Description and characteristics of chickens of the Mechelen cuckoo breed, maintenance rules

Chickens of the Mechelen cuckoo breed are very popular among poultry farmers. They lay a lot of eggs, have strong immunity, are characterized by rapid development and an attractive appearance. To achieve success in their cultivation, it is worth providing the birds with proper care. It must be comprehensive and include proper arrangement of the poultry house. A balanced diet is of no small importance.

How did the breed appear?

These birds are of Belgian origin. They were bred in the town of Mechelen back in the nineteenth century. To do this, scientists crossed the Shanghai and Brahma breeds. Meat chickens were also used.

As a result, we managed to obtain Mechelen cuckoos. They are also called Malin. In addition, there are rare birds - Mecheln Turkeyheads. They have a pod-like comb.

Description and characteristics of Mechelen cuckoo chickens

The Mechel cuckoo has a number of features. They should be taken into account before breeding birds.

What does it look like?

These birds have a typical appearance. These features make birds stand out from the rest.

Standard

These chickens belong to the meat category. They are distinguished by a powerful body and strong legs. Birds are characterized by impressive weight and cannot fly. They have a medium head and a leaf-shaped crest with 4-6 teeth. The eyes have an orange-red tint. The earlobes and earrings are bright red.

The neck is relatively long and powerful. Roosters are characterized by a poorly developed mane and a wide, straight back. Despite the developed shoulder girdle, the wings are small in size. They are pressed tightly to the body. The feathers are considered dense and dense. The most common birds are motley black and white.

Vices

The defects of the breed include the following:

• underdeveloped pectoral muscles;
• narrow back;
• white lobes;
• triangular body.

Defects include too light color. However, this only applies to motley chickens.Lavender and Columbian chickens themselves are considered to be quite light in color.

Character of the breed

Chickens are characterized by a calm nature. They rarely become aggressive and get along well with other birds. Roosters protect chickens from attacks by other birds or people.

The birds have excellent contact with their owner and are considered obedient.

Bird productivity

Before starting to breed such birds, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the parameters of their productivity.

Weight

These birds are distinguished by high meat productivity. Adult males reach 4-5 kilograms in weight. Chickens are usually 1 kilogram smaller. The meat has a delicate texture and pleasant taste. It is characterized by a fine-fiber structure.

Slaughter

Birds actively develop up to 6 months. Then their appetite decreases. Cockerels are slaughtered at 3-4 months.

Egg production

1 chicken can produce 140-160 eggs per year. They differ in quite decent weight, which reaches 60 grams.

Shedding

Chickens begin to moult in mid to late fall. During this period, egg production drops sharply or stops completely. The duration of this period depends on the condition of the chickens. On average, it is a maximum of 6-7 weeks.

The change in plumage is characterized by the loss of a large amount of vitamins and microelements. Therefore, birds need additional medications.

Main advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of birds include the following:

• large carcasses that produce a lot of meat;
• excellent taste;
• calm character;
• ease of care;
• strong immunity;
• average egg production.

At the same time, birds also differ in certain disadvantages. The key disadvantage is the lack of brooding instinct. Therefore, it will be possible to breed chickens only with the help of an incubator or other birds.

Content nuances

In order for birds to develop normally, they require certain conditions. At the same time, the Mechelen cuckoo does not need additional resources.

Requirements for a chicken coop for birds

Chickens of this breed require the simplest chicken coop with a height of 1.2-1.5 meters. There should be at least 0.2 square meters of area per bird. The floor should be made of natural wood. It is recommended to cover it with sawdust, hay or straw. The thickness of the litter should be 10-15 centimeters.

Besides, There should be perches in the chicken coop. There should be at least 25 centimeters of space per bird. Perches should be placed in cascades, leaving a distance of 40-50 centimeters.

Temperature, lighting and humidity in the poultry house

In winter, the temperature should be at least +10-15 degrees, in summer – +20-25 degrees. In the cold season, birds are able to withstand a short drop in temperature down to +5 degrees.

Birds do not tolerate high humidity well. Therefore, the house must have several holes for ventilation. Humidity should be at 60%.

In winter, the poultry house requires additional lighting. Daylight hours should be 10-12 hours. Otherwise, egg productivity will drop significantly.

Walking area

Chickens of this breed can do without a walking yard. It is quite acceptable to grow them in cages. However, such conditions negatively affect the quality of meat.

On private farms it is recommended to create an aviary for birds. It should be installed on a hill. There should be 1 square meter of territory per 3-4 individuals. The walking yard should be in the shade. If there is no such place, it is recommended to make a canopy. A fence 1-1.2 meters high is installed along the perimeter.

Installation of feeders and drinkers

Feeders and drinking bowls should be installed in the chicken coop and aviary. They should stand in a separate place, protected from sunlight.

It is permissible to use a small box as a feeder. Its width and height should be 10x10 centimeters. The length of the feeder is selected taking into account the number of birds. There should be at least 10-15 centimeters per individual.

The feeder should definitely be attached to a support. This will prevent the chickens from turning it over. It is permissible to use any open container as a drinking bowl.

It is recommended to clean drinking bowls and feeders every day, otherwise they can become a source of infections. They are washed with soapy water every week. During general cleaning, it is recommended to disinfect drinking bowls and feeders.

The water in the drinking bowl should be changed 1-2 times a day. It is important that the food in the feeder does not stagnate. That’s why it is poured in small portions. Spoiled food will lead to severe digestive disorders.

How to feed Mechelen cuckoos?

Birds of this breed are distinguished by their undemanding diet. To feed chickens, the following is recommended:

• factory-made compound feed intended for meat, or ordinary homemade food;
• grass, cereals, greens;
• vitamins, minerals, fish oil.

Proper and balanced nutrition ensures rapid weight gain. Thanks to this, chickens can be slaughtered at 4-5 months.

It is recommended to feed the birds on a schedule. This is done 2-3 times a day. Adult birds need 250-300 grams of food. Half of this amount should be dry food, which has high nutritional value. The second half should be chopped vegetables and herbs.

In addition to the main feed, birds should receive food of animal origin. Thanks to this, the quality of the meat improves. To do this, use meat or fish meal. It is also permissible to use chopped offal. The diet should contain sources of calcium - egg shells, chalk.

Compliance with the ratio of nutrients is of no small importance. The breed is characterized by good health, but birds cannot do without vitamins and minerals. That’s why in the spring they are given multivitamins for chickens.

Breeding specifics

If there is a rooster in the chicken coop, the eggs of the chickens are almost always fertilized. They quickly produce offspring. At the same time, laying hens are deprived of maternal instinct. Therefore, it is recommended to hatch chickens using the incubation method. This method helps to achieve friendly hatching of chicks that turn out healthy and viable.

Birds have a high rate of survival. They experience virtually no illnesses and gain weight well. Already at 5 months it is possible to obtain a full-fledged carcass.

At one day old, chicks can easily be separated by gender. Females have a light spot on the surface of the head. In this case, the back is almost black. Cockerels have a white spot on their back.

Diseases and prevention

As a result of selection, it was possible to obtain resistance to infectious diseases. It is worth considering that chickens can be attacked by parasites. Therefore, they should be treated with special means and ash baths should be organized.

Also, the risk of developing diseases increases during seasonal molting. This is due to a lack of vitamins.

Where to buy in Russia?

You can purchase chickens of this breed at the Fauna club.Poultry farmers breed birds, take part in exhibitions and share their experience in raising chickens.

The Mechelen cuckoo is a popular breed that is characterized by high productivity and rapid development. To achieve success in raising birds, it is recommended to properly equip the poultry house, provide them with a balanced diet, and protect them from diseases and parasites.