Chinese downy chickens: description with photo, breeding rules, content features, necessary feed and benefits

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

Chickens are the most popular poultry. They are kept both in private houses and in dachas. Many breeds of chickens have been bred. The bird is kept to obtain meat or eggs, as well as to decorate the site. Decorative chickens have not only productive qualities, but also an unusual appearance. At exhibitions near the enclosures, many visitors always gather with them. Chinese down chickens are in high demand among farmers. You will learn about the features of the breed and care from this article.

Historical background

Chinese down chickens, which are of interest to many farmers, were bred many centuries ago. This unusual breed was mentioned by Aristotle. He was delighted with the unusual chicken plumage, which he compared with the hair of cats. He described the fluffy breed of birds and Marco Polo. Information about Chinese chickens alsofound in the writings of the Tang Dynasty. In ancient China, this breed was called snares.

The bird not only decorates the site, but also lays delicious eggs. In ancient times, Chinese healers treated various ailments with the meat of downy chickens. It is especially effective for tuberculosis, kidney problems and migraines. Spectacular breed really liked the Chinese aristocrats. They bred strange birds in their gardens.

It is rumored that the Chinese breed was obtained by mixing a rabbit and a chicken. This legend was supported by European poultry breeders in order to popularize the fluffy bird. Thanks to this myth, many people bought outlandish chickens. Naturally, this is just a beautiful legend.

Description of the breed

Thanks to their unusual plumage, Chinese downy chickens have become very popular in many countries around the world. Roosters weigh about a kilogram and are very richly dressed. Chickens, on the other hand, look more modest and have a lower weight. The feathers of birds of this breed are fluffy, not smooth, which explains the unusual appearance.

Chicken's head is small and round. The beak and the skin near it are dark in color, regardless of the shade of the bird's down. On the head of Chinese chickens there is a small comb and a well-marked crest.

Wings do not fit snugly to the body. They are wide and somewhat short. The legs are well developed with abundant plumage. The paws themselves have a dark shade, on each of them the chicken has 5 fingers. Chest well defined, deep, rounded.

The body of the Chinese breed of chickens is wide. The neck is short, butwell developed. The back is wide. In general, Chinese chickens make a harmonious impression. Their feathers are very soft and pleasant to the touch. Outwardly, they resemble the fur of a cat or a downy dog.

How are chickens different from roosters?

In the Chinese breed of chickens, like many others, there are differences in birds of different sexes. Roosters have a more massive body, more weight, less neat head. If you look at the photo of Chinese downy chickens, then the females can be recognized by their rounded shapes and a small comb. Their earrings are also not too big. Chicken legs are shorter, as is the neck.

Roosters often have very developed flight feathers and mane, and females are very fluffy in the loins and legs. The color of the chickens is calmer, without overflows. Roosters are usually more elegantly dressed, their plumage seems to be richer. Wild and blue colors look especially interesting on Chinese males.

Productivity

The meat of Chinese downy chickens has excellent taste. It contains vitamins and amino acids that are beneficial to human he alth. Farmers claim that the meat of Chinese breed chickens is more tender than that of other poultry. It is great for cooking any dishes, both boiled and fried. The constant consumption of Chinese downy poultry meat prolongs a person's youth, strengthens his muscles and bones. Healing products contribute to the proper functioning of the spleen and genitourinary system. In China, biologically active additives are made from chicken meat of this breed.

Egg bird startscarry from 6-7 months. On average, from each chicken you can get up to 100 units of products per year. They rush well up to 3-4 years, then their productivity begins to decline. Chinese down chicken eggs have a light shell.

An unusual bird can be sheared in the same way as sheep. In a few months, from 1 individual you can get up to 150 grams of beautiful fluff. How many years do Chinese white down chickens live? Decorative birds in this matter can boast of good performance. The average life expectancy of a bird is up to 10 years, and sometimes longer.

Character of Chinese chickens

The bird of this breed has a submissive disposition. They are excellent hens, often laying foreign eggs to Chinese chickens. The bird is picky and perfectly adapts to any climatic conditions.

Asian chickens are often used in breeding pheasants. Thanks to the developed maternal instinct, the Chinese bird will gladly accept thrown chicks of any breed. Therefore, farmers who breed this breed of poultry do not have to buy an incubator at all. Caring Chinese hens will hatch their own chicks and even raise strangers.

Varieties

The breed is divided into 2 variations: bearded and standard. There are no significant differences between varieties. Bearded downy chickens have a slightly different head shape. In addition, their color is yellow, which outwardly makes them more elegant. Bearded Chinese downy hens have fluffy sideburns that cover the earlobes. The earrings of this species are almost invisible.

Bird care

If a farmer previously kept chickens, then he should have no problems with the Asian breed. Chinese fluffy birds are picky and perfectly adapt to any climate, so they do not need any special care. Keeping Asian birds is as easy as keeping Russian ones.

Before buying young animals, the farmer must build a building. Chinese crested downy chickens cannot stand dampness. Therefore, the roof of the structure must be reliable. It is also desirable to protect the walking yard from rain. The bird should have a place where it can hide from the water or from the scorching sun. Do not keep Asian birds in the same pen with geese or ducks. Waterfowl in their places of detention creates dampness, which is harmful to Asian chickens.

Usually, farmers create families consisting of a rooster and 5-6 females. They need little space, and individuals can coexist comfortably. If there are too many roosters, then they will unnecessarily annoy the females. Because of this, chickens can lay poorly and even get sick.

Feeding

Without proper nutrition, egg production decreases, weight gain falls, he alth deteriorates. If a farmer plans to get the maximum income from Chinese downy chickens, then he must develop a balanced diet for them. You can make a grain mixture yourself, or you can buy ready-made feed. It is very important that the food offered to the bird is fresh. Giving moldy stale feed is strictly prohibited.

If a farmer plans to make his own diet for his chickens, then he must purchase vitamin premixes. Chickens can be given boiled yolks, green onions, cottage cheese. Grain is better to purchase several types, for example, barley, oats, wheat. To improve the quality of plumage, Asian chickens can be offered nettles. Sometimes the bird is pampered with sunflowers. This treat also improves the quality of down, but it can lead to excess weight. Therefore, sunflower seeds are given infrequently, 2-3 times a week. In a separate bowl, the farmer should put the shell rock, it improves the digestion of the bird.

Breeding

If a farmer decides to deal with Chinese breed, then he should buy unrelated chickens and a rooster. If the bird is from the same parents, then most likely the offspring will be very weak. In spring, chickens are divided into families. If the farmer wishes, the birds breed very quickly.

Chinese downy chickens are very caring about their offspring, so you can do without an incubator. Asian birds have a strong instinct for hatching chicks; in their homeland, pheasant eggs are often laid in their nest. In this case, Chinese chickens not only raise their own offspring, but also carefully take care of the foundlings.

Chickens are born very small, babies of regular breeds are much larger at birth. On the first day of their life in the brooder, the temperature is set to at least 30 degrees. Then it is very gradually reduced, no more than 1 degree per day. By the month of life, chickens feel great at a temperature of 18 degrees.

Breed diseases

Chinese down chickens are extremely resistant to most ailments. These birds have excellent immunity, so they usually do not cause problems. The biggest nuisance for owners of Chinese fluffy chickens is parasites. To prevent infection of the herd with helminths, the bird must be treated prophylactically. It is advisable for the farmer to coordinate the schedule of procedures with a veterinary specialist. It is also better to entrust the choice of drugs to the doctor, since different types of helminths parasitize in different regions.

Another problem for Chinese down chicken farmers is external parasites. The bird is often annoyed by ticks, lice, and fleas. Getting rid of these parasites can sometimes be quite difficult. Experienced chicken owners recommend in this case not to self-medicate, but to contact a veterinarian. There are frequent cases when the owner tried to help the herd with folk methods, which led to partial or complete loss of livestock.

Feedback from farmers

The owners of Chinese downy hens were captivated by their unusual appearance. Birds look aristocratic, they are very pleasant to the touch. Some people keep Chinese down chickens at home instead of cats.

A beautiful bird has a very docile nature. Farmers are happy to keep the Chinese breed, which has an affectionate and calm disposition. Asian birds are not loud, they are friendly to humans. They do not carry many eggs, but their meat has healing properties.properties.