Meat and Egg Chicken Breeds: An Overview with Photos and Descriptions

Chickens are one of the best livestock for farming. For hundreds of years, people have successfully raised these animals, producing not only eggs but also tasty, juicy meat. Moreover, chickens are also used in the textile industry for their down.

Every farmer makes every effort to make chickens more and more useful for their farm. And today, the science of breeding has reached such heights that it offers the world a multitude of breeds of these "chicken friends."

Let's look at the most popular meat and egg chicken breeds and identify their advantages and disadvantages.

General description

Meat and egg chickens are versatile. They excel at their primary function—laying eggs—and are also suitable for slaughter and meat preparation. Each breed has its own characteristics: appearance, egg production, weight, and proper housing and care requirements.

But, regardless of the specific breed, they all have common advantages that make them stand out from the rest:

• These chickens are large, with a strong body and well-developed muscles. Their weight typically ranges from 4-6 kg.
• Due to their large weight, such birds cannot fly for long periods of time, which significantly simplifies the process of feeding, care, and breeding;
• The vast majority of such breeds are very hardy, resistant to common diseases, and also unpretentious in food;
• These chickens are often called "general purpose" chickens, as they are ideal for homesteading. Many of these breeds were developed through crossbreeding.

Advantages

Why do many farmers prefer these chicken breeds? Let's look at their main advantages:

• The most significant advantage is versatility. These chickens are in no way inferior to egg-laying varieties, and, due to their heavy weight, are also bred for meaty carcasses;
• Also, as mentioned above, these breeds cannot fly due to their heavy weight. And, unlike layers, they are not as active. These factors significantly simplify their maintenance, in part to create the most favorable living conditions;
• Another advantage is their profitability. They are undemanding in terms of housing conditions and feed. Thus, with minimal investment, they generate maximum profit;
• Rapid growth is another significant advantage. For example, when a litter has grown to a larger size, they can be slaughtered after just five months;
• Hens, on the other hand, are distinguished by their accelerated maturation rate. They can also begin hatching eggs after 5-6 months, while other breeds are still just beginning to develop;
• A strong immune system and attractive appearance also make them profitable. After all, no one wants to breed feeble, weak chickens that require virtually sterile living conditions.

Flaws

Of course, after reading all the advantages, you might think these birds are practically perfect. But in reality, not everything is so rosy. Meat and egg breeds also have some disadvantages.

First, it's worth considering that many of these hens fledge rather slowly when young. Therefore, they require much longer observation and the rearing of their chicks in greenhouses.

Secondly, only a few hens are capable of maintaining their productivity over a long period. Their maximum egg-laying period is approximately 2-3 years.

Rating of the best meat and egg chicken breeds

Many farmers often face the problem of choosing a specific chicken breed, and this is not surprising, since today you can find a huge number of different breeds.

But based on reviews, it's possible to rank the birds most commonly found on farms. Let's take a look at these breeds, learn about their characteristics, and determine which one to choose for your own backyard.

Top 1 Kuchinskaya Jubilee

The most popular breed of all meat-and-egg chickens. Breeders spent nearly several hundred years developing it. Probably everyone in our country is familiar with this bird.

It wasn't until 1990 that it was registered. At the time, this event was practically a turning point in the poultry industry. This was due to the fact that this chicken was able to provide healthy competition to foreign breeds.

The main parameters of the Kuchin Jubilee:

• The feathers are bright red, slightly lighter in hens, with a black edge. The body is quite powerful and muscular, with the breast, back, and belly being the most well-developed;
• Hens begin laying after 150 days, and over the course of a year they can produce approximately 250 eggs, each weighing 50-70 grams. Their shells are brownish-pink. Hens weigh up to 3.5 kg, roosters up to 4-5 kg.
• These birds are quite calm and get along well with other breeds. They care for their young well and can even provide shelter for abandoned offspring if needed.
• The breed is cold-resistant, disease-resistant, and tolerates all weather conditions well. It is considered frost-resistant, so it is grown primarily in northern Russia.

Top 2 Rhode Island

This bird was brought to us from America. However, it has also become widespread in our country. Today, these chickens are used by breeders for crossbreeding with other breeds or to create new crosses.

The largest number of these birds is observed in their native land—among American farmers. However, they can also be found here. Here are the main characteristics of Rhode Island:

• The color is brownish-red, with a slight chocolate tint. The feathers are lush and dense, protecting the animal from adverse weather conditions. Young birds can acquire feathers at two months of age;
• The breed is unpretentious in terms of food, but has an increased appetite;
• Adult roosters weigh about 3.5 kg, and hens can reach 3 kg. They can lay about 230 eggs per year;
• Rhode Island chickens are also quite calm and friendly. However, roosters can display less-than-stellar traits. Aggression is often caused by improperly formed colonies or by an overcrowded coop with other chicken breeds.

Top 3 Hercules

This bird was bred by Professor Bondarenko. This renowned man dedicated virtually his entire life to this endeavor. He led the breeding team and was actively involved in developing the Hercules breed.

To achieve this goal, breeders used a variety of foreign breeds, and after a couple of decades, they achieved success in 2000. The breed gained popularity due to its enhanced immunity and frost resistance.

Specifications:

• Roosters weigh up to 5 kg, hens – up to 4. The latter can lay about 250 eggs per year, each weighing 65-75 grams;
• Beyond these attributes, Hercules chickens have a very attractive appearance. They come in a variety of colors. The most beautiful are the bluish birds, with shiny feathers. There are also golden, striped, and black-and-white varieties.
• Another advantage is rapid growth. Birds fledge at 5-6 months.

Top 4 Zagorsk salmon

This breed was developed with the help of Russian scientists back in 1955. It originated in Sergiev Posad. Today, it is primarily used to develop new, high-yield chickens.

What makes it different:

• The hens have pink feathers. The cockerels are black and white, with a salmon tint;
• An adult rooster weighs about 3 kg, a hen – 2.5;
• Hens begin laying eggs at six months of age. The eggs are large, weighing 70-80 grams each. They can lay about 250 eggs per year;
• Even from a very early age, these birds exhibit clear sexual differences. Females have pinkish stripes, while males are darker.

Top 5 Plymouth Rocks

The Plymouth Rock originated in the 19th century. The breed's homeland is the United States. At that time, breeders succeeded in developing what was arguably the most highly productive chicken breed, with minimal drawbacks.

The main distinguishing feature of the Plymouth Rock is its variety of color variations. For example, hens with white feathers will lay better eggs, while hens with striped feathers are more attractive and decorative.

Parameters:

• They can lay 160-190 brown-shelled eggs per year;
• These are fairly fast-growing individuals. The chicks fledge much faster than the breeds described above;
• The weight of a healthy rooster varies between 3-4 kg, hens grow to a weight of up to 3 kg;
• Their main advantage is a well-developed brooding instinct. They are capable of raising 2-3 generations in a single season.

Top 6 Pushkinskaya

Many farmers call this breed "country," as these are the chickens most often found on domestic poultry farms. Naturally, this bird was developed by our own breeders.

The first breeding efforts were conducted back in 1976, during the Soviet era. However, achieving true success took several decades. Thus, Pushkinskaya was only added to the register in 2005.

Breed characteristics:

• The most important thing is the ability to maintain productivity for 5-7 years. Moreover, hens are capable of laying about 300 eggs per year;
• These chickens grow and mature at a moderate pace. At maturity, they weigh only a modest 3 kg.
• Pushkin chickens are also known for their low maintenance and feeding requirements. Young birds have a high survival rate—up to 98%.
• They have a mottled, striped, black-and-white coloration. Gray and red birds are also found.