Descriptions of the 22 best breeds of dwarf chickens and home care rules

Dwarf ornamental chickens are similar in plumage and body structure to their full-sized relatives. Birds are bred for decorative purposes or for eggs and delicious meat. Small chickens are kept in the same way as large ones: they set up a chicken coop, a place for walking, and feed 3-4 times a day. True, they eat a little less food. Adult birds weigh no more than 1 kilogram.

Popular breeds of dwarf chickens

Dwarf chickens are smaller versions of full-sized breeds. They appeared relatively recently - 50-200 years ago. Hens and roosters weigh about 0.5-1.2 kilograms. Dwarf laying hens produce half as many eggs per year as large birds.

Araucana

An ornamental egg-laying breed of chickens native to South America. The weight of roosters is 2 kilograms, and that of laying hens is 1.45 kilograms. Hens produce 180 blue-green eggs per year. The color of the plumage of birds is black-red, wheat-golden. There are 4 toes on the paws. The breed of German selection does not have a tail. The American and English cats have a tail.

Ayam tsemani

Rare decorative Indonesian breed. These chickens have black not only plumage, but also skin, meat, internal organs, and bones. The weight of roosters is 2.45 kilograms, laying hens are 1.45 kilograms. Hens lay pink-cream eggs.

Bantamka

Asian decorative dwarf breed. Roosters weigh 0.65-0.90 kilograms, laying hens weigh only 0.46-0.65 kilograms. Birds produce 90-145 eggs per year. Roosters have calico, walnut colored plumage and a black tail. The chicken has greyish-beige or brown-black plumage.

Bantam Java

Dwarf decorative breed from the island of Java. Laying hens weigh half a kilogram, cockerels - about 1 kilogram. Roosters have a black tail and chest feathers, and the body feathers are wheat-golden. The chicken has golden-brown feathers on top and dark feathers on the body; laying hens produce 110 eggs per year.

Brahma

These chickens have very lush plumage, a lot of fluff in the tail area, raising the feathers.Color: partridge, yellowish-gray, nut-brown. The birds have hairy feet and a slightly plump body constitution. The weight of cockerels and laying hens is just over 1 kilogram.

Dwarf New England

These fighting chickens have an unusual appearance: long strong legs, a small body, a medium-length tail, and short feathers that hug the body. Color: golden-gray. Weight - just over 1 kilogram.

Chinese silk

These chickens have lush plumage, the feather fibers scatter, and all together look like wool. The color of birds can be white, black, yellowish, blue. There is a lush “hairstyle” on the head. Chickens have short, hairy legs. The weight of the birds is 1-1.5 kilograms. The skin, bones and meat of such birds are black in color.

Cochin

Decorative tame chickens with soft, feather-like plumage. Color: black, partridge, white, fawn. Laying hens look larger than roosters. Their tail resembles a ball. The figure is stocky, the body is wide. The lower legs are covered with thick feathers; the legs are not visible.

Russian Crested

This breed is often white or fawn in color, has a fluffy crest on its head, and short and featherless legs. The weight of an adult dwarf cockerel is only 860 grams.

Pavlovskaya

These birds look like pheasants. Chickens have golden-black or white-black plumage, raised, protruding feathers on their heads, and hawk-like kneecaps on their legs.

Seabright

A dwarf breed developed in England. Based on Bantam chickens. The Seabright has brown or white plumage with a black edge on each feather. The figure is compact, compressed, short. The weight of the birds is 450-500 grams.

Paduans

These chickens have a lush crest on their heads and a thick feathered beard.The plumage is thick and dense, the color is calico, yellow-brown, silver.

Birds do not have a comb or earrings.

Dutch white-crested

This breed has black, fawn or lavender colored feathers and a fluffy white crest on its head. The weight of a dwarf bird is 740-840 grams. The skeleton is light, the body is compact, the wings are small, tightly pressed to the body. The red comb is hidden in a lush crest.

Wyandotte

The dwarf breed was bred in England. The mass of the birds is no more than 1 kilogram. The plumage is lush, white, silver or brown, each feather has a black or light edge. The tail is fluffy, there are no feathers on the paws.

Black-skinned (Ukheyiliyu)

These birds have a compact body, black plumage with a greenish tint. The comb and lobes are dark purple. Laying hens lay green eggs.

La flash

The mass of dwarf birds is about 1 kilogram. The plumage is black with a blue tint. The scallop is red. There are white earrings near the ears. The paws are long and blue.

Oryol calico (dwarf)

This breed has mottled, white-brown-black plumage. The head is like that of a bird of prey. The feathers on the back of the neck are raised. Birds have a vertical body. The feet are yellow, without feathers.

Millefleur

The weight of the birds is 550-790 grams. Feather color: porcelain, partridge, black and white. There are “pants” on the paws. Birds have a well-developed brooding instinct.

Shabo

Birds have short legs and a massive, squat body. The plumage is smooth or curly. Color: porcelain, silver, golden-black. Long wings touch the ground.

Ukrainian Chubby Chickens

Birds have a lush crest (forelock) on their heads. Color: fawn, light Colombian, black. The body is compact, the feathers fit tightly to the body, and there is a lot of fluff near the tail.

Faverolles

The birds have a compact body, lush feathers of salmon or white-brown color. Short tail, thick collar, furry paws.

Phoenix

This breed has a long tail, up to 1.5 meters. Weight - no more than 810 grams. Color: white-black, golden brown. The body is slender, the wings fit tightly to the body.

Features of maintenance and care at home

Ornamental dwarf birds have beautiful plumage. These chickens need to be kept clean. There should always be dry bedding on the floor of the chicken coop. Chopped straw, hay, sand or sawdust are used as bedding material. For non-flying breeds, low perches are equipped.

The chicken coop should have boxes or baskets lined with straw in which the hens can lay eggs.

On the street you need to equip a place for walking, put feeders and drinking bowls there. It is advisable to keep dwarf chickens separately from full-sized roosters and laying hens. In winter, the chicken coop needs to be heated. In a cold room, chickens will not lay eggs and may get sick. The optimal temperature is 15-25 degrees Celsius.

Comfortable conditions are created for small chicks in the first month after hatching. They are kept at a temperature of 27-33 degrees Celsius; in subsequent months, the temperature is gradually lowered to 22 degrees above zero.

Feeding

Chickens are given dry, wet and combined food. It is better to give the birds crushed feed. It contains different types of grains and vitamin and mineral supplements. Chickens are prepared with a wet mixture of water, chopped grains and vegetables (potatoes, beets, carrots). They produce succulent herbs (clover, nettle, dandelion).

Adult birds are fed 3-4 times a day. Dry food is given in the morning and evening, wet mash - in the afternoon (1 time).All grain feed is crushed to 3 millimeters before feeding (for chickens - up to 1 millimeter). One bird needs no more than 80 grams of feed per day. Chickens need to be given cottage cheese and sour milk. The feeder should contain salt, chalk, and bone meal. Birds are given clean water to drink.

Subtleties of breeding

You need to start breeding dwarf breeds by purchasing chickens or hatching eggs. Purchased eggs are placed in an incubator, where the desired temperature is maintained for several weeks. When the chickens grow up and begin to lay eggs, you can use their eggs for breeding. There must be a rooster in the flock. In dwarf breeds, the brooding instinct is expressed differently. You can use a laying hen or an incubator for breeding.

Chicks hatched in an incubator are kept in cardboard boxes for the first week.

The air is heated using a lamp around the clock. The optimal temperature is about 30 degrees Celsius. 3-4 hours after hatching, the chickens are allowed to peck millet and boiled yolk.

Chickens are fed 6-7 times a day. The box should contain a drinking bowl with clean water. Gradually, other grain feeds in crushed form are introduced into the birds’ diet, as well as cottage cheese, vegetables, herbs, and wet mash. If the eggs were hatched by a laying hen, then the chickens can be with their mother from the first day of birth. They are released outside if the air temperature is above 23-25 ​​degrees Celsius.

Content Benefits

Dwarf chickens are easier to keep because they eat less and occupy a small area. 10 birds can be present on one square meter of area at the same time. Dwarf chickens are unpretentious, but they need to be kept in a clean and warm chicken coop. In winter, the house needs to be equipped with a lamp and a heater.

Daylight hours should be 10-14 hours. The room where the birds are kept should have a temperature of 18-25 degrees Celsius. Ornamental chickens need to be provided with adequate nutrition, rich in vitamins and minerals.

Possible problems

Poultry farmers who decide to breed dwarf birds may encounter some minor problems. Small chickens need a separate chicken coop and a place for walking.

Low perches are made for non-flying breeds. In winter, the poultry house is equipped with artificial lighting and heating. You can add bacteria to the organic litter, which will prevent the droppings from rotting, but will process it into compost and generate heat.

The chicken coop should always be clean and dry.

With improper care and feeding, birds can become ill: they sit still, do not eat, do not run, tremble, limp, and diarrhea. To prevent diseases, chickens are given vitamins A, C, group B, and immune serum is administered against infections. The birds are given anti-worm medications, and their feathers are treated with flea repellent. Chickens need to be constantly monitored and at the first sign of illness, contact a veterinarian.