The Vorwerk chicken breed is widely known in Eastern Europe. These birds were developed in the early 20th century by the ornithologist Vorwerk, whose name served as the name for an entire subspecies of chicken. They are easy to care for, produce strong, tasty eggs, and a moderate amount of meat. If not for the sharp decline in their numbers during World War II, Vorwerk chickens would now be found in every household. However, their popularity only recently emerged, so not everyone knows the proper care and breeding practices.
History of appearance
Oskar Vorwerk developed his own subspecies in 1900. The following birds were used as a basis:
- Sussex;
- Orpington;
- Lakenfelder;
- Andalusian chicken.
Due to its zonal coloring (black head and tail, golden body), the Vorwerk chicken breed is often confused with the Lakenfelder, calling it a golden variety. In fact, the breeds are related only by common ancestry. The Golden Lakenfelder also exists, but is strikingly different from the Vorwerk.
You may be interested in:The Vorwerk chicken breed began spreading across Europe in 1912, when it was officially registered. However, the large version, weighing 2-2.5 kg for females and 2.5-3.2 kg for males, somehow failed to gain popularity in those years. Europeans began developing a dwarf subspecies. The Americans followed suit.
The result was two bantams, one weighing about 500 grams, the other 600. They bear virtually no relation to the original Vorwerk chicken breed, having descended from other breeds. Only their coloring is similar. As their weight suggests, bantams are not bred for meat or eggs; they are kept for ornamental purposes.
After World War II, the population began to recover. The breed is now particularly sought after in Poland and Germany. Shows and club competitions are held in these countries. The breed only began appearing in Russia in the 19th century, originating from these same countries. Breeding is carried out at the amateur level.
You may be interested in:Appearance
Photos and descriptions of Vorwerks will entice even those who are indifferent to bird keeping. They have become popular primarily due to their appearance. They are characterized by a golden body color (roosters have a reddish-brown color) and a black head and tail.
The comb teeth of both males and females are a muted scarlet.
The eyes are red or yellow, shiny and lively. The head is medium-sized, with a small beak. The earlobes are white with a barely noticeable red edging. The perimandible is feathered. The bill is grayish. Vorwerks have a strong body, but thin legs. The thighs are well-feathered.
Hens have a nearly horizontal back, with no cushioning. Roosters have a more upward-facing back. The average weight of males is 3 kg, while that of females is 2.5 kg. The gender-specific weight variation is not as significant as in other breeds. Roosters have dark tail feathers that form tufts. Hens lack this feature.
During breeding, individuals with black spots on a golden background are encountered. According to the description, this is considered a defect, and such birds are not used for further breeding. Unfortunately, the gene responsible for the color is quite unstable, so the purity of the bloodline must be closely monitored.
Photos of the breed:
You may be interested in:The chicks hatch with a reverse color, which changes to the correct color by 1-2 months of age:
The nature of forwerks
Keeping and caring for Vorwerk chickens is not particularly difficult, making this breed suitable for beginners. This is due to their calm nature. They don't fight and are generally friendly with other species of birds and non-aggressive pets. They can be kept with other chickens as long as the eggs are used for food and not for breeding. Fighting will be completely eliminated if the birds are kept in the following ratio: 1 rooster to 8-9 hens.
As can be seen from the photo and description, despite being a meat and egg breeder, this breed has adopted many characteristics from ornamental birds. It also resembles them in its physical abilities. Vorwerks cannot fly high due to their special wing structure. Their maximum flight height is 2 meters. Excessively high fences are not required, but even a meter-high fence would be a rash mistake.
You may be interested in:Value for the economy
The breed was developed as a meat and egg breed. Its egg production is too high to be considered a meat bird (120-150 eggs per year) and too low to be considered an excellent layer (200-250 eggs). The species ended up falling right in between these two ranges: the average hen lays 170 eggs per year.
With proper care, Vorwerk chickens can achieve higher egg production in the first year of sexual maturity. Egg weight averages 55 grams, but can reach 60-65 grams, though this is less common. Vorwerk chickens are also bred for purely aesthetic purposes. Club competitions and exhibitions are held in Europe, and residents of the EU and neighboring countries purchase eggs from leading producers for hatching.
Maintenance and feeding
Keeping and caring for Vorwerk chickens may be somewhat surprising to those accustomed to modern breeds. The main difference is that this breed doesn't particularly like compound feed. This is logical: it was developed before the introduction of compound feed.
It is advisable to prepare food for birds yourself using the following ingredients:
- bran;
- cake;
- corn;
- chalk or other source of minerals;
- various types of meal (bone, fish);
- green;
- protein ingredients – fresh cottage cheese, chopped eggs.
Moreover, there are no significant maintenance costs. Chickens are excellent foragers, so they can obtain part of their diet simply by wandering through the grass on the owner's property. Furthermore, their diet can be supplemented with eggs discarded for various reasons and their shells, which does not require any additional expense.
Chicken coops for this breed are standard, with a heated area and a run. The walls should be higher than 2 meters. Keeping the birds indoors is also possible, but this may negatively impact the taste of the eggs.
Breeding Features
While keeping and caring for Vorwerk chickens is straightforward, breeding them can be a bit of a challenge. The breed lacks a broody instinct. The eggs are left unattended and must be placed in an incubator. The hatching rate is 85%.
Hatched Vorwerk hens also require special care: they aren't immediately placed in a common pen, but are kept in a brooder. The temperature is gradually lowered there, by 2 degrees Celsius every week. After a month, the chicks can be kept at room temperature.
The diet is enriched with calcium, protein, and various supplements as much as possible. Health, weight, and egg production depend on its quality. The breed is gradually gaining recognition in Russia. For over 10 years, enthusiasts have been importing club eggs to various parts of the country. Perhaps soon, many more photos and descriptions of Vorwerk chickens will appear from our compatriots.
Forwerk reviews
Evgeniy, 40 years old
I bought my eggs in Germany, from a leading breeder, Rassegeflügelzucht Heyer. I bought them more for breeding than for meat and eggs. I specifically selected lines that had won awards at shows. I currently have eight hens and two cockerels. They are calm, there are no culls, and the hens lay well. I periodically breed and sell chicks; four lines produce about 30 eggs each.
Love, 52 years old
Although developed in Europe, the Vorwerk chicken breed has proven to be quite frost-hardy. I live in Siberia, where winters are harsh, and I can only get the coop warmed to 10 degrees Celsius. I keep the lights on for 16 hours. Production hasn't dropped: the hens (nine in total) lay 50 eggs a week. They even weigh more than advertised, averaging 60 grams.
Sergey, 48 years old
Breeding Vorwerks is incredibly difficult! I live in Samara, and to keep my bloodline fresh, I have to order club eggs from Germany. There are some breeders in Russia, but they rarely respond to breeding offers.
Olga, 56 years old
The chickens are good, the meat is very tasty, the eggs are nothing special, but the hens lay them reliably. Just be careful with the incubation schedule when raising from eggs. Two of my chicks hatched with crooked toes due to a mistake.
Oleg, 54 years old
The hatching rate is slightly lower than stated; I got 75%. The chicks do require a special regimen, but after a month they can be transferred to an enclosure with standard conditions. If you provide supplemental lighting in winter, the hens will begin laying eggs earlier and in greater numbers.
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