Gilan hens are one of the oldest poultry bred in Russia. The birds belong to the meat and egg group, they are characterized by high productive qualities and undemanding care. At the end of the 19th century, the breed lost its popularity a little, but today a small number of poultry farmers are engaged in its renewal.
Gilan chickens
Gilan breed of chickens has a peculiar appearance
Breed selection
Until today, no one can say exactly when and who brought the breed. But scientists are sure that she appeared on the territory of Ancient Russia for a long time and is a direct ancestor of the Oryol breed of chickens.
Historians suggest that most likely the birds were bred in the Persian province of Gilan. But no one can confirm the accuracy of the information. Since the 16th century, farmers in Russia have been breeding it, the breed was in great demand.
For unknown reasons, in the 19th century the number of chickens was significantly reduced, and the gene pool of the breed was almost lost. To date, in Dagestan, near the historical homeland, they were able to find a small number of Gilan hens.
Breeding began to engage in amateur poultry farmers. The peculiarity is that modern farmers are trying not only to recreate similar chickens, but are trying to completely renew the gene pool of the breed. All birds bred in clubs meet the breed standard.
Description and distinctive features of the breed Gilyanskaya
Gilan birds are unique, not one breed of chickens could repeat their appearance. The main features are really large sizes and unusual beard tanks.
External features
Breed Standard:
- small head, slightly elongated;
- a small comb in the shape of a nut, with a tubercle, covered with short hairs;
- eyes can be any color, the rarest is black;
- earlobes are red, not particularly visible on birds;
- earrings covered with a beard, underdeveloped;
- medium-sized beak, flattened at the base, arched;
- pots and beard are clearly expressed, the beard acquires a wedge-shaped form with age;
- elongated neck, straight, there is a small scruff;
- the body is massive, elongated, fairly muscular with large shoulders and chest;
- high-set body, tucked up belly;
- the back is even, slightly tapering towards the tail;
- on the lower back plumage is dense;
- tightly pressed wings to the body, short but wide;
- medium-sized tail; short braids;
- legs are strong, legs are long, massive;
- metatarsus developed, strong, without plumage;
- plumage is dense, hard;
- the color of the feathers may be different, the rarest - chintz;
- the shade of the beak should fully coincide with the color of the metatarsus and claws.
Deviations in appearance:
- short paws;
- the presence of feathers on the legs;
- not a nut-like comb;
- undeveloped tanks and beard;
- light weight and dimensions.
Temperament
The nature of Gilan domestic birds is active and inquisitive, in some situations the birds behave quite aggressively. Individuals do not fight each other, but representatives of other species of birds or breeds can violate the idyll in the chicken coop.
To prevent aggressiveness in individuals, keep them separate from other poultry.
Excessive activity and curiosity can play a trick on the birds. Often the birds try to climb through the netting in the walking yard, they are looking for any moves and loopholes to achieve the desired. If the birds are in the territory of your garden or vegetable garden - seedlings can not be saved. To prevent this, restrict freedom to the Gilyans.
Gilan chickens are very friendly with each other, so they often graze in small "groups" or "companies."
Instinct of incubation
This breed of chickens over the years and numerous ways to preserve the species has not lost its inborn maternal instinct. With great pleasure they hatch eggs and take care of their offspring in the future. Mother hens constantly observe chicks, teach their life in the chicken coop, try to help with food and establish communication with other birds of the breed.
Productivity
Gilan chickens are giants among other breeds, and they are earnestly called one of the largest. They are tall, large, fleshy. The fact that birds belong to the meat and egg group indicates that in addition to a large amount of meat, individuals also bring a large-scale number of eggs per year.
Live weight of chicken and rooster
Males at the age of 1 year weigh about 6 kg, with a height of 0.7 m. Adult males reach 7-8 kg and a height of 0.8-0.9 m. Females weigh one kilogram less: up to 1 year - about 5 kg, and in adulthood - 6-7 kg, about 0.5-0.6 m in height.
Some farmers claim to have seen the real Gilan giant - weight 10 kg, 0.95 m high.
Look in the video about the breeding of this breed with the weighing of the Gilan cock:
When they start to rush and what is egg laying
Gilan chickens do not belong to precocious individuals; they cannot even be attributed to mid-season ones. Individuals grow very slowly, ripen for a long time and reach full development only at the age of 2 years, therefore, fruiting occurs at this time.
Such a long delay is compensated by a longer egg laying period than other birds - about 3 years. In the 1st year of laying, the number of eggs per year from the 1st laying hen is approximately 145. Over time, their number decreases to 120 pieces.
The eggs of Gilan chickens are very large, in the worst case scenario they weigh about 75 g, but often the birds bring eggs 10 g more. The appearance of individuals is fully combined with the size of the eggs: a large mass - large eggs.
The shell is a light shade, it is cream in color. May be light pink or brown. The difference of Gilan chickens is also that in the winter they continue to rush, as before, while other klush are not productive in this period of the year.
What to feed?
Layers are generally unpretentious in the content and diet, so they can eat any food that grows under their feet. But a menu rich in various minerals and vitamins will help birds maintain their health for as long as possible and ensure high productivity.
Chickens
Gilan chickens have innate immunity to many diseases, so chickens are born strong and rather big. The survival rate of young animals is approximately 95%. So that babies grow healthy and strong for the first time, feed them no later than 12 hours after birth.
The first three days, the diet of young animals consists of a mixture of boiled eggs and cereals in the form of millet or barley, also add oat flakes or low-fat cottage cheese to the mash. Finely chop all the ingredients, and let the kids warm.
Then gradually add green and vegetables to the menu. For example, great options in the form of nettle, clover or alfalfa. Beets, carrots and pumpkins can be vegetables. Pour boiling water over greens in advance and do not chop coarsely, boil vegetables and mash into porridge.
In the 1st week of life, chickens should receive dishes from grains, herbs, vegetables and boiled eggs. For the 2nd week, add fish or bone and meat and bone meal to the menu.
It is mandatory to have clean and fresh water so that babies can quench their thirst. Add a little potassium permanganate to the water, this tool will help protect young animals from harmful insects and diseases. By the end of the 1st month, the chicks can be transferred to adult chickens, which includes a large amount of protein and calcium.
Adult herd
Feed adults no more than 3 times a day, 2 doses - grain mixtures, 1– wet mash. You should correctly select the birds menu so that they receive all the important elements. High protein mixed feeds can be given. In general, chickens feed on any food intended for this species of bird.
The diet of Gilan adult hens consists of:
- grains: wheat, oats, corn, erysipelas or barley;
- fresh herbs and herbs that help restore the balance of vitamins in birds;
- in winter you can do without greens, but then add germinated cereals to the diet;
- maggots, oilcake and meal;
- bone and fish meal;
- crushed shells or fine gravel;
- crushed eggshells, crushed bones, which not only improve the digestive tract, but also make up for the lack of vitamins in food.
One of the most important requirements for the nutrition of Gilan birds is compliance with the regimen and portioning. After eating the chickens, remove the leftover food, otherwise the birds will begin to accumulate excess fat, which will negatively affect the productivity of the birds.
Feeding of laying hens should be special so that egg production does not fall. The daily ration of laying hens is given in this article.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Gilyanskaya breed has a number of pluses and minuses that must be considered when breeding birds.
Advantages of the breed:
- unique appearance;
- a large amount of meat from giant chickens;
- a good indicator of egg production;
- big eggs;
- cold resistance;
- unpretentiousness in leaving;
- long term laying;
- active, moderately pugnacious disposition;
- the presence of maternal instinct.
The disadvantages of the breed:
- late puberty and egg production;
- long non-plumage of chicks (there is a need for additional heating of the young during the 1st month of life);
- poorly tolerate heat;
- curiosity, which is the reason for fencing a walking yard with a fence or net;
- Gilanians' unfriendly attitude towards other birds besides their breed.
Conditions of detention
Gilan chickens are considered an unpretentious breed, but they still need proper and regular care, so that the birds feel good and have high productivity.
House requirements
The chicken coop is a home for chickens, so it must comply with all their physical requirements. First of all, choose the right place for its structure. Make your choice on higher ground so that the chicken room and the walking yard are not flooded with sewage and groundwater.
The site should be dry, protected from winds. Especially good if the house is located in an area with indirect sunlight. In summer, individuals do not survive the heat well, so the chicken coop should be located in a cool place so that birds can take refuge and relax in it.
For 1 bird in the house should be at least 1 square. m
The height of the chicken coop is about 1.8 m, since individuals cannot do without a walking yard, you can make a hole in the doorway about 1 m in size so that the birds can freely go for a walk.
In winter, the house is not heated because Gilan hens feel great at low temperatures. It is necessary to build a “house” for them with strong walls and a warm floor. The health status of birds deteriorates significantly in the summer, so make sure that the temperature does not rise above +25 degrees Celsius in the house this season.
The flooring is covered with litter, at least 0.1-0.2 m thick. Make it from hay, dried grass, straw or peat. In the chicken coop, install additional lighting and make several windows.
The longer the daylight hours, the better the laying of chickens.
One of the main components of the house is nests and perches. Build perches at the rate of 0.4-0.6 m of space per 1 individual. They can be laid out in the form of a ladder or around the entire perimeter of the room.
Each hen needs a separate nest. Birds of this breed are carried alternately. Make the nest warm, comfortable, and dark. If the young animals at first will not be kept with an adult herd, then apart from the lamps, install separately for them - heating. Adult hens do not need it, and kids need it.
Tanks for water and food are mandatory in the house. A bowl of ash and sand is also very important; in it, birds will clean their feathers from pests. In the chicken coop, keep an eye on the freshness of the air, as chicken droppings contain a small fraction of ammonia, which harms not only the respiratory system of individuals, but also destroys the digestive tract.
For better ventilation of the room, install hoods in the house, while walking the hens, ventilate it. Be sure to monitor the cleanliness of the room, remove food debris and clean the feeders from dirt. Change the litter as it gets dirty, sprinkle a new one.
How to make a chicken coop with your own hands is described in another article.
Walking patio
Without a walking yard, birds will not be able to develop, grow and bring a sufficient number of eggs. On the territory, birds communicate, eat, walk, breathe fresh air, lead a healthy lifestyle. The main requirements for a yard for walking are similar to a chicken coop - a dry and clean area without winds.
Well, if the site is shaded, it is better that it is in the shadow of a building or a small building. Do not install it under a tree, because pests and viruses can live in the wood, which will begin to attack chickens.
The shaded area will help to avoid incandescence of the site in the summer season. You can simply cover the courtyard with a roof, this will additionally protect the birds from the rain and the burning sun. Due to the gigantic size of the bird, at least 1 sq. M. m of land, respectively, the yard is large.
Place water and food containers on the site to make Gilan chickens feel as comfortable as in a house. The most important thing for birds is the height of the fence, it should be so high that they could not fly over it.
Care during molting
In the fall season, laying hens begin to molt. During this period, egg production decreases slightly, but not significantly. Individuals spend all their energy on restoring plumage, which birds simply need when winter comes.
Layers should be supported with a diet rich in minerals and vitamins to increase egg production. If it is not enough, then the clowns can begin to peck at each other, and sometimes even themselves.
How is winter cold tolerated?
This breed of chickens appeared in the cold territories of Ancient Russia, in the 16th century, in almost all outskirts, winter was very severe and cold. Gilan chickens are not afraid of low temperatures, they feel great even when walking in the snow, although poultry farmers do not recommend walking birds in such weather, because there is no plumage on their feet.
Is it possible to breed in cells?
Breeding chickens by the cellular method implies only individuals of egg direction. This method saves a lot of space, but it does not mean the presence of a male and a range of birds. The Gilan breed of hens cannot be called only egg.
Birds are bred to recreate their number, so you do not need to keep chickens in the cells. Growing young animals in this way implies a lack of need for breeding, getting babies and fertilized eggs.
Breeding Features
Breeding chickens does not require much excessive effort. Young growth is born strong and large. Kids will fledge for a long time - about 2 months or more, sometimes they can’t do without additional help of a veterinarian. Chicks will get an adult look only by 6 months.
Care for the younger generation
Kids have strong immunity, with proper care they do not get sick. Tips for caring for Gilan chickens:
- Compliance with the temperature regime. Young animals with still undeveloped thermoregulation cannot do without your help. If there are not many kids, then you can abandon the heaters and use infrared lamps.
- A large amount of clean and fresh water.The more they drink, the stronger and healthier they become.
- Feeding no later than 12 hours after birth.
- The presence of calcium and protein in foods.
- Disease Prevention
Common diseases
Layers have strong innate immunity, ailments occur only in violation of the rules of maintenance and care. In the absence of important components in the nutrition of birds, laying hens suffer from vitamin deficiency, with frequent overheating, the immune system weakens. Timely preventive measures in the form of vaccinations will help protect the bird.
Gilyanskaya breed of chickens has a decorative and special appearance - they do not see earrings, but beard and tanks are clearly visible. Hens are tall, strong and muscular. They are rightly called giant, in height they can reach almost 1 meter. Given the productive indicators and the history of this breed, it can be argued that it really deserves a second chance in the form of restoration of the total number of breeds.