Chicken crosses. Raising chickens at home for beginners. Hybrid chicken breeds

Successful breeding of chickens of any kind depends on the correctly selected breed, living conditions, feeding, and personal desire to breed poultry. One of the most popular groups of breeds are chicken crosses. These are poultry hybrids obtained by crossing different breeds. Such a process is complex and is carried out only by specialists according to strictly established rules.

Crosses are made by crossing roosters of one breed with hens of another. On an industrial scale, population lines are usually crossed. This process differs from ordinary interbreeding in complexity. In this case, not only natural insemination is used, but also blood transfusion.

Getting a hybrid

When producing a cross of chickens, breeders rely on one or more traits that the resulting bird should have. This is the period of maturity, growth rate, egg production. New breeds are developed using two or three breeds. In the first case, breeders get a simple line of chickens, and when using three breeds, a synthetic one. When these two lines are crossed, hybrids are obtained.

This work is carried out in order to obtain productive offspring that are superior to their parents in terms of specified indicators.

What is a line

Within each chicken breed, breeders develop several lines with better qualities than the rest of the breed. Over time, the lines degenerate and the bird loses its productivity. To prevent this from happening, the lines are periodically crossed with each other, which makes it possible to preserve or restore the useful qualities of the animal.

Breeding egg crosses

All crosses of egg-laying chickens are divided according to the color of the eggshell into white and brown.

White hybrids are the result of crossing different lines of white Leghorns. Brown shells in chickens, in the appearance of which not only Leghorns, but also Rhode Island and other breeds took part. In this case, Leghorns pass on egg production to the resulting offspring, but the shade of the shell is lost.

Crosses of chickens, from which eggs with brown shells are obtained, are in great demand. This is due to the fact that the bird is not subject to much stress and is resistant to heat and cold.

What is a hybrid bird

A hybrid, in contrast to a cross, is the crossing of different bird taxa (for example, mulard).

One of the popular hybrids in recent years is a cross between a chicken and a guinea fowl. Such selection requires special knowledge and skills, since the resulting hybrid is not always viable. Over time, technologies for producing young animals were developed. The resulting poultry has higher quality meat in terms of protein and amino acid composition than broilers.

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Breeds of egg-laying chickens

The best are considered to be hybrid chicken breeds bred by foreign breeders. Among them are the following breeds.

White:

• "Loman-White";
• "High Line";
• "Dekalb White."

Brown:

• "Loman-Brown";
• "High Line Silver Brown";
• "Isa-Brown."

Domestic breeders also have extensive experience in producing crosses. Among the best breeds are:

• "Start-1";
• "Crystal-5";
• "Borki";
• "B-121";
• "Progress";
• "Volzhsky" and some others.

From one chicken of any of these breeds it is possible to get up to 330 eggs per year, that is, the bird will lay an egg every day, taking short breaks. Of course, to achieve such results, it is necessary to properly feed and maintain the bird. If you do not meet the maintenance requirements, the chicken will produce no more than eighty percent of the eggs genetically laid down. However, raising chickens at home for beginners of foreign breeds can become disastrous. This is due to the fact that at first the lack of knowledge takes its toll, and the cross does not survive. For beginners, domestic selection is more suitable: “Slobozhansky-3”, “Borki-Color”.

Egg breeds have many characteristics. Their main advantage is large eggs and excellent egg production, but despite this, they do not fatten well. To get a batch of young animals, an incubator is needed, since hybrids have practically no brooding instinct. However, with proper maintenance, egg laying begins by the age of five months. It is for this purpose that egg-crossed chickens are kept. Breeding these breeds for meat is unprofitable due to poor development.

Poultry farming is one of the most profitable and accessible branches of livestock farming for the population. Any poultry can be raised on a homestead farm. Various buildings on the farmstead are suitable for its maintenance after they have been appropriately re-equipped and adapted. New buildings, in which it is easier to create optimal living conditions for birds of different ages and areas of productivity, do not require large capital expenditures. If you have a personal plot, you can raise young birds and keep adult birds at any time of the year, both year-round and seasonally. It is advisable to keep laying hens throughout the year, and with seasonal farming from May to October in central Russia, it is better to raise young animals for meat. Broiler chickens can be raised on the floor or in cages.

The poultry has matured early. Egg-laying hens begin to lay eggs at the age of 5 months. Broiler chickens reach a live weight of 2.3–2.5 kg by 7–8 weeks of age. The bird uses food well. With proper farming, 1.5–1.6 kg are spent on 10 eggs, and 2.2–2.5 kg of complete feed are spent on 1 kg of broiler weight gain. When food waste and garden products are included in the diet, feed costs are significantly reduced.

Poultry products, eggs and meat obtained from private farms, are distinguished by their high nutritional value and excellent taste. Eggs from domestic chickens contain a large amount of vitamins, enzymes and other biologically active substances that are beneficial to humans. Their yolk is dark orange in color and is characterized by the presence of a large amount of carotenoids. The protein has a dense consistency, which indicates the high biological properties of eggs from backyard chickens. It is known that during storage the nutritional value of eggs, like any other product, decreases. Therefore, one of the significant advantages of home poultry farming is the ability to use only fresh eggs in food.

Chicken breeds, depending on the direction of productivity, are divided into egg, meat and meat-egg.

Egg breeds of chickens

Among the egg breeds of chickens, the White Leghorn breed is widespread throughout the world, including in our country. It adapts perfectly to various conditions both in the northern zone with a cold climate, and in the middle zone and in the southern regions with a hot climate. Although it should be noted that in industrial poultry farming, the efforts of specialists are aimed at creating optimal living conditions for the breed, regardless of the climatic zone and time of year. If possible, this should be strived for in private farms.

The White Leghorn breed was developed in the USA. Leghorns have a light head with a large leaf-like crest. In chickens it hangs to one side, in roosters it should be erect. The neck is quite long and not thick; voluminous belly; the metatarsals of the legs are thin, the skin is yellowish; the plumage is dense white. Chickens weigh 1.7–1.8 kg, roosters – 2.3–2.5 kg. Egg production is high: 260 or more eggs per year. Egg weight is 60–62 g, shell color is white.

This breed is widely used in industrial production as the basis for creating egg crosses. In amateur poultry farming, egg-laying chickens with different plumage colors and skin colors are kept. Thus, brown Leghorn or Italian partridge chickens have brown plumage, Minorca have black plumage with a greenish tint. In terms of egg production, chickens of these breeds are somewhat inferior to those of the White Leghorn breed, but they are happily bred by amateur poultry farmers because of their beautiful external forms.

Meat breeds of chickens

Two breeds are important for meat production: the white Cornish and the white Plymouth rock.

White Cornish. The breed was developed in England as a result of crossing white Malayan fighting dogs and dark Cornish dogs. It has the following exterior features: the head is moderately large, deep and wide with a pod-like crest. Among modern Cornish there are individuals with a leaf-shaped crest. The beak is short and thick. The chest is wide and deep, the muscles of the chest and legs are well developed. The metatarsus of the legs are thick, yellow, the plumage is dense, white. The weight of chickens is 3.0–3.5 kg, roosters are 4.0–4.5 kg. Egg production is low – 110–130 eggs. In broiler crosses it is used as a paternal form.

White Plymouthrock. The breed was bred in the USA by crossing Dominican chickens, as well as Langshans, white Cochins, Brahma and Javanese. In addition to white plumage, there are other varieties - striped, black, fawn. Previously, this breed belonged to the meat-egg type. Now the white Plymouth Rock is considered a meat breed, and all other varieties are considered meat and egg breeds. The bird of this breed is quite large, the body is massive. The head is large with an erect leaf-like crest. The legs and beak are yellow. In meat quality, white Plymouth rock is inferior to Cornish, but superior to them in reproductive abilities and therefore is used in broiler crosses as a maternal form. The weight of chickens is 3 kg, roosters – 4.0–4.2 kg, egg production – 160–180 eggs.

Among poultry lovers, the Cochin meat breed of Chinese origin is common. Based on the color of their plumage, they distinguish between fawn, yellow, white, blue, and black Cochins. They are characterized by loose plumage, a small leaf-like crest, a short neck and feathered legs - shaggy legs. The bird is quite large. Chickens reach a weight of 4.5 kg, roosters - 5.4 kg. However, this breed is almost never used for meat production and is bred mostly for amateur purposes.

Meat and egg breeds of chickens

They are in great demand among the population. Chickens of meat and egg breeds lay eggs well, are well preserved and have satisfactory meat qualities. Their use in industrial poultry farming is very limited. They are used only for breeding matching lines and creating egg crosses, the hens of which lay dark-colored eggs.

Rhode Island. The breed was developed in the USA as a result of crossing local chickens with fawn Shanghai and red-brown Malayan roosters. To increase egg production, the blood of brown leghorns was infused. Chickens of this breed have a deep and wide body. The head is medium in size, usually with a small leaf-shaped crest and red earlobes. The neck is of medium length, almost vertically set, with lush plumage. The tail is small and well feathered. The plumage color is red with a yellow tint. The ends of the wings, mane and end of the tail are black with a greenish tint. Live weight of chickens – 3.0 kg, roosters – 3.5–4 kg. Egg production of chickens is 150–180 eggs, egg weight is 60–63 g, egg shell color is brown.

New Hampshire is a breed developed in the USA based on the Rhode Island breed. Chickens of this breed are similar to Rhode Island chickens, but differ in slightly lighter plumage. The egg production of New Hampshire chickens is higher than that of Rhode Island chickens - 190 eggs per year.

The Moscow breed was created by the team of the poultry department of the Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K. A. Timiryazev and specialists from the Brattsevskaya poultry farm by reproductive crossing of Yurlov chickens, brown Leghorns and New Hampshires. Moscow chickens have a wide head, a moderately short neck, a convex chest, and a long, wide back. The plumage color is black. Chickens have golden feathers on their necks and roosters on their lower backs and necks. The egg production of chickens is 210–230 eggs, the average egg weight is 56–58 g, the shell is light brown. Live weight of chickens is 1.9–2.2 kg, roosters 3.2–3.5 kg.

Kuchin anniversary celebrations. This breed group of chickens was bred in the Moscow region by complex reproductive crossing of Russian White, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Australorp and White Plymouth Rock chickens. In the third generation, Liven roosters were used. Kuchin chickens have a long and deep body, a wide back, a convex chest and a voluminous belly. Legs of medium length. The comb is leaf-shaped. The plumage of chickens is light red with a golden neck. Roosters have red plumage, a golden mane and loin, and a black tail and chest. The chickens are large. Their live weight reaches 3 kg, roosters - 4–4.5 kg. Egg production – 165–175 eggs, egg weight – 61 g.

Zagorsk chickens. This breed group was created by VNITIP employees through complex reproductive crossing using Yurlov, Russian White, as well as New Hampshire and Rhode Island breeds. There are two groups based on color: white and salmon. The white variety has a rose-shaped crest, while the salmon variety has a leaf-shaped crest. Chickens have a live weight of 3 kg, roosters - 3.6 kg. Egg production 165–180 eggs. Egg weight 60–64 g.

Sussex. The breed is of English origin. Dorkings, Cornishes, white Cochins, Orpingtons and light Brahms took part in its education. The body of the Sussex is deep and wide, the comb is small, leaf-shaped, and the earlobes are red. The main color of the plumage is light with a dark gray collar and gray tail feathers. Live weight of chickens is 2.3–2.5 kg, roosters – 3.2–3.5. Egg production of chickens is 175–200 eggs.

Usually, purebred poultry is bred on homestead farms, producing both eggs and meat. In the practice of industrial poultry farming, only hybrid birds of specialized egg or meat crosses are used for the production of eggs or poultry meat. The hybrid bird, having the effect of heterosis, is significantly (by 5–10% or more) superior to the original parental forms in its productive qualities. The final hybrids consolidate high productive qualities. For egg crosses – high egg production, large egg mass, low feed costs per 10 eggs and good safety of the livestock; for meat crosses - high growth rate, excellent meat qualities and meat quality, excellent feed conversion and poultry safety. Therefore, in the practice of personal plots, if the main purpose of poultry breeding is to obtain eggs or meat from it, a hybrid bird of one or another specialized cross should be used. However, it must be remembered that it is under no circumstances possible to reproduce a hybrid bird or obtain offspring from it, since this will eliminate the effect of heterosis and its high productive qualities will be lost. To repair the flock, you need to purchase a new bird - young stock of the final hybrid of one of the desired crosses.

Currently, there are many crosses specialized in the production of eggs or poultry meat.

Egg crosses of chickens. Among egg-laying chicken crosses, more than 60% of the population are brown crosses. They have become especially widespread recently due to increased consumer demand for eggs with brown shells. The birds of these crosses are quite large and are characterized by high egg production, a large mass of eggs of good quality, so they are attractive not only for industrial, but also for homestead farms. However, brown cross laying hens are very demanding in terms of feeding and housing conditions. After a disturbance in feeding, they do not restore egg production for a long time and, in private farming conditions, have worse preservation compared to white cross chickens.

The most numerous cross at present is the “Rhodonite” cross. It accounts for about 42% of the total egg-laying poultry population. It was created by specialists of the Sverdlovsky State Processing Plant together with scientists from VNITIP in a short period of time - from 1989 to 1995 as a result of selection work with lines of the Loman Brown cross, imported from Germany ().

The bird of this cross has a high genetic productivity potential: 296 eggs per average laying hen per year, 18.9–19.2 kg of egg mass (the number of eggs is the average egg mass), feed consumption for 10 eggs is 2.2 kg. The eggs and meat of this bird are characterized by high taste.

The cross consists of two lines of Rhode Island Red chickens (paternal form), the third - Rhode Island White and the fourth - synthetic, bred on the basis of the White Plymouth Rock and White Rhode Island breeds (both lines of maternal form).

A characteristic feature of this cross is that the maternal form is auto-sexed in plumage, and the final hybrid is auto-sexed in plumage color at one day of age. This means that cockerels at one day old are easy to distinguish from hens. Thus, the final hybrids of cockerels are mainly light yellow, and also yellow with a brown spot on the head, but the coloring around the eyes is light; hens are usually brown, sometimes with a lighter head or back, brown around the eyes and at the base of the head.

This is also of great importance for homestead owners who purchase day-old chicks to obtain food eggs and can easily select chickens.

For those wishing to start their own small parent flock of this cross and receive hatching eggs, it is useful to know that day-old chicks of the maternal form have differences in the rate of plumage growth depending on their gender. To determine the sex of one-day-old young of the parent form, take the chick in the left hand, fix the wing with the thumb and forefinger and turn it slightly, looking through the flight feathers and coverts. If the coverts are 1/3 shorter than the flight feathers, then this is a fast-feathering chicken - a hen; if the flight feathers are slightly shorter than the coverts or are the same in length, then this is a slow-feathering chicken - a cockerel.

Of the imported crosses that lay eggs with brown shells, our farms contain “Brown Loman” and “Hisex Brown”.

Among poultry laying white-shelled eggs, the P46 cross is currently most widespread. This cross was created by breeders of the experimental farm and the VNITIP breeding center using white Leghorn birds of Canadian, Japanese and Dutch origin. There are two lines in the cross – P4 (paternal) and P6 (maternal). Hybrid layers obtained from crossing these lines are distinguished by high egg production (260 or more eggs) and good flock survival. They quickly restore egg production after disruption of feeding or housing conditions and are in great demand among the population for breeding in household farms. In terms of distribution in our country, this cross ranks second. The share of birds of this cross is slightly less than 20%.

“Hisex white” is a four-line cross. Obtained from the White Leghorn breed. The bird of this cross is highly productive: egg production is 280 eggs or more with a weight of 62 g, and reacts strongly to unfavorable changes in feeding and housing conditions. The poultry population of this cross is about 3%.

“Start-N-13” is a domestic cross, two-line, single-breed. The egg production of hybrid layers reaches 280 eggs with an egg weight of 58–59 g. This cross is distributed mainly in the Volga region.

The most popular in the past was the Belarus-9 . This is a three-line two-breed cross. Lines 5 and 6 of the White Leghorn breed are used as the maternal form, and synthetic line 4, created on the basis of the Californian Gray breed, is used as the paternal form. The final hybrids of the cross have an egg production of 250 eggs or more, an egg weight of 61 g with a white shell. The bird is stress-resistant and has high vitality and is therefore in demand among the population. But this cross became outdated and was replaced by more highly productive crosses.

One of these highly productive crosses is the “Loman White” of German origin. Hybrid layers are characterized by very high egg production and feed conversion, but are very demanding in terms of feeding and housing conditions.

Meat crosses of chickens

Almost all modern broiler chicken crosses have the same structure. They are four-line, two-breed. The white Cornish breed, which has excellent meat qualities, is used as the paternal form, and the white Plymouth rock breed is used as the maternal form, which, along with good meat qualities, has good reproductive abilities (Fig. 11 a, b).

Cross "Broiler-6". This cross remains quite common. This cross accounts for 11%. The final hybrids of this cross at 7 weeks of age have a live weight of 1.6 kg. Recently, new domestic broiler crosses have been created that have higher productivity.

The cross "Smena" , created on breeding grounds in the Moscow region, is highly productive. Half of the total broiler cross population is made up of Smena cross birds. At 7 weeks of age, chickens reach a live weight of 2.6 kg and high flock safety (99%).

Broiler chickens of the “Competitor” . Work with birds of this cross is carried out on breeding grounds in the Moscow region. The indicators for growing the final hybrids are as follows: live weight at 7 weeks of age is 2 kg with very low feed costs - 2.1 per 1 kg of gain and with livestock survival of 91–98%.

The second largest livestock is the Rus cross. Among the imported highly productive crosses are O (2.5%), “ISA Vedet” (2.3%), “Hubbard” (1.5%), “Loman Meat”, “Arbor Acres” and others, which account for less than one percent.

Meat chickens

When asking the question “what does cross chicken mean,” many assume that these are breeds of broilers for meat production. They are able to gain up to a kilogram of clean meat in just forty days. With proper feeding, no more than two kilograms of feed are consumed per bird.

Long-term raising of chickens at home for beginners and professionals requires theoretical knowledge.

Broilers should only be kept on the floor. This is the most advantageous placement of the bird. At the same time, they are in close quarters to accelerate muscle growth. However, domestic farms are adapted for raising birds in cages, and not for floor keeping. Especially for such conditions, breeds were bred that were adapted specifically for cellular maintenance. These include the improved Ross 308, as well as SK Rus-6. For domestic poultry farming, the KOBB-500 cross and some other breeds are used.

The meat direction differs from the egg direction due to its large mass and short legs. The bird has sparse plumage. Chickens begin laying eggs after six months of age. In a year, one bird can lay up to hundreds of eggs weighing about 70 grams. Despite all these qualities, meat crosses are distinguished by the fact that they hatch eggs well.

Breeds of meat birds

Among the representatives of the meat cross, the following types are distinguished:

1. "Cornish". The bird weighs 3-4 kilograms. Over the course of a year, she lays up to 110 eggs weighing up to sixty grams.
2. "Brahma". Average weight 4-5 kilograms. Egg production averages one hundred eggs per year weighing up to 65 grams.
3. COBB-500. The peculiarity of the breed is early maturity. By the fortieth day, the weight of the chicken reaches 2.5 kilograms.

The Leghorn, Lohmann, and Hubbard breeds are often found in households.

Meat and egg crosses

By crossing different lines of birds, meat-egg crosses were obtained. They are distinguished by their large mass and high egg production. However, these data are slightly lower than for birds of purely meat and egg production.

Chickens of cross breeds develop quite quickly, like meat chickens. Already at five months, the bird begins laying eggs and can lay over two hundred eggs, weighing about 65 grams. The advantage of raising meat and egg breeds is that chickens have a well-developed brooding instinct.

Their advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of crosses:

1. Due to their compact build, the density of birds per meter can be significant.
2. Broilers are generally unpretentious to their living conditions.
3. Productivity indicators for egg and meat yield are high.
4. The calm temperament of birds eliminates fights in the chicken coop.

The downside is that chicks must be restricted in their food intake at five weeks of age. Since at a high growth rate, the bones of chickens slowly become stronger, which can lead to some problems in the future.

Due to their high productivity, crosses are classified as universal avian species.

Some birds are demanding when it comes to temperature conditions. Only young animals should be sent for slaughter, since old chickens and roosters have coarse, dry meat. Chickens of some varieties should be limited in food so that they gain normal weight (excess weight creates a load on the bones, as a result of which they are poorly strengthened, and various diseases may appear).

The best meat and egg breeds

Among meat-egg crosses, the following breeds are considered the best:

1. "Australorp." The weight of the bird is 2.7 and 3.5 kilograms. A chicken can lay up to 170 eggs weighing about 55 grams per year.
2. "Adler silver". The weight of roosters is 3.5 kilograms, chickens - 2.6. Egg production – 180 eggs.
3. "Necks." The weight of roosters is up to 2.5 kilograms, and chickens are half a kilo less. In a year, crosses are capable of laying about 150 eggs weighing about 60 grams.
4. "Kuchinsky Jubilee". Roosters weigh almost four kilograms, and chickens weigh about three. In a year, a chicken can lay up to 180 eggs weighing 60 grams.
5. "Rhode Island". The weight of roosters is up to 4 kilograms, and chickens – up to three. Egg production – up to 180 eggs per year.
6. "Orlovskaya vociferous." The weight of a rooster is up to four kilograms, chickens – up to three. Egg production is about 100 eggs per year weighing up to 80 grams.

Breeds such as “Borki”, “Belorus-9”, “Lohmann” are often found on private farmsteads. These crosses are capable of producing up to three hundred eggs per year.

Brown chickens, or Warren (brown chicken, Brown chicken breed, ISA brown/warren).

Brown chickens are modern crosses of the Rhode Island breed. These chickens are the best laying hens in the world; it is Brown chickens that are widely used in industrial poultry farming. The productivity of Brown chickens in the first year reaches 320 eggs! Like many commercial hybrids, the Brown hen's egg production drops significantly in the second year. At the same time, crosses of Brown chickens are the most accessible and inexpensive. Brown hen eggs are of varying degrees of beige color.

Brown hens are very friendly and obedient; this chicken is perfect for keeping in the yard or garden and for families with children.

Chicken coop

For a small family, having 10 birds is quite enough. You can keep ten chickens of different breeds in separate chicken coops.

Any chicken coop for 10 chickens must be warm. The minimum temperature that should be in the room is -2 degrees.

In order for chickens to lay eggs consistently, it is necessary to organize lighting in the chicken coop: provide windows and electric lamps.

Each breed has its own requirements for housing density. Broilers are kept in a room with a stocking density of no more than three chickens per square meter. Egg breeds do well at a density of four birds per square meter. When keeping chickens in winter, you can increase the stocking density to six birds. This way they can withstand the cold better.

Before you start building a chicken coop for 10 chickens, you need to choose a place where it will be located and make drawings of the structure. The height of the room should be such that a person can easily walk there without bending his head. The warm part of the chicken coop should be about 2.5 meters in area. The bird must take a walk. To do this, a canopy fenced with mesh is attached to the warm part. Its area should be about 3 square meters. m. A hole with a diameter of about 50 cm is made between the barn and the walker so that the birds can pass freely. Perches and nests are placed inside the chicken coop. Three nests are enough for ten chickens.

Chicken breeding business

You can raise chickens at home not only to meet your own needs, but also to make money from it. First of all, you should analyze the pros and cons. And only then open your own small home business. Breeding chickens in the initial stages only requires a lot of desire and start-up capital.

First, you should think about what crosses of chickens will be raised. In parallel with choosing a breed, you should start preparing all the necessary documents for legalizing your business. If you develop a business plan, you can receive a subsidy for farming.

The next step is to choose a place where you plan to keep the birds. If you plan to make a small profit, then you can organize a mini-farm on your personal yard, if its area is large enough. In other cases, you can rent a room or a plot of land.

Then the purchase of young stock is made and sales of the finished product are sought. When calculating your budget, you should take into account the costs of medicines, feed, and veterinary services. It is not profitable to constantly purchase young animals; it is much more profitable to hatch chickens from your own eggs. To do this, you will need to think about a place where young animals of different ages will be kept, and purchase an incubator.

If you follow the technologies for raising and feeding chickens, you can get a net profit of 50 thousand rubles from 50 chickens per year. If possible, it can be increased by selling not only eggs, but also young animals.

Raising chickens is an interesting and easy task. You can keep these birds not only for your own needs, but also sell their products at the market, in cafes, restaurants, and shops.

Features of feeding laying hens

To obtain high egg production, the bird's diet must be balanced and contain the required amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamin and mineral supplements.

There are three types of food for birds. These are dry, wet and combination.

Dry feed includes compound feed, which is produced in accordance with GOST. The feed contains grain mixtures, vitamins and microelements necessary for laying hens.

• The grain mixture consists of corn, wheat, and oats. Corn gives the bright yellow color to the yolk and is a source of carotene. Wheat is the main source of protein and vitamin E, B. Sprouted wheat is considered beneficial. Oats contain sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron and a large amount of amino acids.
• Sunflower, flax and legumes are added to increase egg production.
• Birds need an additional source of calcium to keep their shells strong. To do this, the diet includes chalk, shell rock, limestone, and salt.
• Homemade mash is a wet food type. Cake, flour, boiled potatoes, vegetables, herbal flour are mixed and filled with water or dairy products. It is not recommended to prepare the mixture in large quantities, as it quickly turns sour.

Experienced poultry farmers recommend a combined type of feeding, using dry mixtures and mash.

The diet of laying hens must be supplemented with green feed. When walking, the bird replenishes its supply of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. In winter, green grass is replaced with hay and root vegetables.

River sand is given to improve digestion.