Description and characteristics of the Pervomaisk breed of chickens, maintenance and care

When raising Pervomayskaya chickens, it is worth considering a number of features. These birds were bred back in the thirties of the last century. They are characterized by high productivity and universal purpose. This meat-egg breed has excellent egg production and is distinguished by excellent endurance. Because of this, many farmers choose it.

How did the Pervomayskaya breed appear?

These chickens began to be bred at the Pervomaisky state farm in the Kharkov region. They were obtained on the basis of the Yurlovskaya Volosistaya, Rhode Island and White Wyandot breeds. Thanks to this, breeders were able to breed birds with high meat and egg productivity. They received the key advantages of their parent breeds - excellent productivity, endurance, and body features.

Description and characteristics of chickens

Before breeding birds, you should familiarize yourself with their key characteristics. This will help provide them with quality care.

Birds exterior

May Day chickens have a number of features. They differ from their counterparts in size and color of plumage.

Color

The color of the feathers is considered a distinctive feature of the breed. Adult birds have white plumage with a slight silvery tint. At the same time, the tail, neck, and wings have a border of black feathers. Thanks to this, the bird looks very elegant.

Plumage

The key characteristic of birds is their closely spaced, stiff feathers. They are securely pressed to the body. Due to this, the chickens are well protected from humidity and wind.

Torso

Pervomayskaya chickens are distinguished by their large size and powerful physique. They are characterized by a rounded chest, wide back, and small wings. The tail is small in size and slightly fluffy.

Neck and head

The birds are characterized by a small head with a red crest. The beak bends slightly downwards. The neck is quite short and has a black collar of feathers.

Productive qualities

The popularity of birds is due to their high productivity.This is a universal breed that belongs to the meat and egg direction.

Meat

The average weight of chickens is 2.5 kilograms. Sometimes it reaches up to 3 kilograms. Cockerels, as a rule, are larger in size. Their weight reaches 3.8-4 kilograms. At the same time, they are rapidly gaining weight.

Egg

May Day chickens lay their first eggs a little later than modern breeds. But they are characterized by high productivity. It reaches 200 pieces per year. The eggs are medium in size and weigh no more than 60 grams.

Breed Temperament

The advantage of the breed is its balanced character. Both hens and roosters are characterized by the following traits:

• agreeableness;
• resistance to stress;
• calm reaction to external factors;
• phlegm;
• submission to the leader.

Main advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of birds include:

• good immunity and resistance to pathologies;
• resistance to cold due to the high density of feathers;
• calm character;
• excellent maternal instinct;
• excellent survival rate of young animals;
• rapid weight gain;
• good productivity.

The disadvantages include the following:

• unstable nervous system in young animals;
• decreased productivity with a poor diet.

Subtleties of maintenance and care

These are medium-heavy birds that can easily tolerate crowding. However, there is a risk of fighting for territory. To get good egg production, it is worth providing the birds with ideal conditions.

Poultry house requirements

When building a chicken coop, it is worth considering the following features:

• the building needs to be insulated;
• the poultry house should be warm and dry;
• it is worth providing adequate ventilation, but trying to avoid drafts;
• to get enough light, you need to make a window;
• make a dry bedding on the floor - it can be made from hay or straw.

When soiled, it is recommended to change the bedding, otherwise the birds’ egg production will decline.

Walking yard, feeders and drinking bowls

May Day chickens are characterized by inactivity. But to maintain good immunity, they need walks. At the same time, they are allowed to be released outside in winter. To do this, it is recommended to fence off the area on the south side of the barn. The walking yard must have sufficient area. For 1 chicken there should be 2-3 square meters.

If the walk is organized separately from the poultry house, it is recommended to make a canopy. Thanks to this, the birds will be able to hide from rain and sunlight.

A sufficient number of feeders and drinkers is of no small importance. It is recommended to make feeders from wood. To prevent birds from climbing inside, you should attach a pole in the center that can rotate freely.

Molting and break in egg laying

Molting lasts 2-2.5 months. At the same time, the birds lose their plumage and stop laying eggs. To speed up the recovery process, birds need to be fed properly. The food should contain a lot of protein products. In this case, the amount of calcium should be reduced.

Planned herd replacement

Chickens live 10-12 years. However, breeders keep them for a maximum of 4 years. Then the birds stop producing eggs. If birds are bred for meat, it is recommended to slaughter them at 1 year of age. It is recommended to select young animals three times. This should be done at 1 week, at 3 and 5 months. It is recommended to remove weak and skinny birds.

Diet

Pervomayskaya chickens are characterized by unpretentiousness in nutrition. However, if the diet is incorrectly prepared, productivity decreases and diseases develop.

To the tribe

In this case, it is recommended to give birds 120-180 grams of feed - it all depends on the seasonal factor and the availability of nutrients. You should definitely give your chickens vegetables.Fatty foods and starchy foods are used in limited quantities - up to 20% of the diet. It is important to provide birds with access to greenery.

For meat

Poultry that is fattened for meat should receive a large amount of mash. She also needs feed. Birds have a need for protein food. Their diet should include meat products and fishmeal. Vitamin and mineral complexes are of no small importance. Young birds up to 1.5 months should be fed with compound feed.

Laying hens

Laying hens need vitamins. The amount of feed should be rationed. If the metatarsals turn pale during the laying period, the birds need carotene. In this case, a premix with this substance is urgently used. You can also give your birds carrots and pumpkin.

Features of reproduction

To create your first flock, it is worth purchasing hatching eggs. This is recommended for poultry farms. Hens sit on them perfectly. It is also acceptable to use an incubator.

Breeding options

There are the following methods of breeding chickens:

1. Buy hatching eggs at various poultry farms. This allows you to get 2 unrelated families. They should have 2 cockerels. Thanks to this, it will be possible to obtain young animals of the first generation. In this case, the males should be slaughtered and the young chickens should be left behind. The second generation will appear next year. Subsequently, family connections are not recommended. Therefore, it is worth taking a replacement rooster. This method makes it possible to breed birds for 10 years without acquiring new ones.
2. If you have a large poultry house, you can make 5 groups. From four groups of chicks, 2 lines are made. The fifth is used as a backup.
3. Outbred chickens can be crossed with the first purebred rooster.Offspring - with the second rooster and so on. This allows you to get almost purebred birds.

Chick selection

Chicks should be sorted. Typically, approximately equal numbers of chicks with desirable and undesirable traits are born. It is recommended to sort them for the first time immediately after birth. Then they do it a couple of months later.

It is recommended to remove the following chicks:

• with white metatarsals;
• with a non-rose-shaped crest;
• with scallops that are too large or too red.

The last time chickens are sorted is after the first molt, which makes it possible to determine the true color. 10 chickens and 1 cockerel are required per tribe.

Caring for them

Hens take excellent care of their offspring. If the chicks are under the care of a chicken, they require a temperature of +22-24 degrees. The chicks grow rapidly. By the end of the first month, their weight reaches 1 kilogram.

Day-old chicks need special care. At the same time, they require a light source and a temperature of at least +33 degrees. The chickens should be placed in a box, plastic containers filled with hot water should be placed there, and ventilation holes should be made.

Egg incubation

This is a labor-intensive process that depends on the conditions in the chamber. The success of hatching chicks is influenced by the presence of ventilation and the frequency of turning over. During incubation you should do the following:

• inspect and reject eggs;
• treat them in potassium permanganate;
• place in an incubator;
• incubate;
• The chicks will hatch on days 20-21.

Feeding

You need to feed chickens like this:

1. On the first day it is recommended to do this 5-6 times a day.
2. After 5 days, meals can be reduced to 3-4 meals.
3. Chickens should be given boiled eggs, herbs, and vitamins.
4. On the 10th day it is worth introducing porridge, cereals, boiled vegetables, chalk, greens, mash into the diet.
5. At 1.5 months, the birds are transferred to the diet of adult chickens. They should definitely be given proteins, chalk, shell rock, and lime.
6. Glucose and ascorbic acid are used weekly.

Frequent illnesses

These chickens are characterized by good resistance to pathologies. Infections develop in the following cases:

• neglect of sanitary and hygienic recommendations;
• unbalanced diet;
• violation of the rules of breed crossing.

May Day chickens often experience stomach upset. Black tea helps to cope with this disorder. It is also permissible to use a decoction of St. John's wort.
The Pervomayskaya breed of chickens is characterized by excellent productivity. She is very low maintenance. For bird rearing to be successful, they should be provided with a balanced diet. Proper arrangement of the poultry house and walking yard is of no small importance.