Characteristics and description of the Foxy Chick chicken breed, rules of keeping and breeding

The Foxy Chick chicken breed is considered quite popular. Many farmers choose it. This is due to the high productivity of these chickens. This is an egg-meat breed that is distinguished by its versatility. Getting good results when growing it is not that difficult. Chickens are easy to care for and are resistant to many diseases. However, some features are still worth considering.

History of the breed

Hungary is considered the birthplace of this amazing cross. From this country, birds spread throughout Europe. Today they have gained great popularity and are included in the TOP of the most successful European hybrids.

It is not without reason that chickens of this breed are called the Hungarian Giant. They have a characteristic feather color, and therefore are often called “red broilers”. The official name of the breed translates as “fox chicken”. This is due to the bright red tint of the feathers.

Description and characteristics of Hungarian giant chickens

Chickens of this breed are characterized by a number of features. They make it popular with many poultry farmers.

Appearance

Birds of this breed have the following characteristics:

1. Chickens are short in stature and have a powerful build. They are characterized by a wide, rounded sternum.
2. Birds have beautiful lush feathers and tight-fitting wings. This is a colorful breed that can be red or light brown. This makes it similar to another Hungarian chicken - the Tetra-NV breed.
3. Broilers have a muscular body, powerful legs and a strong neck. The legs are quite short and have a yellow tint.
4. The head is small. It is decorated with a red leaf-shaped comb.
5. The earrings are red and round.
6. The eyes are bulging. They may be brown or orange.

Temperament

These birds have a hot temper. They fight with each other all the time. This feature is typical for roosters. Therefore, there should be only 1 male in the chicken coop.If you combine several breeds, Foxy Chick will kill other chickens.

Puberty and egg production

The birds belong to the egg-meat breeds. They are characterized by a high rate of maturation. The hen begins to lay eggs at 4 months. At the same time, it takes no more than 4-5 weeks to establish a complex process. Chickens gain weight over 12-14 months. In some cases, this process lasts up to 1.5 years.

These birds are characterized by high egg production. Even in less-than-ideal conditions, chickens lay 250 eggs per year. The weight of each of them is 70 grams. In the most comfortable environment, chickens can produce up to 300 eggs.

Hatching instinct

This is one of the productive breeds that is characterized by excellent maternal instinct. At the same time, chickens can raise both their own chicks and foundlings. At one time, a hen can hatch 9-10 chicks.

The bird patiently hatches its eggs. She does not move from her place because of thirst or hunger. The chicken even turns the eggs to ensure even heating. This allows you to get fairly strong offspring. In some situations, survival rates are 100%.

Productive qualities

Foxy Chick belongs to the category of egg-meat breeds. These chickens are raised for meat and eggs.

Productivity indicators

Chickens are characterized by their large size. With proper nutrition and proper care, the weight of a chicken reaches 3-4 kilograms. A rooster can weigh 5-6.5 kilograms. In addition, there are individuals whose mass reaches 7 kilograms.

Early ripening and taste of meat

These birds grow quite slowly. However, growing them is quite profitable. This is due to the versatility of the breed. The meat of these chickens includes a small amount of fat. Therefore, it can be consumed by people on a diet.The product is also recommended for obesity and diabetes.

Conditions and care

Representatives of the breed are distinguished by their unpretentiousness to temperature conditions and other factors. However, the content requires compliance with some rules.

Requirements for the chicken coop and walking area

Birds can be kept in cages or allowed to range freely. In the first case, you can use an insulated room with a height of at least 2 meters. There can be up to 3-4 chickens per 1 square meter of area. The height of the perch should be no more than 1 meter, and the width should be at least 40 centimeters.

The key requirements for a chicken coop are as follows:

1. There should be no drafts in the room. Although Foxy Chick is considered a frost-resistant breed, it is recommended to insulate the chicken coop. In winter, the temperature should not be less than +10 degrees. It is recommended to install 2 pipes for supply and exhaust ventilation. They provide normal air exchange.
2. The chicken coop must have windows for light access. It has a beneficial effect on egg production. In winter, there is a need for artificial lighting.
3. The poultry house must have dry bedding. Excess moisture provokes the development of pathogenic bacteria, which will cause infections. You should pour sand and shavings on the floor of the chicken coop. The thickness of the litter should be 5 centimeters.

Installation of drinkers and feeders

The premises must have drinking bowls and closed feeders. When raising chickens, it is important to ensure proper water supply. To do this, it is recommended to buy ready-made drinking bowls or make them yourself. It is important that chickens do not dirty the container with dirty paws.

It is recommended to place feeders on the floor or fix them on the wall. The second option is considered more preferable.Such structures are less polluted.

Seasonal molt

Chickens of this breed are characterized by annual molting. At this moment, egg production drops noticeably. Sometimes egg laying stops completely. At this time, farmers must switch the birds to another regime. The bird should reduce the length of daylight hours and increase the calorie content of the diet.

It is worth introducing various supplements into your diet. For this, it is recommended to use cabbage, clover, and alfalfa. It is also permissible to use meat and bone meal. The amount of grain is reduced until new feathers appear.

How to cope with cold and heat

Birds tolerate heat much worse than cold. To alleviate their condition in the summer, it is worth ensuring adequate air circulation in the room. It is required for the normal development of birds.

In winter, birds are able to withstand frosts down to -2 degrees. However, farmers still advise insulating the chicken coop.

Planned replacement of livestock

It is worth replacing the livestock periodically. This is done depending on the purpose of breeding chickens. Chickens are raised for meat only up to 3 months. Chickens reach peak egg production at 2 years of age. After this, the indicators decrease significantly. That is why replacement of livestock should be planned in advance.

Diet

To ensure high productivity of birds, it is worth choosing a balanced diet for them. The daily menu should contain many useful elements, vitamins and minerals. The food must contain proteins. This is especially important in the cool season, as it helps maintain normal egg production rates.

Chickens begin laying eggs at 4 months. By this point, natural food should predominate in the diet. Birds should be given bran, fish waste, meat and bone meal, and cake.Boiled vegetables are also included in the menu, but their quantity should not exceed 10%.

It is prohibited to use green or sprouted potatoes for feeding. Particular care should be taken when using boiled beets. It often causes digestive problems.

To increase egg production, sprouted grains are added to the feed. It is also important to remember to use salt and gravel. These components contribute to the digestion of feed.

To replenish protein reserves and reduce the cost of keeping chickens, it is recommended to often let them free-range. Birds eat grass and insects, which reduces their maintenance costs by about 60-70%.

It is strictly forbidden to overfeed chickens of this breed. It is important that the portions are clearly balanced and dosed. Thus, it is recommended to feed laying hens 4 times a day.

Breeding chickens

The breeding of Foxy Chick chickens has certain features. It will not be possible to breed chicks with the required performance parameters within one breed. To breed this breed of chickens, they are crossed with Rhode Island or Orpington roosters.

Incubation

Foxy Chick chickens have a pronounced maternal instinct. They take a responsible approach to the process of laying eggs and even turn them over on time. Chicks hatch 20-21 days after the start of brooding. To increase the population, it is recommended to place eggs in an incubator. This should be done in mid-April.

Feeding the chickens

On the first day after the chicks are born, they should be fed mash, which is prepared from steamed millet or rolled oats. It is recommended to add a boiled egg to the composition. On day 5, you should add cottage cheese and chopped herbs to the menu.First, the supplements are used once a day, after which they are added to each feeding.

On day 10, you can use sunflower cake after soaking it. For 1 chicken take 5 grams of product. On day 14, boiled vegetables are introduced into the diet. Pumpkin, carrots, and potatoes are suitable for this.

Chickens should not be given whole milk. It provokes digestive disorders and leads to the sticking of chicken fluff. It is forbidden to add whole grains to chicks' food. They are not able to digest such food.

In the first days, chickens should be fed at intervals of 2-3 hours. The food can be left overnight. The number of meals should be reduced little by little. It is recommended to increase the intervals between them.

Caring for young animals

A brood of chicks should be placed in a box or box, and then a lamp should be placed above it. In the first 5 days, the temperature should be at least 30 degrees. It should be reduced gradually - every 14 days by 2 degrees. Thus, it is worth reaching 20-22 degrees.

It is important that dry and clean bedding is present in the box at all times. This will help prevent infection. Chickens must always have access to clean drinking water. Its temperature should be 22-25 degrees.

Chickens grow quite quickly. From the third week of life, they are allowed to be taken outside for a walk for a few hours.

Frequent illnesses

With strict adherence to hygiene rules and a balanced diet, the survival rate of chicks approaches 100%. Foxy Chick chickens are characterized by high endurance and almost never get sick. If there are violations in the care of chickens, there is a risk of various pathologies. These include intestinal infections, mites, and parasites.

Quite often, ticks land on chickens and drink blood.Birds experience an itching sensation and loss of appetite. Insecticides help cope with the problem. Ash baths allow you to eliminate parasites.

In addition, chickens may encounter the following diseases:

1. Coccidiosis. Chicks are susceptible to this pathology. They experience appetite disturbances, diarrhea, and lameness. Feathers often become ruffled.
2. Pasteurellosis. This disease cannot be cured. Sick birds have to be disposed of. To prevent pathology, chickens are given chloramphenicol.
3. Marek's disease. This disorder also cannot be cured. Preventive vaccination will help avoid its development. The main symptoms of the disorder include lameness, cramps, and wide goiter. There is also a risk of changing the shade of your eyes.

Breed analogues

The closest breed to Foxy Chick is considered to be Master Gray. The only difference between these birds is the color. The bird is easy to care for and belongs to the egg-meat variety. The name is associated with the elegant gray plumage. Bird feathers are covered with white dots.

Foxy Chick chickens are a common egg-meat breed that is very popular among farmers. These birds are highly productive and are considered easy to care for. Therefore, many poultry farmers breed them.