Description of the Lakenfelder chicken variety

Chickens

The Lakenfelder chicken breed has been known since ancient times and, thanks to the efforts of breeders, survives to this day. For several centuries, this meat-and-egg variety of domestic chicken was raised in Holland, Germany, and Belgium. However, the breed was gradually supplanted by other varieties with improved characteristics, so the number of purebred individuals worldwide currently does not exceed 1,000.

Description of the breed

Lakenfelder chickens, judging by photos and descriptions, have a very distinctive appearance. It's difficult to confuse this breed's roosters with those of other poultry varieties. According to the American standard, the bird's neck and tail are black, and its wings and body are covered with white feathers.

Exterior

Hens weigh no more than 1.8 kg, while roosters are slightly larger, weighing up to 2.3 kg. These birds are distinguished by their harmoniously proportioned bodies and graceful appearance.

Distinguishing features:

The body is cylindrical, compact, with long, wide wings and a slightly convex chest.
The head is small, with an erect red crest and matching wattles. It sits on a thin, slightly elongated neck.
The beak is greyish, the eyes are red and expressive.
The plumage is lush, the tail is set at an angle of 60 degrees relative to the body, decorated with long, intricately curved braids.
The paws are of medium length with bare dark grey metatarsus.

Females, unlike males, have a more rounded shape, and their plumage is predominantly white, with black feathers appearing only on the tail and mane. The description of the Lakenfelder chicken fully corresponds to the characteristics of ornamental breeding, so the main reason for breeding this nearly extinct variety is precisely the bird's unusual appearance, as can be judged from the photos provided.

Lakenfelder's temperament

Chickens of this breed have a cheerful disposition and are known for their activity. If left indoors for too long, they will express their displeasure with loud clucking, reminding their owner to take them outside. Despite their small size, these birds require a spacious, and most importantly, enclosed, enclosure, from which they will attempt to escape at the first opportunity and forage for food in the yard or garden.

Lakenfelders are a cold-hardy breed. Even newly hatched chicks can survive temperature fluctuations in the brooder. They thrive in conditions that would make other chicken breeds sick. With proper care and maintenance, Lakenfelders have a lifespan of 7 years.

However, it's important to keep in mind that peak egg production is only maintained until the hens reach three years of age. Therefore, experts recommend rejuvenating the flock during this period; otherwise, a decrease in weight and size, as well as a decline in productivity, can be expected. During the molting period, which lasts two months, there is a pause in egg production.

Productivity

In terms of productivity, the bird is average. Modern chicken varieties developed by breeders compare favorably to Lakenfelders in egg and meat yield. This likely played a major role in the gradual demise of the breed.

In the first year of laying, a hen can produce 165-190 eggs weighing approximately 55 grams. The shell is strong and brown. The young begin laying eggs at six months of age. The young have a high survival rate—on average, about 5% of hatched chicks die.

Attention!

Chicken owners who breed and keep this particular breed need to know that only 30-50% of the chicks in the entire brood meet the generally accepted standard.

The breed also has low meat yield. Slaughtering roosters is recommended at 8-9 months of age, when the birds reach their peak weight. The meat of young birds has a pleasant aroma and flavor, with a tender texture; it becomes tougher later.

Care instructions

Lakenfelder chickens, like any other domesticated poultry, require special care. To ensure high egg production and prevent various diseases, laying hens need appropriate living conditions, including a comfortable coop with waterers and convenient feeders, and a designated outdoor run.

Cramped cages and small coops are not suitable for Lakenfelders. The coop must be spacious enough and well-ventilated. The room dimensions are calculated using the following diagram: 1 m² per bird.

Experts do not recommend keeping and breeding chickens of this breed together with other varieties of poultry that have an aggressive nature.

In winter, the air temperature in the chicken coop should be no lower than +5°C. Dampness and drafts should be avoided. A run/run is essential for keeping and caring for Lakenfelder chickens. Wood shavings or straw are used as bedding.

Place for walking

These playful and inquisitive black-and-white hens love to roam freely and often fly over the fence. They roam even in winter; the optimal daylight period for them is 12 hours. In summer, during hot weather, it is recommended to shade part of the area used for walking.

Requirements for feeders and drinkers

Chickens should have free access to clean drinking water, which should be changed twice a day. Feed the birds twice a day, providing a varied and balanced diet. Don't forget to place containers filled with a mixture of ash and coarse sand in the coop. It is also recommended to add pre-crushed eggshells to this mixture.

If two meals a day are not possible, the coop should be equipped with hopper feeders. This will ensure the hens have constant access to food, and the owner's presence is not required. However, this feeding method carries the risk of overfeeding, which will lead to decreased productivity.

To prevent rapid contamination of the liquid, feeders are placed at some distance from the waterers. The diet depends on the age of the poultry.

Feeding schedule:

young chicks should be provided with constant access to food;
starting from the age of three weeks and until the chicks reach two months, feeding is carried out 4 times a day;
then the young animals are transferred to two meals a day.

For week-old chicks, prepare a nutritious mixture consisting of carrots, egg yolk, and potatoes. All ingredients are pre-boiled. Once the chicks are two weeks old, the yolk is replaced with rice flour and bran.

At one month of age, the young are transferred to independent range, and their diet is supplemented with fresh grass. They are then moved to the common table at two months of age.

Please note!

To increase egg production, chickens are fed calcined eggshells and chopped nettles.

Breeding Features

Lakenfelder chickens reach sexual maturity at six months of age. A chicken colony should be formed at a ratio of one male to every ten females. Individuals with defects in color or appearance are not allowed to breed. Eggs for incubation should only be taken from hens that are one year old and have demonstrated high productivity.

Birds of this breed are considered good brood hens—they readily hatch their chicks and then carefully protect them. A key requirement for successful breeding and maintenance is the need for "blood rejuvenation." This means that every three years, the owner must acquire a male or female from a different breed.

Lakenfelder chickens have very mediocre productivity rates, so they are bred primarily for their decorative appearance, which is clearly visible in the photos provided, and their excellent maternal qualities are also noted in the description.

These are quite freedom-loving and active birds, so they need to be kept in a spacious, enclosed enclosure. Otherwise, crops may be damaged, as these restless birds will inevitably fly over the fence and into the garden. Clipping their wings is not recommended, as this will ruin their decorative appearance. Caring for Lakenfelder chickens involves providing comfortable living conditions, feeding, and exercise.

Reviews

Fokina Daria Ivanovna, 42 years old:

"I bought the eggs for hatching the chicks in Germany. I eagerly awaited the birth of these wonderful birds, but just three days after birth, the little rascals began escaping from the box they were in, reminding me of the famous song "Not a Minute of Peace." The chicks were tame almost from the very beginning, so walking them was a breeze—they would rush to my hands as soon as it was time to put them back in the box. Now they've grown a bit and live in the yard, terrorizing all the local inhabitants. They are very cheerful, curious, and nimble creatures, interested in literally everything going on around them. I haven't regretted my purchase for a moment—watching these birds lifts my spirits."

Gorchakova Oksana Yuryevna, 39 years old:

"My husband and I have a small farmstead—chickens, ducks, geese, and other small birds. One day, we bought some chicks, which turned out to be Lakenfelders. Overall, they were decent layers, laying regularly. Although they didn't produce much meat, we were pleased with the taste. It so happened that the breed was crossed with other chicken varieties, and the chicks didn't inherit their distinctive appearance, so we weren't successful in breeding Lakenfelders. I won't be intentionally looking for chicks of this breed, but if the opportunity arises, I'll definitely get ten of them—I really like their appearance."

Fedorova Valentina Ivanovna, 45 years old:

"I've been raising chickens for a long time, but I don't think I've ever encountered such restless chicks. From the very first days of life, the chicks are incredibly active; they're very curious and try to establish their own "order" throughout the entire yard. These qualities persist in adult hens, who, by the way, are excellent brood hens. They're worth raising for this quality alone: they're a "living incubator," under which I can lay absolutely any eggs without even worrying about the fate of the future chicks. As for productivity, each chicken yields a small amount of meat, but it's very tender and tasty."

Karimova Tatyana Nikolaevna, 53 years old:

"We fell in love with these chickens solely for their beauty and cheerful disposition. We don't have any other birds on our farm, so we try to preserve this particular variety. Of course, for meat and eggs, it's better to buy a different, more modern breed, but Lakenfelders are perfect for decorating a yard."

Ustyugov Mikhail Antonovich, 25 years old:

"My mother has been keeping Lakenfelders for several years now and is very happy. I must say, the chicks came to us completely by accident (we didn't ask about the breed when we bought them). But when these amazing birds grew up, all the neighbors came to see them—they were so beautiful. First, we built them a spacious, but roofless, enclosure. The nimble chickens quickly realized that by flying over the fence, they could dig in the ground for something edible. So they did. As a result, some of the greenery in the garden disappeared. But this didn't upset my mother and me at all, as our cheerful family was so genuinely happy that we laughed until we cried. However, we had to cover the enclosure to prevent a repeat of the situation. Overall, caring for Lakenfelders didn't seem all that difficult, so we decided to continue breeding them."