Layer chicken, as the name suggests, refers to a chicken that is specifically used to lay eggs. Obtaining eggs is the ultimate goal of raising layer chickens and the main source of income. At present, most of the eggs on the market in our country are produced by various varieties of layer chickens. So, what are the main types of layer chickens? Let's take a look.
Picture book of layer chicken breeds
White to hang chicken
First, the white air chicken
【Origin】 Bailai hang chicken originated in Italy, first exported in 1835 in Bailai port and named, has now spread all over the world, is the longest history, the widest distribution, the highest yield and hereditary stable world breed in the standard breed of layer chickens, but also a modern layer breeding, the most used breeding material.
【Appearance】 The characteristics of the White Chicken are self-colored, the eggshell color is pure, mostly a single crown, the crown of the rooster is thick and upright, the crown of the hen is thin and falls to one side, and the skin, taste and shin are yellow.
【Performance】 Bai Laihang chicken is lively and active, easy to frighten the group, no nesting, high egg production, high-yield chickens can produce about 300 eggs a year, adult body pitted rooster 2.7 kg, hen about 2.0 kg, the average egg weight of 54 ~ 60 grams.
Rho island red chicken
2. LuoDao Red Chicken
【Origin】The Rhodo Red Chicken is native to the State of Lord Island on the east coast of the United States.
【Appearance】 The body of the Luodao red chicken is rectangular sand, the body is strong, the single crown or rose crown, the leaf is not red, oval, the beak, shin, toes, skin is yellow, the main wing feathers, tail feathers are mostly black, the whole body feathers are reddish brown, and the shin is hairless.
【Performance】The average weight of adult roosters in Luodao red chicken is 3.8 kg, the hen is 3 kg, the hen is 180 to 210 days old, the annual egg production is 160 to 170, the egg weight is 60 grams, the eggshell is brown, there is a nest, and it is now mostly used as the father breed of the production of commercial hybrid layer chickens.
New Han Summer Chicken
Third, the new Han summer chicken
【Origin】New Hanxia chicken is bred in the New Hanxia Prefecture of the United States, which is a chicken with good physique, egg production, heavy eggs and good meat quality selected from the Luodao red chicken, and has been bred for more than 30 years.
【Appearance】The physical appearance of the new Hanxia chicken is similar to that of Luodao Red, with a slightly shorter back, light feathers, a single crown, and an eggshell brown.
【Performance】The new Hanxia chicken lays 180 to 200 eggs a year, and the average egg weight is 60 grams.
Australian black chicken
4. Australian black chicken
【Origin】Australian black chicken is native to Australia, which is selected and bred by using black Alpinton chicken and focusing on egg-laying performance.
【Appearance】 Australian black chicken body is deep and wide, the chest is plump, the head is medium and large, the beak, eyes, and shins are all black, the soles of the feet are white, the single crown, fleshlobe, ear lobes and face are red, the skin is white, the whole body feathers are black and shiny, and the feathers are tighter.
【Performance】 Australian black chicken has strong adaptability, early maturity, hens start production at 6 months old, the average annual egg laying site is about 160, the egg weight is about 60 grams, the eggshell is brown, the nest is not strong, the adult rooster weighs about 3.75 kg, and the hen is 2.5 to 3 kg.
Rock chicken
V. Rock Chicken
【Origin】 Rock chicken is native to the United States Parkermouth Rock State, named after the place of origin, so called Rock chicken, China introduced the horizontal spot Rock, light yellow Rock and White Rock.
【Appearance】 Horizontal spotted Rock chicken body size is round, the body parts are well developed, the whole body feathers are black and white horizontal markings, the end of the feathers is black, the markings are clear and consistent, the rooster's self-color horizontal spots are about two-thirds, black accounts for about one-third, the black and white horizontal spots of the hen are almost equal, the feathers of the hen are thicker, and the rooster is lighter, single crown, ear leaves are red, and the ridges, shins, toes and skin are yellow. The appearance characteristics of the light yellow rock chicken are similar to those of the transverse spotted rock chicken, except that the whole body feathers are light yellow. The white rock chicken has a single crown, the meatlobe and ear lobes are red, the taste, shin and toes are dark, the skin is light yellow, and the whole body feathers are white.
【Performance】 The horizontal-spotted Rock chicken generally lays about 180 eggs per year, and the high-yielding individuals who have been selected can reach 250, the average egg weight is 56 grams, and the eggshell is brown. The production performance of light yellow rock chicken is similar to that of horizontal spotted rock chicken. The annual egg production of the spotted chicken is 150 to 160, the egg weight is about 60 grams, and the eggshell is light brown.
Wolf Pheasant
Sixth, wolf pheasant
【Origin】Wolf mountain chicken is native to the Nantong area of Jiangsu Province, China, and there is a small mountain in the south of Nantong Port, so it is called wolf mountain chicken.
【Appearance】 Wolf Pheasant has two varieties of black and white, and its body shape is characterized by a straight neck, high tail feathers, a U-shaped back, a developed chest, a tall body and long legs, a mighty appearance, a suitable head size, and black eyes. The single crown is erect, the crown, fleshlobe, ear lobes and face are red, the skin is white, the cat and shin are black, the feathers are more black, there are feathers on the outside of the tibia, strong adaptability, strong disease resistance, muscular chest, good flesh quality.
【Performance】 Wolf mountain chicken sexual maturity period is 7 to 8 months, the annual laying of about 170 eggs, egg weight 59 grams, egg brown, adult rooster weight 4.15 kg, hen 3.25 kg.
Nine pounds of chicken
Seven or nine pounds of chicken
【Origin】Jiujin chicken is one of the world's famous broiler breeds, produced in Shanghai, China, and has made great contributions to the improvement of foreign chicken breeds.
【Appearance】 There are now nine varieties of nine-pound chicken, appearance characteristics, small head, short beak, single crown, fleshy droop, ear lobes are bright red, eyes brown, yellow skin, thick and short neck, body width and deep, back short upward bulge, full chest, plump feathers, similar to square shape, short shin, yellow, with shin feathers and toe feathers.
【Performance】 Nine pounds of chicken docile temperament, strong set, late maturity, 8 to 9 months to start production, the annual egg production of about 80 ~ 100 pieces, egg weight of about 55 grams, eggshell yellow brown, tender meat, adult rooster weight 4.9 kg, hen 3.7 kg.
Silky black-boned chicken
8. Silk wool black bone chicken
【Origin】Silk wool black bone chicken is native to Jiangxi, Guangdong, Fujian and other provinces in China, distributed throughout the country, and widely distributed abroad, and is listed as a play-type chicken.
【Appearance】 The appearance characteristics of the silk wool black bone chicken are "ten complete", that is, the purple crown (crown is like a mulberry), the tassel head (feather crown), green ears, beard, five claws, hair legs, silk hair, wupi, black bamboo, black meat. In addition, the eyes, taste, toes, heart and fat are also dark black.
【Performance】Adult roosters weigh 1.35 kg, hens 1.20 kg, the number of eggs laid is about 80, and the egg weight is 40 to 42 grams.
The above is an introduction to the knowledge of different breeds of layer chickens. From the above, we know that there are many types of layer chickens, mainly including white air chicken, Luodao red chicken, New Hanxia chicken, Australian black chicken, Rock chicken, wolf mountain chicken, nine-pound chicken and silk wool black bone chicken. Different breeds of layer chickens will vary greatly in appearance, performance and egg production rate. For chicken farmers, in the selection of layer chickens, it is best to choose layer chickens that are suitable for local conditions, so that they can be more comfortable in feeding management.