Crested chickens belong to the meat and egg direction. The breed includes several varieties. It has good performance indicators, is unpretentious in leaving, has an attractive appearance.

General information

There are 2 official versions regarding the location of the first hens with a crest on their heads. According to one of them, the breed is the result of folk selection of Russia, according to another - the chicken comes from Central Asia.

The main task of selection was to obtain a valuable individual with a decorative look and high productivity. The main feature of the breed is not only a bright crest, but also the ability to withstand frosts down to –40 ° С. The hatchability rate of young animals, even under adverse conditions, is 93%.

Representatives of the breed

The names of the breeds of chickens, united under the general concept of crested:

• legbar;
• paduan;
• goodan;
• polverara;
• Russian crested;
• Ukrainian forelock;
• Polish chubatka;
• Chinese silk;
• Dutch white-crested;
• Pavlovskaya.

A distinctive feature of all species is the scarlet head. Their earlobes and earrings are bright red. In females, the crest is more pronounced than in males. In roosters, a bright large crest hangs to the side.

Representatives of crested breeds have similar exterior data and differ mainly in the color of plumage, as well as the crest configuration. The body is elongated. The sternum is tall, full, rounded. The wings are firmly pressed to the body. The tail is well feathered. The legs are powerful, shortened, which allows the bird to move quickly.

Did you know? Crest of crested chickens, rests on a visceral hernia. This is a skin growth located in the head area, filled with the brain. It can have different sizes. Thanks to its presence, these representatives can boast the largest brain among pheasants.

Legbar

Legbar breed representatives are distinguished by beautiful silver-gray and golden-straw plumage. In roosters, the plumage strips are more pronounced than in chickens.

Adult male weighs 2–4 kg, female 1.5–3 kg. The breed is notable for excellent health and high activity. Females begin to lay their first eggs as early as 4–5 months. Their sexual activity persists for 3 years.

Egg products of laying hens are painted in sky blue or olive color. For a year, the chicken gives 280 eggs with an average weight of 56 g. With high egg production, the instinct for brooding chickens is less developed, due to active mobility.They need a fairly spacious habitat. In the barn, one individual should have at least 70 square meters. cm.

The birds are friendly, rarely come into conflict with other inhabitants of the yard. Roosters look after their females and protect them from danger. The breed is friendly to people, birds quickly get used to the owner. At the sight of a familiar person, they go out to meet him.

To strangers are at first wary. The bird is unpretentious in nutrition. It can do without top dressing and eat only pasture.

Did you know? Legbars will like a special feed that has a sky blue hue. You can buy it in specialized stores. It is noteworthy that they will eat it only from the red feeder. To the blue or yellow feeder, they do not even fit.

Paduan

Representatives of the breed may be:

• white
• black with a greenish tint;
• golden ocher;
• blue with arched stripes;
• gray-blue.

Earrings are barely marked or absent. The head is medium sized. The crest falls beautifully on the back of the neck and sides. The neck is curved, framed by a lush mane.The bird belongs to the meat-egg direction. Due to their attractive appearance, paduans are often kept for aesthetic reasons. An adult rooster weighs 2-3 kg, and a chicken weighs 1.5–2 kg. They enter the phase of egg production at 6 months. For a year they give 120 eggs, weighing up to 60 g. Females have a well-developed maternal instinct.

Paduans are quickly tamed. They have a calm disposition. Occasionally, a bird may be jealous of its owner.

The bird is choosy in choosing a diet. Paduan can not be overfed. In obese representatives, immunity immediately decreases. In winter, they require particularly careful care because of the tendency to colds.

Important! Monitor the status of the crest of a bird. It should not close the review, otherwise the quality of vision will decrease. In addition, when the feathers begin to hang down over the eyes, the bird becomes nervous and aggressive.

Goodan

Representatives are distinguished by large long plumage. A voluminous mane on the neck is the beginning of a magnificent crest. The crest is saturated, resembling a butterfly wing in its structure. The beak is short, bent in the form of a hook. Under the beak there are lush whiskers forming a beard.

The wings are medium sized. The tail feathers are arched. Legs are short, strong, covered with plumage.

Main color:

• white;
• blue;
• black and white.

Adult males weigh 2-3 kg, females - 2 kg. They enter the phase of egg production in 5–6 months. In the first year, 160 eggs of 53 g each are produced. As the birds grow older, egg production decreases by 30 eggs each year.

The breed of goodan feels good in the climate of the middle zone. It does not tolerate heat and extreme cold. They are distinguished by a calm nature, get along well with other inhabitants of the courtyard. They are bred for the most part for aesthetic reasons, with the possibility of using meat functions.

Polverara

The decorative bird of polwerara is notable for its unpretentiousness and good immunity. The head is decorated with a crest with horns instead of a crest. Earrings are almost invisible. The beak is powerful, cream color. On the neck and legs, the plumage is shorter than on the rest of the body.

The tail is small, flat. The chest and abdomen are larger in females than in males.

Chickens reach puberty at 8 months. For a year, laying eggs produce 150 eggs, weighing 40 g. Egg production lasts 4 years, then drops sharply. Adult female weighs 2 kg, cock - 2.8 kg.

Important! Polverara have a light body structure, which allows them to overcome high obstacles in flight, so when keeping them, a fence of at least 3 meters should be built.

Birds have a good disposition and high mobility. They develop poorly with cellular content. They need more freedom and a large walking area. To increase egg production, fortified supplements or green foods should be present in the diet.

Russian crested

Russian crested chicken is a graceful bird of medium size. The head is harmoniously folded. The beak is powerful, slightly bent. Its color varies from yellow to almost black, depending on the color of the plumage. The catkins are pronounced, the comb is leaf-shaped, the earlobes are red with white spots.

The back is flat and wide. Legs are large, short, without plumage.

Officially registered several types of color Russian crested:

• blue;
• the black;
• red;
• chintz;
• salmon;
• cuckoo;
• black-silver and black-gold.

The crest of hens is more pronounced than that of roosters, slightly combed back. In the male, the crest passes into a lush mane on the neck. Representatives of the Russian crested belong to the meat and egg direction.

The weight of the rooster is about 4 kg, chickens - at least 2.2 kg. The phase of egg production occurs in 5-6 months.

For a year, a laying hen gives about 200 eggs weighing 56 g each. The shell is golden or cream, with a pale pink tint. The instinct of incubation in this breed is well developed. The survival rate of young animals is 93%.The breed is easy to maintain. Females of Russian crested are distinguished by a good disposition. They quickly get used to the person, willingly make contact.

Important! It is better to keep one rooster in the herd. Males of this breed are very aggressive towards each other and regularly organize fights that lead to serious injuries.

Ukrainian scruffy

The breed is highly regarded by breeders for their unpretentiousness in care and decorative appearance. The leaf-like crest of roosters is inclined to one side due to the presence of a voluminous forelock. In chickens, the crest has a rounded shape. The body is elongated, ends with a magnificent tail.

Characteristic color:

• light Colombian;
• the black;
• pale yellow.

The live weight of the chicken is 2 kg, the rooster is 3 kg. Puberty occurs at 6 months. For the first year, a laying hen gives 160 eggs of 56 g, cream color. The survival rate of young animals is 90%. Chickens have a well-developed maternal instinct, so they are often used to incubate eggs from less responsible birds.

The genetic characteristics of the breed are used to improve the data of other varieties.

The character of Ukrainian Chubata chicken is calm. These representatives are willing to make contact with a person, which simplifies the care of them.

Polish chubatka

A rare breed of Polish chubka became the ancestor of the Dutch crest. It is found in rural Europe.

Representatives of the genus are distinguished by beautiful red plumage. On a harmoniously folded head is a shortened beak. The crest is magnificent, combed back. Feet of medium length, without plumage. The tail and breast are abundantly covered with soft feathers.

Males and females do not differ in weight. The mass of an adult is 3 kg. Puberty occurs in 6-7 months. Hens rush only in the warm season. For a season, a hen gives 125 eggs.

Polish catfish is choosy in the care and feeding. It has a weak immune system. Their character is calm, balanced.

Chinese silk

The most beautiful representative among the crested chickens is Chinese silk. Their plumage looks like fluff. Feathers are devoid of hooks, which makes their structure resemble fluff. Their torso is short, rounded.

Shins shortened, covered with plumage. The tail feathers and long braids are located on the tail. A distinctive feature of Chinese silk chicken is turquoise earlobes, a blue comb and a beak.

By color scheme are found:

• black
• blue;
• gray
• redheads;
• white.

Egg productivity - 150 eggs per year, weighing 40 g. Chinese silk chicken has a well-developed instinct for incubation. Under these representatives lay eggs of pheasants, quail, guinea fowl.

Did you know? Chinese silk chicken is used to produce high-quality fluff and sheared like a sheep once a month. For 2 haircuts, you can get 140 g of down. In the eastern areas of medicine, they use their meat as a valuable product for the treatment of tuberculosis, migraine, deviations in the digestive tract and kidneys.

Another distinctive feature of the breed is the black carcass and internal organs. Meat is appreciated for its high palatability. It is a dietary product.Representatives of the breed are finicky in care. They have weak immunity and do not tolerate rainy weather. Calm, clumsy chickens are often kept as pets. They are quickly tamed, and everywhere follow the owner.

Dutch white-crested

The crest of these representatives has an unusual shape. It seems that the feathers are stacked with a hairdryer. They gently descend on both sides of the head. At the base of the beak, crest feathers form a butterfly-like outgrowth. A distinctive feature of the Dutch white-crested is the complete absence of a crest.

The earlobes are white, and the beak is similar in color to the main plumage. Representatives of this breed have large metatarsus. The body is compact, slightly retracted. Feathers tightly fit the body without forming pillows, like other breeds.

The weight of the chicken is 1.8 kg, the rooster - up to 2.5 kg. Puberty occurs at 8 months. For a year, a laying hen brings 140 eggs, weighing 40-50 g. The maternal instinct in hens is well developed, which allows them to be used to incubate other people's eggs.

The nature of the birds is friendly. They quickly move around the territory, can overcome high obstacles, so the enclosure must be fenced with a high fence. The breed is not distinguished by good immunity, which creates additional difficulties in breeding.

Pavlovskaya

Pavlovsk representatives have a memorable appearance. The puny body is gracefully elongated, which gives them a special appeal. The plumage covers the whole body. On the paws due to the magnificent plumage creates the "effect of the pants." The head is decorated with a crown-like crest, more pronounced in the rooster.

The color of Pavlovsky hens can be 2 types:

• golden with black spots;
• silver with black spots.

The weight of an adult chicken varies from 1.7–2.2 kg, of a rooster - 2.5–2.7 kg. Puberty occurs at the 5th month of life. For a year, the productivity is 160 eggs, weighing 50 g.

Females of this breed are calm, strolling around the yard. They are difficult to scare, as they always feel the protection of the male. Roosters often fight among themselves. The male can direct his aggression at the person.

Pavlovskaya breed of chickens is unpretentious in care, has high adaptive abilities. It tolerates frosts up to –30 ° С.Crested chicken breeds are distinguished by good productivity and remarkable appearance. Some of them are even used to produce high-quality fluff, for example, Chinese silk chicken.

Did you know? In chicken «repertoire» There are 24 sound signals through which they communicate with each other. Each of them is used only in certain situations. For example, clucking signals the approach of a land predator, and falling to the ground and barely audible "and-and-and" - a signal of the approach of a predator from the air.

A distinctive feature of all representatives of crested is a well-developed maternal instinct, which allows them to be used to incubate incubation material of other representatives of the poultry yard.