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Large poultry farms prefer to keep highly specialized breeds, or rather hybrids, of chickens. This makes it easier to calculate the ration and maintain the livestock. Hybrids are designed for maximum productive output, and the staff does not become attached to them. For private owners, the opposite is often true: a hen that has served its purpose cannot be sent to the soup because they have become attached to it. In addition, private owners often want to raise chicken flocks on their own, and industrial hybrids are not adapted to such conditions. At best, the owner of a hybrid will need an expensive incubator; at worst, a duplicate population of unspecialized chickens capable of hatching eggs. Therefore, meat and egg products are much more convenient for private ownership. chicken breeds.
These universal breeds, unlike factory ones, were bred naturally for use in villages. If there are relatively few specialized hybrids, then the abundance of breeds of meat and egg chickens makes one’s eyes wide open.Many of them are not only relatively highly productive, but also beautiful.
Variety of breeds
When choosing a breed for personal use, a private owner usually hesitates between egg and universal chickens. For eggs, they mostly use the same factory hybrids. If the hybrids have approximately the same productivity, then it is difficult to understand which of the offered breeds of meat and egg chickens is better. Several factors have to be taken into account: egg production, meat early maturity, adaptability to the climate of a particular region. Moreover, you have to choose breeds of meat and egg chickens based on photos and names. Usually, few of your neighbors have the necessary breeds “to try.” The choice is made taking into account priority requirements.
Yurlovskaya vociferous
By origin, the Yurlovka vociferous is classified as a universal breed, as it was bred in the Oryol region by crossing Chinese meat and fighting breeds with the local stock of aboriginal laying hens. In reality, the main advantage of the breed (or however you look at it) is the crow of the rooster. It was by their cry that the Yurlovka vociferous birds were selected. The higher the quality of a rooster's crow, the more expensive the rooster was.
Because of this, there is a strong variation in the live weight of roosters in the breed. Yurlovsky vociferous weighs, according to various sources, from 3.5 to 5.5 kg. Laying hens have a more consolidated weight, ranging from 3 to 3.5 kg. Yurlovsky vocalists have low egg production - on average about 150 eggs per year. But the eggs are quite large and weigh from 60 g. Double-yolk eggs can reach 95 g.
The current population of Yurlov Vociferous is small and is mainly used as a genetic reserve for breeding new breeds. Although they can also be found in the personal backyards of cockcrow lovers.
Need eggs
In this case, from all the meat and egg chickens, those that lay a lot of eggs are selected, but this choice can only be made by description. It is impossible to determine the level of egg production of a breed from any photograph. To obtain egg products, there are several popular breeds of meat and egg-producing chickens.
Australorp black-and-white
U Australorp, meat-and-egg chickens, there are two lines: one is closer to the meat direction, the other - to the egg-laying direction.
The description of the Australorp Black-and-White meat-egg breed chickens indicates that this is more of an egg-laying line than a universal breed. The weight of a chicken is closer to the weight of a laying hen and reaches 2.2 kg. The rooster weighs 2.6 kg. This line lays up to 220 eggs weighing 55 g per year.
The eggs of black-and-white Australorps are characterized by high fertilization, and the chicks have high hatchability and preservation. Since it is not a hybrid, but a breed, Black-and-White Australorps can be bred independently. Unfortunately, according to reviews, this breed of meat and egg chickens is not particularly cold-resistant and requires keeping in insulated chicken coops in winter.
Adler silver
Adler chickens of meat and egg breed in the photo they often already look like ordinary egg layers.
This phenomenon is natural, since originally bred as a “country” universal chicken, today the Adler breed is gradually reoriented towards increasing egg production. So far, Adler chickens cannot boast of high egg production, although individual individuals of their egg line can already lay up to 250 eggs per season.
The brooding instinct in Adlers is very poorly developed, like in any egg-laying breed.In addition, the weight of Adler egg line birds is close to the standard weight of industrial laying hens - 2 kg.
Old-type Adler silvers lay significantly fewer eggs: 160 – 180 eggs per season. But the weight of birds is much higher. Laying hens weigh up to 3 kg, roosters up to 4 kg.
Since when purchasing chickens or hatching eggs, it is not known which Adler line will be purchased, these are not the meat-and-egg chickens that should be chosen for a win-win investment.
California gray chickens
They came to the USSR back in 1963 and took root as a “pocktail hen”. These chickens can only be called universal with a big stretch. Perhaps because of lower egg production than that of egg breeds. The weight of a laying hen is almost the same as an egg-laying hen and is 2 kg. Rooster weight 3 kg. They lay 200 eggs per year with a relatively low egg weight of 58 g. In fact, these chickens cannot with a clear conscience be recommended for breeding on private farmsteads: they do not have enough meat, egg-laying chickens also lay more eggs. The only advantage noticed in the bird is tender, lean meat even in adult chickens. But in small quantities.
Meat is a priority
If meat is needed more than eggs, when choosing a breed of meat-and-egg chickens, you can rely on the photo and description.
Kyrgyz gray
The breed is universal, but it has a bias towards meat productivity. Externally, a non-specialist is unlikely to distinguish the Kyrgyz breed from the Californian one. They have the same color, and the weight differs only slightly. The Kyrgyz chicken is superior to the Californian chicken in terms of body weight and eggs, but is inferior in annual egg production. A Kyrgyz laying hen weighs on average 2.5 kg, a rooster – 3.4. The annual number of eggs is 150 – 170 pieces with an average weight of 58 g.
Kyrgyz chicken is characterized by high egg fertility, good safety of young animals - up to 97% and high safety of adult chickens - 85%.
The breed was bred for the conditions of mountainous Kyrgyzstan and feels good in a dry, hot climate, and is perfectly adapted to life in high mountain areas. The disadvantage of chickens is the “fear” of high air humidity and low egg production. But work to increase productivity is still underway.
Australorp black
The second line of the meat-and-egg chicken breed with a photo of a rooster, which shows that this line is relatively heavy compared to the black-and-white Australorp.
In terms of the ratio of body weight/number of eggs, it is one of the best meat and egg breeds of chickens. Its egg production is slightly lower than that of the black-and-white (up to 200 eggs per year), but the eggs are slightly larger (57 g on average). But the body weight of these chickens is much greater: a rooster up to 4 kg, a laying hen up to 3 kg. The requirements for living conditions are the same as for the black-and-white line.
Maran
A very original and profitable breed, distinguished by its decent weight. The weight of a laying hen Marana reaches 3.2 kg. The rooster's live weight reaches 4 kg. Moreover, chickens grow very quickly and gain 2.5 - 3.5 kg by the age of one year. Egg production Marans not very big. In the first productive year, laying hens lay an average of 140 pieces. large eggs. The advantage of the breed is large eggs of a beautiful chocolate color. Chickens are popular among those who like to experiment. When Marans are crossed with other breeds of chickens, the offspring lay eggs with varying degrees of coloration.In addition, maran eggs are not inferior to the products of industrial egg crosses and weigh 65 g. The disadvantages include the advertised larger weight of the eggs, since this means that a two-yolk egg is laid, suitable only for food. Accordingly, if you want to breed marans from the very beginning, some of the eggs will have to be rejected. And this takes into account the fact that the egg production of marans is not very high anyway.
Faverolles
Rare in Russia, the fireball is a universal chicken. Originally from France, chicken faverolles It is considered unpretentious in terms of housing conditions and diet. This is a large bird with a maximum live weight of a rooster of 4 kg. Chickens can gain up to 3.5 kg. Egg productivity is low: no more than 200 eggs per year. Due to its low egg production, the breed is increasingly becoming an ornamental breed. This is justified. There are many other chickens suitable for meat, but with a more trivial appearance.
Unpretentiousness to living conditions
It is also unlikely that you will be able to choose unpretentious breeds of meat and egg chickens based on description and photo, since unpretentiousness is often very conditional. If the description of a breed of Hungarian origin says that it can withstand frosty winters, then we must take into account that these are Hungarian, not Siberian winters. Unpretentiousness to feed can also be relative: a chicken of any breed lives on pasture, but its productive characteristics are almost zero. To obtain production from this chicken, it must be fed high quality grain feed.
Wyandotte
Birds of a very original color, bred in the USA, can easily be called one of the best breeds of chickens for meat and egg production.These birds not only have a decent weight: up to 4 kg for a rooster and up to 3 kg for a hen, but also have decent egg production for a universal breed: up to 180 eggs per year. The disadvantage is the small weight of the eggs, which weigh 55 g on average. In addition, Wyandottes are resistant to Russian frosts and are able to lay eggs all winter if provided with sufficient daylight hours.
Thus, in addition to providing the owner with delicious meat and winter eggs, Wyandots also please the eye, walking around the yard during the day.
Megrul
The main advantage of this Georgian breed is its unpretentiousness. Chickens do not have high live weight and egg production. Megrul was bred by crossing local indigenous chickens with foreign meat breeds. The result, I must say frankly, is not encouraging. The hen weighs only 1.7 kg, the male – 2.3 kg. Eggs per season - 160. Eggs are relatively small - 55 g. To top off all the shortcomings, the chickens are late-ripening, egg-laying begins at the age of over six months.
However, if Megrul had only shortcomings, she would hardly have survived. Megrul has two types: eastern and western. The eastern one is closer to the egg direction with the corresponding weight of laying hens and roosters. Western is closer to meat and egg and the weight of a rooster of this type reaches 2.8 kg. The live weight of a “Western” chicken is 2.3 kg.
Megruls are distinguished by their fertility, high egg fertilization, high survival rate of chicks and high survival rate of adult birds. Megrul is bred for traditional Georgian dishes that require juicy, tender meat. In this regard, megrula is demanding when it comes to feed and is not suitable for farms where the basis of the diet is grain. Megrula requires a large amount of succulent feed and feeding with corn.
In the Caucasus, Megrul should be kept on individual farms.It is not profitable for industrial farms.
Ukrainian Ushankas
The almost domestic meat and egg breed of Ushanka chickens in the photo look very original even when they are still chickens.
Although the Ukrainian Ushanka can be called one of the best domestic breeds of chickens for meat and egg production, its numbers today are very small. Ukrainian Ushankas lay up to 180 eggs per year. A laying hen weighs up to 2.3 kg, a rooster up to 3.5 kg. These chickens have a very well developed maternal instinct, thanks to which they free the owner from worries about the incubator and electricity.
“Ushankas” are unpretentious in maintenance and are ready to be content with a small amount of food. A bird of this breed can be easily distinguished from any other due to the tufts of feathers growing near the ear openings, smoothly turning into a beard.
According to the owners' reviews, these birds are not at all afraid of frost and have a very calm disposition. They don’t bully themselves, but they don’t let themselves be offended either. The almost complete disappearance of Ukrainian Ushankas can only be explained by the open borders after the collapse of the Union and the fashion for everything foreign inherent in those times. However, the owners of Ushanok, who managed to buy a purebred bird from the Russian Gene Fund, believe that this is an ideal chicken for private backyards.
But Faverol has feathered metatarsals, Ushanka does not. Plus there are differences in the proportions of the body.
Kotlyarevskys
The chickens were bred in the Caucasus and intended for the southern regions of Russia. They are distinguished by high productivity and vitality. Roosters gain up to 4 kg of weight, laying hens up to 3 kg. Chickens are distinguished by a certain late maturity, laying about 160 eggs in the first year.Unlike other chicken breeds, Kotlyarevskaya chicken production does not decrease the following year, but increases. At the peak of production, the Kotlyarev hen can produce 240 eggs per year. At the same time, eggs Kotlyarev chickens comparable to the products of industrial crosses, it weighs 60 - 63 g.
Kotlyarevsky chickens are highly resilient. After hatching from the egg, only 5% of the young die.
What are the benefits of mini chickens?
Mini-chickens first appeared in Russia, but quickly spread throughout Europe, replacing traditional broilers in many farms. Mini chickens are essentially dwarf birds with shortened legs. Among them there are egg-laying, meat and meat-egg lines. Color can be white, fawn and red. Whites, according to reviews, are not a meat-and-egg breed of chickens, but more of an egg-laying breed. Although the description usually states that all mini-chickens are meat chickens. The mini-meat and egg breed is a colored breed of chickens.
The productive characteristics of this meat and egg breed of chickens are quite high. They begin to lay eggs at 5 months and the egg weight is about 50 g. They can lay eggs weighing 75 - 97 g, but it is better to cull such birds from breeding. Large eggs contain several yolks. The egg weighed 97 g and had three yolks.
The weight of a 5-month-old rooster is 1.3 - 1.7 kg, which is quite comparable to the weight of a full-fledged large laying hen.
The dwarfism gene affects the length of the limbs, but the body usually remains the same as in large individuals.
What are the advantages of this breed and why, according to reviews, it is one of the best breeds of meat and egg chickens:
- short legs do not allow you to spend a lot of energy on movement;
- due to the low need for movement, chickens consume less feed than their larger relatives;
- eggs are almost the same size as eggs from large birds;
- high egg production among meat and egg breeds;
- rapid weight gain;
- calm temperament, due to the same length of legs.
- unpretentiousness to living conditions and feed.
Another advantage of mini-chickens is the fact that they are a breed and not a hybrid. That is, when breeding, the owner receives a full-fledged chicken, which he can sell or leave for self-repair.
According to reviews from owners of mini-chickens, these are the most unpretentious meat and egg chickens. The only thing buyers may regret is that they took too few hatching eggs. The demand for this breed is growing, and guaranteed purebred birds can be bought at the Gene Pool in Moscow.
Tsarskoye Selo breed group
It is still difficult to call this group of meat and egg production a breed, but those poultry farmers for whom productivity is more important than purebred have already become interested in it. Tsarskoye Selo chicken is bred on the basis of three breeds: Poltava Clay, Broiler 6 and New Hampshire. Thanks to the resulting very beautiful plumage, chickens of this breed group are often classified as decorative, although their productive indicators are not inferior to already established breeds of universal chickens.
The average weight of the Tsarskoye Selo hen is 2.4 kg. A rooster weighs on average 3 kilograms. Representatives of the Tsarskoye Selo breed group quickly gain weight, and this pleases breeders who raise poultry for meat. Chickens are mid-season, lay eggs from 5 months.The annual productivity of laying hens is 180 eggs, weighing on average 60 g. The shells of eggs from Tsarskoye Selo chickens can vary from light to dark brown in color.
The undoubted advantages of this breed group include the fact that despite the relatively high egg production, the chickens have not lost their brooding instinct. The Tsarskoye Selo chicken is also a good hen.
The breed group has a good hatchability of chickens, which are born with red down.
The differences between the groups lie in the shape of the ridge and the associated frost resistance. A line with a rose-shaped crest tolerates frost better than a line with a leaf-shaped one.
The goal of developing a new breed is suitability for breeding both in factories and in private yards. Therefore, even now the Tsarskoye Selo breed group is distinguished by its unpretentiousness to living conditions, good vitality and high endurance. Tsarskoye Selo chickens are able to overwinter in cold chicken coops without stopping egg laying. This point makes them promising for breeding in the northern regions of the country. Also, the breed group is characterized by high resistance to diseases and good preservation of livestock.
The best of the best
Is there such a chicken that weighs a lot, lays a lot of eggs, and doesn’t require a golden palace? Undemanding maintenance has always been a feature of “Soviet-made” animals, so you need to look for such a chicken among the Russian representatives of the “Bank Jungle Fowl” species.
Kuchin anniversary
The beginning of work on the Kuchin anniversary coinciding with the end of Khrushchev's reign - the beginning of Brezhnev's reign. Selection work continued until 1990, when Kuchin anniversarywere finally registered as a breed. Since in those days food was produced in abundance only on paper, the Kuchin jubilees were supposed to provide support to the rural population in terms of supplying the villagers with meat and eggs.
So the village had to supply itself with meat itself. Grain for livestock feed to rural residents was also sold in small quantities. But there was no feed in the modern sense at all. It was under such conditions that the Kuchin jubilee ones were created. The obtained result met expectations. Kuchin anniversary ones are now popular among practical villagers. For a universal purpose, this is a large chicken: laying hens weigh up to 3 kg, roosters up to 4 kg. Average egg production pcs. eggs per year. Kuchinsky Jubilee lay eggs almost equal in weight to those produced by industrial egg crosses.
Zagorskaya salmon
Without exaggeration, another masterpiece of Soviet breeders, and even at a time when they knew almost nothing about genetics and treated it as a pseudo-science. Zagorsk salmon considered the ideal chicken for rural conditions. It has only one drawback: due to its ability to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the food offered, this chicken is prone to obesity.
Zagorsk chickens grow very quickly, gaining 1 kg of weight by the age of 2 months. Adult chickens were fed up to 2.5 kg, roosters up to 3 kg, which negatively affected their egg production.
Zagorsk salmon is distinguished by late ripening. They begin to lay eggs only after 7 months. A laying hen in normal condition can produce up to 220 eggs per year.
From the above, we can conclude that among the large varieties there are the best meat and egg breeds of chickens: Kuchinsky Jubilee, Ukrainian Ushanka, Wyandotte, Zagorsk Salmon.
Conclusion
Every poultry farmer wants to take the best breed of chickens for meat and eggs, but which one will be the best for a particular poultry owner depends only on his preferences. Some people want chickens to be pleasing to the eye, while others are only interested in their productive characteristics. You should not rely on reviews on websites about which breed of meat and egg chickens is better. Every bird owner's experience is different. When choosing a breed, you need to take into account your interests and your area of residence.
