Description and rules for keeping chickens of the Super Nick breed

Super Nick chickens are very popular among farmers. This is due to a number of advantages of such birds. They are characterized by excellent productivity, are resistant to diseases, and ripen quickly. At the same time, the birds are absolutely unpretentious in care. To achieve success in growing them, it is worth organizing the poultry house correctly and choosing a balanced diet.

Breeding history

The cross was developed by German specialists. Scientists sought to create an ideal laying hen that is not prone to frequent illnesses, but is also highly productive. In 2005, the hybrid came to Russia and quickly became popular.

Description and characteristics of the breed

Birds of this breed are characterized by certain characteristics. They are distinguished by their beautiful appearance and high productivity.

Appearance and physique of Super Nick chickens

Chickens of this breed have the following features:

• light red leaf-shaped comb and earrings of the same shade;
• dense white feathers that have a smooth surface;
• white earlobes;
• compact body;
• rounded chest;
• gray beak;
• small back;
• medium sized head;
• gray-yellow metatarsals of the limbs.

Cross temperament

These are quite active chickens. They move quickly and are fussy. Some farmers keep birds in cages. At the same time, birds love to move more.

Hatching instinct

Laying hens of this breed have lost the ability to lay eggs. At the same time, it makes no sense to breed chickens from a cross. They will not inherit the characteristics of the breed. It is better to purchase chickens from breeders from time to time.

If you want to raise chicks yourself, you will have to use an incubator.

Breed productivity

This breed is characterized by high productivity:

• females weigh 1.6 kilograms, males - 2-2.3;
• birds are characterized by early maturation;
• birds begin to lay eggs at 4 months;
• egg production parameters reach 340-350 eggs per year;
• the duration of egg production is 19-90 weeks;
• safety parameters of young individuals reach 96-98%;
• survival rates of adult birds are at the level of 90-95%;
• the weight of 1 egg reaches 55-60 grams - in adult birds this figure increases to 70 grams.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the breed include the following:

• rapid ripening;
• unpretentiousness to living conditions;
• high egg production parameters;
• disease resistance;
• resistance to temperature decrease.

However, birds also have certain disadvantages:

• restless disposition;
• tendency to excessive weight gain;
• short period of productivity;
• lack of maternal instinct.

Subtleties of content

Birds can be placed in an ordinary chicken coop with a walk or trained to cages from the beginning of life. By keeping birds in cages, it is possible to reduce the need for food.

In a chicken coop with a walk

Such birds easily adapt to environmental conditions and are unpretentious. It is worth considering that chickens are characterized by resistance to frost. Even in the cold season, the room is allowed not to be heated. However, this negatively affects the performance of birds.

Birds should be provided with the following conditions:

• humidity – 60-70%;
• temperature – +14-19 degrees;
• Daylight hours are 13 hours.

These chickens fly well. Therefore, when birds roam freely, it is worth taking care of organizing a high fence made of mesh.

When breeding birds in a free-range poultry house, you should consider the following recommendations:

• the chicken coop should be made of wood - it should be well insulated for the winter;
• the floor should be made of wood - cement or clay are also quite acceptable;
• provide ventilation using vents or pipes with a plug;
• make windows 10% of the floor area - the frames must be double and removable;
• Make a walking area near the chicken coop;
• place perches in the chicken coop - they are made from wooden beams;
• put a bedding on the floor - it is made from sawdust, hay or straw;
• in the fall, disinfect and dry the room;
• There should be 5 birds per 1 square meter of chicken coop;
• place litter trays under the perches;
• the height of the room should be 1.8 meters;
• There must be a sufficient number of drinkers and feeders in the poultry house.

In cells

When raising birds in this way, you should also follow some rules:

• provide 1 chicken with at least 400 square centimeters of space;
• 1 chicken should have 10 centimeters of feeder;
• There should be 4-6 birds per drinking bowl nipple;
• systematically ventilate the room.

Birds molt

The molting of chickens of this breed occurs out of season. If daylight hours are of the same duration, a decrease in egg production during molting is not observed.

When are you planning to replace the herd?

The timing of the change of livestock depends on the duration of egg production. In this breed, a slight decline occurs at 66 weeks. At 89 weeks, egg production parameters are reduced by half. It is at this age that the livestock is replaced.

What to feed?

To achieve high productivity of birds, it is important to provide chickens with a proper and balanced diet.

Adult chickens

The volume of food is determined by the characteristics of keeping birds. If they are in cages and spend less energy, it is recommended to reduce the amount of food. If the birds are free-range, the amount of food should be increased.

Seasonal factors do not affect the diet of birds, since egg production is not determined by seasonal factors. It is stable even in winter. The diet should be adjusted as the first clutch approaches - this is observed at 3.5 months.

To increase egg production, it is worth introducing more calcium into the birds’ diet. The amount of this substance should be 2.5% of the total food volume. At this time, there is a need for more protein products - especially of animal origin.

When organizing nutrition for births on an industrial scale, dry food is used. This reduces labor intensity and costs.

1. Chickens should eat at least 3 times. This must be done at the same time.
2. It is important to take into account the tendency of birds to obesity. When kept in cages, the threat of weight gain increases. In such a situation, reduce calories. At the same time, instead of nutritious food, greens and low-calorie foods are used.

The following products should be present in the diet of chickens:

• cereals – millet, wheat;
• greens – knotweed, nettle;
• fish or meat and bone meal;
• wet mash - you can put yogurt in the composition;
• boiled or fresh vegetables - cabbage, potatoes;
• sunflower cake.

To ensure that chickens get calcium into their bodies, it is worth additionally using fish and crushed eggshells. With age, the size of the eggs increases. This means that the chickens' need for calcium increases.

Separately, you should add sand or small gravel to the feeders. These substances facilitate digestion and normalize metabolism.

Chickens

Chickens of this breed require an adequate feeding regime. They must eat at specific times. In industrial conditions, chicks are fed with special homogeneous compounds. Their rate should be gradually increased as the birds develop.

When raising birds on small farms, it is permissible to use feed containing vitamins and minerals.Up to 10 days of life, chicks should be fed at intervals of 2 hours. Then this can be done every 3 hours.

When feeding chicks, you should follow these recommendations:

• in the first 3-7 days they should be given a boiled egg with nettles and porridge;
• give the birds grass – knotweed is especially useful;
• introduce vegetable components to the menu - potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots;
• on the 5th day of life, instead of eggs, you can use boiled meat and cottage cheese;
• on the 12th day, mash is introduced instead of porridge;
• once a week they give sprouted wheat;
• at 51 days it is permissible to feed birds whole grains.

Chickens must have constant access to fresh and clean water. This is very important for the normal development of birds. If automatic waterers are used to raise birds, it is worth assessing their serviceability. This will help you avoid dehydration, which often leads to negative health consequences.

Breeding Features

It is not recommended to breed birds of this breed on your own. Cross chicks are not able to inherit the characteristics of their parents. In addition, laying hens do not have a brooding instinct. If you still plan to grow it yourself, you won’t be able to do without an incubator..

Disease prevention and parasite control

With proper care and timely chicken vaccination practically do not encounter dangerous diseases. At the same time, it is important to vaccinate birds against dangerous pathologies that can lead to the death of the entire flock.

In the early stages of development, birds need to be vaccinated against Newcastle disease and bursitis. They are also vaccinated against infectious bronchitis. After 1 month, you should definitely revaccinate. This promotes the proper formation of immune reactions.In addition, you should be vaccinated against encephalomyelitis. Birds are also vaccinated against fowl pox.

Super Nick chickens are highly productive, which is why they are very popular with many people.

To achieve success in raising birds, they need to be provided with complete and high-quality care.