

As the name suggests, this chicken was bred in Spain. This breed is actually very old. Received it in the 18th century by crossing the Minor with fighting chickens. As a result of long selection work and careful selection of producers, a very beautiful, hardy and productive bird has turned out. For several centuries, the Spanish white-faced has been very popular with farmers in the warm regions of Europe.

General Description

Outwardly, Spanish chickens very much resemble the Minorok well-known to our farmers. They have exactly the same black plumage and a bright red leaf-like crest. The only difference is that the Spaniard's face is painted pure white. In minors, this is considered a defect. Earrings for bothbreeds are also white. Only in Spaniards they are more massive. The main distinguishing features of the Spanish white face, in addition to the slate-black feather with a bluish tint, include:

• Dark eyes stand out well against a white background.
• High-set neck, giving the bird a solid, "important" look.
• Smooth line back - tail.
• Long, well-developed gray legs.
• Luxurious tail plumage.

Thus, the Spaniard is a chicken that has value not only in terms of productivity. It is also a spectacular decorative breed.

Key Features

The Spanish white-faced chicken belongs to the meat and egg direction and can lay up to 180 eggs per year. Shell color is white. The weight of one egg reaches 55 g. The live weight of a chicken can be 2.5 kg, an adult cockerel - 3 kg. You can see a bird of this breed in the photo below. Hens "Spanish" are actually very beautiful.

Despite years of selective breeding, the Spanish whiteface has managed to retain its brooding instinct. The maternal qualities of these hens are still not particularly good, but the chicks hatch very hardy. The survival rate of young animals in this breed is more than 96%.

Content Features

As already mentioned, Spanish chickens are a heat-loving breed. Therefore, farmers in central Russia who want to breed this beautiful bird will have to build an insulated barn for it. In addition, Spaniards are afraid of high humidity. Therefore, the barn for them must also be dry. Of course, in itgood lighting and ventilation should be arranged. The windows in a chicken coop designed for the Spanish white face should be large enough. After all, this bird is southern and is used to a lot of sunlight. The window area should be at least 10% of the floor area. Be sure to provide a second removable winter frames.

The floor in the room for chickens of this breed is usually made of adobe. You can even spend a little money and bring down the wooden flooring. Spaniards will freeze on the concrete floor. Ceilings in the chicken coop should not be higher than 1.8 m. This will keep maximum heat.

What else characterizes the Spaniard breed? These chickens are distinguished by a very lively, active character. For cell breeding, this bird is certainly not suitable at all. The aviary for her should be spacious enough and fenced with a high mesh fence. It is located on the south side of the chicken coop.

In the southern regions of Russia, where the air temperature in winter does not fall below -10 degrees, heating in the poultry house for the Spanish woman can not be arranged. However, since this chicken is also very afraid of a sharp drop in temperature, you still have to insulate the barn. To do this, you can use mineral wool or polystyrene foam. The floors in such a shed must be covered with a thick layer (at least 5 cm) of sawdust or hay.

Features of feeding the Spanish flu

The diet of chickens of this breed is practically no different from the "menu" of any other. The only rule that must be observed is the inadmissibility of usinglow-quality or stale food. In Spaniards, this has a very strong effect on productivity. In addition, such food weakens the body of the bird, as a result of which it is less resistant to various kinds of diseases, including colds.

Food breed of chickens Spaniard should receive at least three times a day. In the morning they give wheat sprinkled with productivity boosters and a little chalk and s alt. At lunch they make a mash. For its preparation, you can use any fresh vegetables and root vegetables.

In the summer, you must definitely add young juicy grass. It can be nettle, quinoa, radish and carrot tops, etc. Apples and pears are given from fruits. Like all chickens, Spanish women are very fond of potatoes. You can give it raw. But at the same time, care should be taken to ensure that sprouts do not fall into the mash. It is very good to add white fresh or dry (not moldy) bread to the Spanish menu. Usually bran is also poured into the mash. After all the ingredients are crushed, they are poured with boiled water. Sometimes it can be replaced with fish or meat broth brewed from cheap kits.

In the evening, chickens are again given wheat with additives. Between feedings, if grass does not grow in the aviary or there is little of it, be sure to throw cabbage leaves, tops of root crops, quinoa, nettles, etc.

How to breed

Chickens from the Spanish whiteface are born black. Farmers who breed this bird believe that it is better to leave eggs under the hen. In this case, the survival rate will be greater. However,if not a single hen sits on the eggs, you can try placing them in the incubator. The rules of care during the maturation period are the same as for any other breed. The only thing is that the regime should be observed exactly. This is especially true of humidity in recent days. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the chicks to get out of the eggs.

What you need to know

Spanish chickens, which were described above, have one small drawback: they have indigestion more often than other breeds. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a large amount of mash for them at once. Chickens should eat the offered food in no more than half an hour. Bird water should also be clean and fresh. Drinkers and feeders should be cleaned and disinfected periodically. In the chicken coop and aviary, it is imperative to arrange containers with small pebbles and shells. They help grind food into the goiter of chickens.

At the moment, only some amateur poultry farmers breed the Spanish. On an industrial scale, this chicken is not used to produce meat or eggs. They keep it mainly as a genetic reserve fund. However, those who wish to breed this breed will not be at a loss in any case. The productivity of this bird is really very good.

Hairless chickens

This is another breed of chicken called the Spanish. Its main distinguishing feature is the complete absence of plumage on the neck. Outwardly, such chickens are somewhat reminiscent of vultures. According to the productivity of any speci althis chicken does not show results. In addition, domestic farmers regard the neck of a bird of this breed as a kind of defect. Therefore, the Spanish golosheyka chicken is extremely rarely bred. Only individual lovers of the original decorative bird contain it. They care for representatives of this breed in much the same way as for the Spanish white face.