Russian black bearded, capercaillie, landlord - this is the name of one breed, known as Galan. The old breed appeared in the 19th century, in Russia. Most often it was found in the Oryol, Kursk, Rostov and neighboring provinces. But today her livestock is very small, mainly breeders of decorative breeds are engaged in it.
Origin history
Where and when this interesting breed appeared is not known for certain. There are several hypotheses about its occurrence. Some poultry farmers believe that the parents of the bearded representatives were Wyandotte and Krevker, while others say that Galan was obtained by crossing Wyandotte and Oryol hens in black. For the first time, she attracted attention at bird shows at the end of the 19th century and found fans among wealthy farmers.
Thanks to the charcoal-black color of the feathers, the breeders called it “Galan” - it is translated into Russian as “Dutch soot”. But many poultry farmers do not agree with this. Some agree that the “galan” was deformed from the word “gallant”. The individual, indeed, is slender and stately. In America, where it was brought to New Orleans in 1850, and then spread to the northern states, it is known as the "Russian Statue."
She was also often called the lordly bird. In the villages there was a custom - to give the newlyweds a wedding a bird pair - a chicken and a black cockerel, and since the “bearded men” had the same color, they were perfect for a wedding present, but only rich people kept them, that is, the present was “from the lordly shoulder. "
Appearance
These representatives are difficult to confuse with any other breed. They have enough characteristic features that make it easy to distinguish them from a large army of chicken breeds:
- A special sign is the beard on the neck, both sexes have it. Males, unlike females, boast a more magnificent mane, beard and tanks. In appearance, these chickens resemble grouse, but have a smaller size. And in terms of “aristocratic” movements and gait, they are similar to peacocks, it is about them that we can say “they act like peacocks”.
- Chickens Galan has a large, wide head. It is crowned with a bright red flattened scallop resembling a rose. The small earrings are almost completely covered by a beard. The beak is strong dark, in the form of a small arc, a yellow speck can be seen at its tip. The eyes are dark orange.
- The neck is short with a thick mane, the latter is so magnificent that it completely covers the shoulders. The body is massive and large. The back is straight, narrowing to the tail, but it is almost imperceptible due to the magnificent plumage in the lumbar region, the chest is raised.
- The tail is small with short braids, but lush. The wings are small and pressed to the body. Due to their small size, these hens cannot fly. Roosters have a low, but rather sonorous voice. It is hard not to hear a voiced bird in the early morning.
- Legs are long without plumage, with powerful claws painted black. The sole of the paws is light.
- The plumage is black with a green tint, reflux of a different color is considered a defect. The colors of hens and cocks do not differ. The female differs from the rooster in the smaller size of the scallop, the length of the earrings - they are less long, and their broad backs. The tail of the chicken does not cast green.
This bird belongs to the meat and egg breed, but more often it is grown as a decorative one, and participate with it in various exhibitions.
There are a number of exterior defects with which individuals are not allowed at these events:
- undeveloped beard and whiskers;
- the shape of the crest is far from pink or there is a spike on it. A pinkish ridge with a spike is a sign of light rock;
- humpbacked back;
- limbs are covered with plumage;
- there is white color in the color, there may be a light ring of feathers on the neck, or a purple tint, if a two-year-old male has red plumage around his neck, this is considered only a drawback;
- non-compliance with the breed standard of the body size - it is small, short, the figure is either high or low, underdeveloped belly;
- long or tail;
- dark soles of paws;
- non-glossy plumage can also be the reason why an individual is removed from the competition.
Breeders should bear in mind that even from a pedigree pair that meets the standards, chickens with one or another defect can be produced, since the gene of other varieties often appears in the offspring. Such chickens must be discarded and kept separately from the herd of Galans.
Temper
These chickens are sedate and very slow. They will not run around the yard like rabid ones, thus spending excess energy or bullying their relatives. On the contrary, males, like real gentlemen, invite females to the feeders and in gentlemanly pass them forward.
They are not lovers of conflict and quarrel, prefer to be friends and get along well with other breeds. However, in such close proximity, thoroughbred breed will have to be forgotten. Of course, individuals are aggressive and cocky, but in most cases, bearded chickens have a calm and phlegmatic disposition.
Instinct of incubation
Females are not without maternal instinct, and it is well developed in them. But every fifth klusha is a bad mother hen. Therefore, you should carefully consider their selection. The most caring “mothers” are selected for this purpose. For high fertilization of eggs, four chickens should have one rooster.
Breed productivity
As mentioned above, this is a breed of egg-meat orientation. In this regard, one should not expect from them high egg production and a huge increase in weight. All universal hens usually have average values for these characteristics.
Laying hens lay 150-160 eggs per year, the indicator increases with a good and balanced forage base. One egg weighs 60-65 g, the shell is strong and painted in light brown or cream color. Puberty occurs at 4-5 months. Productivity does not fall for four years.
If we talk about weight, then roosters have a live weight of up to 4 kg, females are slightly inferior and gain no more than 3.5 kg. The carcasses are clean and fleshy, suitable for diet food, as it has a low fat content. The skin is yellow. The meat has good taste and high nutritional value.
Up to five months, that is, until puberty is reached, the birds swiftly walk up the mass. Further, the weight remains stable, and changes only slightly due to seasonal changes, for example during molting, or due to a change in diet. Roosters are slaughtered in the second year of life, and the hens are replaced in the fourth year.
Maintenance and care
"Home grouse" - unpretentious birds to care for, and thanks to their mane and beard are not afraid of frost. This makes life easier for poultry farmers, since they do not need to conduct heating in the chicken coop, which significantly affects the pocket, it is enough to insulate it. More birds suffer from heat and drought in the summer.
For their comfortable maintenance, you need a clean, dry room, in which there are no drafts. They do not need to make a high fence or an indoor aviary, as the hens not only do not fly, but also do not show excess activity. The floor is covered with hay and straw, which are regularly changed.
In the barn, low perches are provided, they are necessarily made together with a ladder so that the hens can easily climb on them. They also equip nests, build feeders and make drinkers. Install several ash baths for bathing so that parasites would not start in their plumage.
Basic requirements for the chicken coop
The chicken coop must meet certain requirements:
- Lighting. Hens rush only in daylight, so if you want to get eggs in the winter, be sure to take care of the artificial lighting. The optimal duration of daylight hours is at least 12-14 hours.
- Temperature. A comfortable temperature for bearded representatives indoors is at least + 14 ° C in winter.
- Humidity. The optimum will be 65-70%, reduce its rate with the help of a ventilation system, which is foreseen in advance during the construction of the house.
Is it possible to grow a bird in cages? "Bearders" have decorative characteristics, so keeping them in a cramped space negatively affects the exterior. In addition, on a walk, they independently supplement their diet with microelements, eating worms, insects, grass and small pebbles. With cell content, increased nutrition and care requirements.
How to build a chicken coop with your own hands, so that it meets all the above requirements, it is written here.
Nutrition
Chickens are fed three times a day - morning, afternoon and evening. In the morning and evening reception they give grain, in the daytime - a mash and fresh herbs or vegetables. A serving per hen is 130 g per day, and pure water needs 300 ml. If the hens are free-range, the number of meals is reduced to one or two, as they walk well on pasture.
Of grain, wheat, millet, barley and corn are preferred. In the warm season, add to the diet: fresh herbs and seasonal fruits, vegetables and root crops - apples, pumpkin and zucchini, watermelons, carrots, potatoes, beets. In colder times they are fed with germinated grain.
In the diet must be - chalk, shells, small pebbles, salt, yeast, cake, bran, bone or fish meal and mixers, which are prepared on whey or yogurt.
Chickens
The only drawback of bearded chickens is the long period of plumage. That is why the poultry farmer will have to tinker with the younger generation and engage in their reproduction only in the spring, so that by winter they have time to acquire warm plumage. And it is also preferable to remove them not with the help of an incubator, but with a brood hen. Mother chicken will not leave her half-naked chicks and they can always warm themselves under her wing. Chicks are born with a dark color, only the tummy and neck have a light yellow color.
In the first 10 days they need a special microclimate. Maintain a temperature of + 30 ° C in the place of keeping the chicks, then gradually reduce it by 2 degrees every week.
It is necessary to ensure that the litter always remains dry, change it daily. Wash and disinfect dishes regularly, from which chickens eat and drink.
Until two months of age, their body is quite vulnerable, the survival rate of young animals is 91%. Therefore, it is necessary to add mineral and vitamin supplements to food and drink, which will help strengthen immunity and speed up the process of feasibility.
After hatching, the first time the chicks are fed after 8-10 hours and in the first days, the food is given every 2 hours. Experts advise to purchase starter feed for meat breeds, in which all the necessary nutrients are contained in the optimal ratio. And also give mixers on yogurt, cottage cheese, boiled chopped egg, fish oil, boiled vegetables.
Of the grass, nettle is the most beneficial. It is first scalded with boiling water and finely chopped. Sprinkle food on top with chalk, crushed to a powder state. When feeding wet food, the residues are removed immediately after the chickens have eaten. Since it quickly deteriorates and becomes a breeding ground for various pathogenic microorganisms.
In the place where the chickens are kept, there should be free access to drinking bowls with clean water.
Many poultry farmers still prefer to use the incubator when breeding chickens. Read more about this here.
Molting
Like all chickens, Galan sheds every year in the fall, when daylight hours are significantly reduced. During this period, egg laying of laying hens decreases, some completely stop laying eggs, thus, a protective reaction of the body to the change of plumage is triggered. However, after its recovery, egg production rates increase, and health improves.
In order to help the bird to transfer this natural process faster and easier, the proportion of protein products in its diet is increased.
Disease
Nature endowed these chickens with good health. They have no predisposition to any diseases, including genetic ones. With proper care, timely vaccinations and preventive measures, chicken health does not cause concern to the breeder.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Of the advantages, breeders of this breed distinguish:
- unpretentiousness in care and maintenance;
- frost resistance;
- friendly character;
- beautiful appearance;
- a strong shell, and chickens have no habit of pecking eggs.
Significant disadvantages include:
- long plumage of young animals;
- high price.
Where and at what price do Galans buy?
The last drawback is that the breed is very rare. Try to find on sale its representatives or eggs for laying in the incubator. So, the cost of one egg for breeding a chicken varies from 180 to 220 rubles, the price of a weekly chick can reach up to 410 rubles, and an adult laying hen up to 1520 rubles.
Get them in specialized nurseries. For example, in the Kurkurovo farms near Moscow, which is located in the Lukhovitsky District and the Gene Pool, Sergiev Posad; or "Bird Village." It is located in the Yaroslavl region, in an ecologically clean area.
A novice farmer can breed these chickens, but for this it is better to purchase young animals at the age of 2-2.5 months. Having decided to save money and buy younger chicks, you can be left with nothing, because they are still weak and mortality among them reaches quite high rates.
Breed analogs
As an analogue, the universal Yurlovsky voice breed, which also appeared in Russia in the 19th century, is usually considered. The average weight of the rooster is 5 kg, and the hens are 4.5 kg.
In terms of egg production, it is not inferior to the Galans, on average, a laying hen lays up to 160 eggs, but they weigh 70 g. The Yurlov representatives are also not afraid of frost, since they are well protected by dense fluff. But the nature of the birds is very different from the "bearded", especially among roosters. They are cocky and aggressive, thanks to the genes, because they used local chickens and fighting males to breed.
Fans of decorative breeds should consider the native Russian breed of the Pavlovsky hens. This bird has a very unusual golden and silver color, and its head is crowned with a helmet-like crest. Despite the decorativeness, laying hens do a good job of "work", laying up to 150 eggs a year.
Poultry reviews
Olesya, 39 years old, Belgrade. I bought daily chickens, not one died. Everything is in order, but a few pieces, apparently, have some kind of deviation. One with twisted legs, the other with a beak on one side. Or is it genetics to blame, or something else, I don’t know. But for the most part, everything is all right. Overgrown with feathers, a beard and a mane appeared in them. In general, handsome.
Nikolay, 45 years old, Moscow region. He bred his livestock from eggs bought in the nursery. At the same time, their domesticated ones hatched with them, so they already flaunted their feathers, and these walked as plucked, it was already a pity to look. But in the end, everything fell into place. I grow them for the sake of beauty, well, and eggs, for the meat to send such handsome men the hand does not rise ...
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The number of "home grouse" is so small that raising them for slaughter is simply blasphemous. For this, there are more suitable representatives of the meat orientation, which give more meat.More often they are bred as decorative representatives, and eggs are also received as a bonus. These birds are able to grow even a beginner poultry breeder. No doubt they will become a decoration of the bird's yard.