Description and characteristics of Brown Nick chickens, maintenance features

Brown Nick chickens are known for their high egg production rates. If the maintenance rules are followed, they begin to lay eggs at 4 months of age. They produce from 350 to 400 eggs per year, which have excellent taste. The bird is easy to care for and has good immunity. Suitable for growing in any region of Russia. The character of the champion laying hen is docile and flexible.

Origin story

The Brown Nick breed was recorded in 1965. It took geneticists of the German corporation “H&N International” 10 years to produce chickens with high productivity rates that are immune to major bird diseases.

Description and main characteristics of the Brown Nick breed

Crosses practically do not stand out against the background of other egg breeds. The appearance of birds depends on their gender. Young animals can be distinguished immediately after birth. This makes it possible to cull males.

External signs of purebred roosters and hens

Brown roosters look like this:

• powerful, atypical physique;
• light skin;
• snow-white plumage;
• medium-sized leaf-shaped comb;
• slightly curved beak;
• four-toed matte yellow feet.

Chickens have the same massive build, the color of their feathers is copper-red. A comb of a similar configuration, smaller in size.

Cross Productivity

German geneticists are proud of the achieved results: early egg laying of Brown Nick chickens and year-round productivity. In addition, the survival rate of young and adult individuals is from 96 to 98%.

Egg

Chickens reach sexual maturity at the age of 20-23 weeks. Up to 8 months, the weight of the egg is 45-50 g, then gradually grows to 70 g. The shell is durable, dark brown in color. Egg production rates begin to decline from 18 months. In 1 calendar year, the hybrid produces from 350 to 400 eggs.

Meat

The weight of roosters is from two and a half to 3 kg. Laying hens weigh significantly less - from 1.6 to 2 kg.

Character traits

Brown Nick chickens have a calm, reserved character. Even an inexperienced beginner can cope with them.Roosters do not quarrel with each other and are not afraid of the owner.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the breed include:

• year-round egg production;
• unpretentiousness of content;
• the bird's accommodating disposition;
• the egg is large, the shell is dense;
• chick survival rate is 98%;
• low feed consumption per individual.

The disadvantages of the breed include heat intolerance, as well as a complete loss of the brooding instinct. To produce young animals you have to use an incubator.

Nuances of caring for a hybrid

If Brown Nick chickens are not given proper care, their productivity will decrease. When properly maintained (poultry can live in cages or in a chicken coop), they show high egg production rates.

Room

Before moving the flock, the poultry house is washed and disinfected. Birds are vaccinated. There should be no drafts in the room; access to the chicken coop must be closed to other domestic animals and rodents.

The main condition for breeding hybrids is dryness, warmth, and cleanliness in the chicken coop. Average temperature in summer: +21…+27 ˚С. During the cold season, the temperature inside the poultry house should not fall below +5 ˚С. Optimal humidity levels are 75%.

Light mode

During the period of increased egg production, daylight hours are gradually increased to 15-16 hours, adding 30 minutes daily. The minimum light intensity is 10-12 Lux.

Walking area

Brown Nick crosses do not tolerate strong winds and drafts. Walking areas for them are equipped on the leeward, not shady side. The space is surrounded by a net, the height of which is at least 2 m.

Important! In winter, it is better not to let chickens out of the house. The bird may catch a cold or freeze its comb.

Molting and decreased egg production

The change of plumage in Brown Nick crosses occurs in winter and lasts several months. To speed up the process, breeders stimulate them with special medications or reduce daylight hours. During molting, the egg production of the hybrid decreases.

Diet

Brown Nick crosses are unpretentious in food. In agro-industrial complexes, chickens are fed with concentrated feed and compound feed. The diet of poultry kept in private backyards includes wet mash, sprouted grain, and food waste.

Feeding laying hens

Birds are given food three times a day. An adult chicken consumes 100-110 g per day. The approximate diet of record holders is:

• grain crops in sprouted or dry form;
• greens (grass in summer, chopped pine needles in winter);
• sunflower seeds;
• mash with the addition of boiled vegetables;
• vitamin supplements.

In the morning, the chickens are given mash, at lunch they are given sprouted wheat or steamed grain, and in the evening - dry grain. The water in drinking bowls should always be fresh. In hot weather it is changed several times a day.

Preparing the mash

To prepare the mash, use broth, skim milk, and boiled water. They add to it:

• meat and bone or fish meal;
• fruits;
• herbal flour or fresh herbs;
• vitamin and mineral supplements.

To increase productivity, the mash is supplemented with meat and fish products, maggots and earthworms.

Vegetables

Brown Nick crosses are energetic, so they need a large amount of biologically active substances. Vegetables and herbs to provide vitamins to chickens of this breed:

• grass tops;
• nettle;
• grated carrots or beets.

Mineral supplements are also added to the feed.

Waste

In addition to vitamin complexes, the hybrid needs protein and calcium. Insufficient consumption of microelements leads to a decrease in egg production, and the shell becomes fragile. You can provide Brown Nick chickens with calcium by introducing fermented milk products into the diet. You can add ground shells to the food.

Carefully! The shells must be ground very carefully into powder. Otherwise, the laying hens will start pecking at the eggs.

Subtleties of breeding

Brown Nick chickens are an autosex cross. Immediately after birth, the sex of the chicks can be determined. Future laying hens have a light stripe of down on their backs. Chickens are darker in color than males. This makes it possible to separate them in order to create appropriate living conditions for each group, since the diet of young roosters and hens is different.

Feeding scheme for young animals:

• from 0 to 21 days, young animals are fed every 2 hours;
• from 22 to 45 days – 5 times a day;
• from day 46 they switch to 3 meals a day.

Diet of chicks by day:

• 1-3 – newborns are fed corn, semolina, barley;
• from 3 – calcium is introduced (for 10 chicks – 50 g of cottage cheese);
• from 30 – processed grain is added to the main diet;
• from 35 – add chopped herbs (nettle, dandelions, green onions);
• from 40 – young animals are transferred to feed adult chickens.

Chickens must be provided with fresh, clean water. With a lack of fluid, the growth and development of chicks slows down.

Signs indicating shortcomings in the maintenance of young animals:

• apathetic, lethargic chickens - it’s hot in the chicken coop;
• they squeak loudly, huddled together - they are cold, they are hungry;
• the litter feels viscous and sticky to the touch – a violation of the temperature regime.

Brown chickens, like their parents, are not picky eaters.The main thing is to control the amount of food so that the chicks do not overeat, as this can lead to indigestion and obesity.

Diseases and prevention from them

Choughs lay eggs almost all year round; they are susceptible to typical chicken diseases, so attention should be paid to their health.

Cross diseases:

• deviations in the development of the oviduct;
• rickets;
• lack of vitamins.

To prevent the development of the disease, the poultry house is kept clean, the chickens are provided with optimal temperature conditions, and are provided with the necessary vitamins. In addition, the bird is vaccinated in a timely manner:

• newborn chicks - from Marek's disease;
• in the period from 14 to 30 days - from bursitis and infectious bronchitis;
• from 60 to 90 days – from encephalomyelitis, smallpox, bronchitis, Newcastle disease.

The maximum productivity indicators of record holders occur in the first 3 years of life, then it is advisable to replace the herd.

Due to their high egg production and excellent taste of the product, Brown Nick chickens occupy the first position in the list of favorite breeds of poultry farmers.