The chicken breed Mechelen cuckoo belongs to meat hybrids, it is almost devoid of the instinct of incubation, breeding is not the easiest. However, it is very fond of poultry farmers for their excellent meat qualities and unpretentiousness in care.
Historical information about the breed
Mechelen cuckoo - one of the oldest breeds of poultry. Homeland - Belgium. The name in different languages sounds differently, so the Mechelen cuckoo has a number of different names, one of the most popular is Malin. In the territory of the Russian Federation until 1917, it was famous for the name Cucu de Malin.
There is no reliable data on the creation of this breed, it is only known that it was bred in about the 19th century. Ancestors are Brahms, Shanghai, Flemish and Chinese chickens. On the territory of Belgium, they are proud of birds; raspberry meat is considered a very expensive and tasty treat.
Bird exterior
Mechelen cuckoo - meat-bearing bird. The mass of the male is 5 kg, the female is 4.5 kg. At the beginning of the 20th century, this breed was bred again at home, but its appearance has changed slightly. The first option is characterized by a comb in the form of a leaf.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the German army needed high-quality food, so the breeders decided to cross Malin with one of the Belgian fighting breeds. Males are much larger than Mechen cuckoos. The vechters gave the Raspberries a real triple crest.
To date, the descendants of the Mechen cuckoos and Brugge Wechter are quite few and the single leaf-shaped comb is considered the standard. Many works of breeders prove that experiments are ongoing to improve this breed. Scientists have set a goal to create such a raspberry, which at 10 weeks will weigh about 4 kg of live weight.
According to their weight characteristics, the Mechen cuckoos are similar to broilers, however they are better than them by such signs:
- lack of genetic ailments that lead to the death of birds;
- when breeding, the “parental” indicators remain in the chicks;
- there are no difficulties working with the heart;
- feed saving.
Some poultry historians claim that they were not called cuckoos because of such plumage, but because of the lack of instinct for incubation.
Standard
They are strong birds on strong paws. Due to the enormous mass of the body, they are not very agile and cannot fly.
Signs of Malin chicken breed:
- small head;
- leaf-shaped rowing;
- eyes are orange or red;
- the earlobes and earring are red, rather big, slightly elongated;
- small light beak;
- the neck is long and strong, vertical to the body;
- the mane is practically undeveloped in males;
- the back is even and massive;
- pigtails on the tail are poorly developed;
- the tail itself is not magnificent;
- the wings are small, the shoulder girdle of the layers is strong, the wings are pressed to the body, they are almost invisible behind the feathers;
- broad muscular chest;
- the stomach is slightly convex, developed;
- paws are strong; the hips and legs are muscular;
- metatarsus of a white-pink hue, but may also be dark gray, feathered only on one side;
- plumage is thick, motley coloring is most often found.
Watch the video about how the hens of the Mechelen cuckoo breed look:
Colors of the breed:
- Cuckoo.
- The black.
- Hawkish.
- White.
- Lavender.
- Colombian.
- Silver.
- Golden.
Vices
Despite the fact that the breed is very rare in the territory of the Russian Federation, nevertheless, some signs attribute the birds to unclean birds:
- undeveloped small breasts;
- white lobes;
- narrow back;
- case in the form of a triangle.
A very light shade of feathers is also considered a vice, but in fact, some colors are light on their own.
On the territory of Belgium, dwarf Mechelen cuckoos were able to breed, but it is even difficult to find photographs of them, because they are rare.
Characteristics of the Mechelen Cuckoo
This breed of chickens brings a huge amount of meat, but does not differ in high egg production. The birds are very friendly, they will not bring you much trouble and will not waste your time.
Character
Individuals are very peaceful, they do not fight and do not compete with each other. Males sometimes get into squabbles with other cocks, but this is extremely rare. Birds are famous for their high level of tranquility and peacefulness, they walk without much activity, so do not worry about the fact that chickens can escape from a walking yard.
Puberty and Performance
Representatives of the Malin breed begin egg laying only by the age of 7 months, but puberty occurs much later - at 1 year. If nutrition and maintenance were of poor quality, then ripening occurs later.
One-year-old eggs are collected and placed in an incubator, egg hatchability is 95%, and chick survival is 97%.
Despite the meat direction, Mechelen cuckoos can boast a good egg laying. For a year, 1 female brings 150 eggs, the mass of one is more than 60 g. The shell is light pink in color.
Productivity
Raspberry poultry meat is tasty and juicy. It has a fine structure; in European countries the product is served in the most expensive restaurants. Males soon gain weight, and at the age of 4 months the carcass weighs about 2.2 kg. At 4 months - 3 kg.
Based on the reviews of poultry farmers, it can be argued that at the age of 9 months, a rooster weighs about 6 kg, but this is if it was grown for fattening, and not for breeding.
Maternal instinct
Almost all hybrids lost their instinct for breeding during breeding, and the breed is no exception. A beginner breeding these birds may not be able to handle the job.
The first reason is that when you mate incorrectly matched, you can get a large number of unfertilized eggs as a result.
The second reason is the almost completely lost maternal instinct. Some brood hens happily perch on their offspring, then their mood changes and the hens leave. They can do anything, if only not to sit on the nest. Therefore, you do not need to take risks and trust such a responsible task for cuckoo mothers.
Pros and cons
The Malin chicken breed, just like other poultry has a number of pluses and minuses, they must be considered when breeding individuals.
Advantages:
- high productivity;
- beautiful appearance;
- large sizes of birds;
- calm disposition;
- undemanding care;
- fast mass gain.
Disadvantages:
- difficulty in breeding;
- almost lost maternal instinct;
- rare distribution in the Russian Federation.
How to care for the breed?
The hens need certain conditions, but in fact there is nothing complicated, just build a chicken house taking into account their size and needs.
House equipment
The main requirement is the construction of a large chicken coop. They are extremely rare in bird cages, and this is only done in poultry farms. Also, when growing birds behind nets, they should be taught such a life from birth.
If you equip the house only for Malin, then you should not perch in it, because a large mass of individuals does not allow them to fly up on them. These birds are kept only on the floor.
This feature of keeping Mechelen hens forces the poultry farmer to carefully select the litter in the chicken coop. It will have to be changed much more often than other breeds. Better to do it every week. Peat, straw, hay are suitable as a material. Make the layer dense, build nests a little higher than the floor, so that individuals can easily climb into them, and not be damaged. Read here how to make nests for chickens with your own hands.
Pay special attention to containers for food and water. Pour clean and fresh water daily into drinking bowls; do not leave any food leftovers in containers for food, otherwise they will deteriorate.
Walking
Despite the lack of movement and calm, representatives love to walk in the fresh air. Walking helps to build more muscle mass, and make meat much tastier. It is necessary to think about walks and build a large comfortable yard.
The area is fenced so that the birds could not get out. The height of the chain-link may not exceed 1.2 m, because individuals do not fly due to small and tight-fitting wings. If you’re not afraid to let the birds free-range, then you can do it. Chickens do not run away, they are also not very curious, so they won’t climb where they don’t need to, chickens will not damage your crop and green spaces.
In Belgium, poultry breeders without fear let the birds go for walks without supervision.
Diet
Mechelen cuckoos are not picky about food; it is compiled based on the needs of feathered meat. 1 individual needs 150 g of feed per day. Feed three times a day.
The basis of the menu is protein food. If you get ready-made feed mixtures, then opt for broiler feed. Do not forget about mineral components and vitamins. You can feed the layers with wet mashrooms.
Add fresh greens to the diet. In summer, such feathered vitamins will be found by themselves, but in winter you can’t do without them. Do not give the chickens ready-made meat, only raw offal is suitable, otherwise they will begin to have problems with their stomach.
Light and thermal conditions, humidity
Chicken meat is not demanding on lighting, since a large amount of light affects egg production, and not the quality of the meat. Raspberry lighting enough 10-12 hours a day. However, this rule only works if birds are kept separately from other breeds of chickens.
The temperature in the chicken coop should not fall below + 12 ... + 14 degrees Celsius. With this indicator, individuals feel quite comfortable. The minimum indicator that birds can withstand is +5 degrees, but it does not need to be tolerated, otherwise egg laying will cease altogether.
The litter of chickens contains a small proportion of ammonia; it harms not only the respiratory system, but also the gastrointestinal tract of birds, in order to prevent this, regularly ventilate the room, and remove the litter.
Drafts and excess moisture negatively affect the condition of birds; it can cause the development of many bacteria.
Shedding and egg laying break
Seasonal molting is a standard phenomenon; during this period, birds suffer from a lack of vitamins. In some cases, attacks of cannibalism can be observed, that is, birds begin to peck other individuals, and sometimes themselves. All these actions can be prevented with the help of a properly selected diet and an enhanced portion of vitamins.
Often the molting season begins in October or November, and proceeds without difficulty. During this phenomenon, the laying hens stop laying eggs, then the process is restored.
Breeding
Small females and males can be distinguished already at the age of 1 day - roosters have a bright spot on the back, and chickens do not. Weak and unhealthy chicks should be discarded immediately, otherwise in the future they will be carried badly.
Chick Care
Babies are born small - about 40-45 g. The bodies of chickens are dressed in "fur coats" from the first days. The gun can be black and white or gray. Bringing the kids out is not so difficult, but taking care of them is a real job.
Features of feeding chickens:
- The main course is high-protein feed. Due to the lack of protein in food, babies develop developmental defects.
- Daily feed the babies 6 times a day, then reduce the number to 4 receptions. In this scenario, they need to be kept until puberty, and after three meals are enough.
- Half the menu should be vegetables and greens. Do not forget about their diversity, for example, carrots and potatoes are considered the best vegetables. From the grass, give nettles, dandelion and clover.
- Chicks need vitamins and minerals, thanks to them they grow and develop faster. To get rid of defects in the development of the skeleton, add seashells or chalk to the menu.
Growing problems
Mechelen cuckoos do not cause any special problems during cultivation. They are not demanding on the diet, have strong immunity. Delays most often occur when certain rules and recommendations are neglected.
Diseases and Pests
Thanks to the numerous works of breeders, the breed of chickens Mechelen cuckoo acquired a strong immunity. But, unfortunately, it does not protect birds from parasites. As a preventative measure, install ash baths in the house.
Rules for processing the house and birds:
- avoid excessive pollution of the house;
- change floor litter in time;
- do not leave leftover food in the feeders;
- change water regularly;
- make good ventilation in the house;
- vaccinate chickens.
Is it profitable to grow chickens Mechelen cuckoo?
Representatives of this breed of chicken do not eat particularly little, but despite this, the cost of food quickly pays off. The layers and roosters have tender meat, there is practically no fat layer. Although individuals are considered meat, they still bring a considerable number of eggs.
Prices for the purchase of chickens:
- Egg for an incubator - 150 rubles;
- Chickens at the age of 14 days - 450 rubles;
- Adult bird - more than 3000 rubles.
Where to buy in Russia?
The reviews of the poultry farmers prove that the best poultry farms on the territory of the Russian Federation involved in the breeding of Mechelen cuckoos are Fauna, Vityaz, and Bird Village.
Breed analogs
There are two main analogues:
- Brahms are bright. Chickens bring a little less eggs than the Malin breed, but the body weight is about the same.
- Russian black bearded. Completely identical in productivity with Mechelen cuckoos.
Breed Reviews
Alexey, 46, agronomist, Volgograd. Nevertheless, all recommendations for keeping birds should be followed. At first I decided to grow them in cells. The birds were constantly sick with avitominosis, and the taste of meat was not very pleasant.
The birds need constant walking, and before slaughter cuckoos should be fed with a mixture of milk powder and buckwheat. Do not regret spending money on such food, then the meat will really be juicy and tasty.
Willow, 35 years old, manager, Aksai. Like these chickens for a charming appearance, they also have good productivity. In appearance they resemble wild chickens. Several years ago, I barely acquired these layers, now I am only breeding their breeds. Others are no longer interested.
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Growing Belgian hens of the Mechelen cuckoo breed is a profitable occupation, because they do not cause almost any problems, they are considered not demanding care birds.