The Yurlovskaya Golosistaya chicken breed is very popular among both amateur and professional poultry farmers. Its distinctive features include a haughty appearance, a clear, persistent voice, and productive performance.
Description of the breed
The Yurlovskaya Golosistaya chicken breed differs from its fellows in its strong body and powerful legs. The description should note:
- a strong, elongated body positioned evenly on strong legs;
- clearly defined belly and wings, tightly pressed to the body;
- elongated long neck;
- powerful paws with long metatarsus;
- large head and miniature beak;
- pinkish comb and bright red earlobes.
Birds of this breed can be black with golden spots and a gray back, or simply white and silver. The birds' skin is easily accessible due to their loose plumage. A long, bushy tail stands out from the body.
Advantages of the breed:
- Good meat and egg productivity.
- Impeccable tender taste of meat.
- Large eggs.
- Excellent fertility of hens.
- High survival rate of offspring.
- Strong immunity to serious diseases.
Flaws:
- Need for spacious living conditions.
- Late egg laying.
- Complex character.
- High feed consumption.
The character of Yurlov's vocal chickens
The photo does not fully convey the beauty of the Yurlov vocal chickens. description of the breedThey are noted for their hot-tempered and difficult nature. They are prone to aggression and are not averse to fighting. Sharing the same territory with newcomers is unacceptable for them. As a rule, hens and roosters do not accept newcomers into their family.
Poultry farmers must take these characteristics into account and create comfortable living conditions for this breed of chicken. Even among themselves, roosters often fight to the death. Therefore, ideally, they should be kept in separate cages.
A beautiful song is the main characteristic of the Yurlov chickens. In the morning, the rooster can be heard within a 20-meter radius. Males are distinguished from their brethren by their loud voice, which emerges at maturity, approximately at 8-9 months. Prolonged muscle development is associated with the birds' heavy weight. Roosters produce up to 6-7 kg of meat, while hens produce significantly less, weighing 2.5 kg.
You may be interested in:Egg production
Regular hens begin laying eggs at 4-6 months of age, while these birds begin laying much later. When it comes to egg production, it's not the average number of eggs laid that's important, but rather the egg weight, which can reach 70 grams or more. The product is known for its excellent taste. A single hen lays approximately 160 eggs per year.
The instinct of incubation
It's not that simple. Females aren't known for their brooding instincts. Sometimes, it doesn't fully manifest. A careless mother, after brooding on the nest for a long time, may suddenly abandon it. In this case, the poultry farmer has two options: either select the individuals for breeding in advance or use an incubator.
In the first case, you should choose a calm hen who will sit in the nest constantly. Experience shows that roosters with a pleasant, low-pitched voice make the best fathers. However, despite this, the fighting bloodline makes itself felt. Even during the honeymoon, roosters can injure hens.
Optimal conditions for growing and care
These birds love space and are quite comfortable in the wild. They don't mind cold or frost, but despite this, it's best to keep Yurlov Vocal Chickens in a mesh enclosure, as shown in the photo. This should include an enclosed area for wintering and laying eggs.
For high productivity, the ideal temperature is considered to be +12 degrees Celsius. A large window or special lamps will provide the birds with 12 hours of daylight. A well-ventilated room should be free of drafts.
Poultry farmers should regularly ensure that floor litter made of straw, hay, and dried grass is dry. To prevent insects and bacteria from developing, it should be dried outside the coop twice a year.
Waterers and feeders must be kept spotlessly clean, and this requires daily cleaning. Neglecting this can cause chickens to refuse food and water, which can lead to illness.
You may be interested in:Feeding
Due to their high feed consumption—for comparison, Yurlov chickens eat twice as much as regular chickens—this breed is of little interest to farmers. To produce good eggs and build meat, the birds require a varied diet. Grain (oats or wheat) in any form is the mainstay of their diet. Corn, peas, and soy are also given as supplements. An adult male chicken consumes up to 200 grams of food per day. A female chicken requires slightly less—130 grams of grain.
To maintain health during the winter, add a flour mixture to their food twice a week. Crushed vegetables are an alternative to fresh grass during the cold season; they promote normal digestion. An adult chicken requires approximately 100 grams per day. For animal protein, chickens are fed daily maggots and dairy products, such as cottage cheese and yogurt.
Due to a calcium deficiency, hens consume incredible amounts of chalk, lime, crushed shells, and ground eggshells during the egg-laying period. However, the latter must be heated for 20 minutes before feeding to kill harmful microorganisms.
In addition to good nutrition, chickens should always have access to drinking water at a rate of 300 grams of liquid per 100 grams of food.
Breeding rules
Proper distribution of the birds among the families is essential. One rooster is sufficient for every 12 hens. Males with a soft voice are best for breeding. A rooster that begins to crow within a year of birth will make an excellent father.
To incubate a hen, place at least 15 eggs under her. Select the best, largest, and cleanest eggs, free of any damage. Hatched chicks are immediately placed under other hens, thereby developing their maternal instincts, and empty shells are removed immediately.
Chicks need protein for proper development. Therefore, the first feeding consists of boiled grated egg. On the second day, you can gradually introduce ground meat, maggots, and cottage cheese. The fledging period for chicks takes quite a long time. To prevent them from freezing, they need spacious, dry, warm, and light boxes.
Chicks, especially in the first three months of life, require enhanced nutrition containing minerals and vitamins. All of this is included in the feed. Greens and vegetables should not be fed frequently. Once the Yurlov croaking chicks, as shown in the photo, reach one and a half months of age, they are released into the wild with the adult hens.
You may be interested in:Molting
In autumn, as the days get shorter, molting begins. Yurlov chickens undergo a feather change over the course of two to three months. Their productivity drops significantly, and they stop laying eggs. By creating special conditions, the molting process can be accelerated. Simply diversify their diet, adding vitamins and amino acids, and install artificial lighting to extend daylight hours.
Replacement of the herd
The lifespan of vocal hens is no more than seven years. However, in most cases, hens are slaughtered for meat after just a couple of years. This is because productivity drops significantly, making it financially unprofitable for poultry farmers to keep them. Roosters are slaughtered when they reach their maximum weight, around one year of age.
Diseases
Yurlov chickens are known for their strong immune system from birth. However, it's still best to take preventative measures and vaccinate hens within the first few days of hatching. Also, keep the coop clean. It should have boxes filled with ash and sand so the birds can bathe and remove any debris.
Price
The market price of a yearling laying hen weighing 4 kg is around 600 rubles. Hatching eggs are much cheaper. However, the risk is high, as you could be buying a completely different breed under the guise of a hatching egg. Week-old chicks cost between 100 and 120 rubles each.
Reviews
Having seen the photos of Yurlovskaya vociferous chickens and studied their description, it's time to read the reviews:
Victor, 42 years old, Ryazan
I was given these chickens as a gift. They're eight months old, but they're already quite impressive in size. The sight of these vocal birds brings me joy; I can't wait to hear them sing.
Antonina, 54 years old, Volgograd
My hens started singing at almost 10 months. Now I can say with some authority: the later a male begins to sing, the more prolific he is. I got about a hundred eggs from one hen in a year.
Sergey, 38 years old, Stavropol
I'm happy with the eggs; they're large (each weighs about 90 grams) and delicious. Overall, they're a bit expensive to maintain, but it's worth it.
Daria, 46 years old, Rostov region
We heard rave reviews, saw photos, and were hooked. My husband and I bought some Yurlov vocal chickens and soon regretted it. The neighbors, and we too, are already unhappy. The "singing" is clearly annoying. This is truly for amateurs.
Adults, unlike juveniles, sing intermittently and unattractively. But overall, I'm pleased with the breed.
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