Mechelinskaya, Mechelnskaya, Mehelenskaya cuckoo, Malin are the names of one meat breed of chickens. Pre-revolutionary name - Cucu de Malin.
Variations in the name arose from the fact that the city of Mechelin, where it was bred, was very ancient and its name was pronounced differently in different centuries.
In Russia, it was these names that stuck - Malin and the Mechelen cuckoo (a speckled color played here, very similar to the plumage of the cuckoo).
In the historical homeland, in Belgium, this bird is very much appreciated, and for three decades already there has been a cult of chicken lovers of the Mecheln breed. The main task of the club is to promote the species, the organization of exhibitions and, of course, breed selection. In Russia, too, there are admirers.
Practical Belgians were puzzled at one time by breeding large meat poultry, so the genes were taken from Chinese Shanghai chickens and brahm. In the process of breeding added breeding material of Flanders cuckoo chickens. The result was a bird with excellent meat characteristics (these qualities are preserved in our days, foreign breeders are working to improve them).
Breed description Mecheln
Malin's chunky chickens, dense in their physique, this bird is clumsy, heavy on the rise (practically does not fly).
The wings are short, tight to the body. Torso landing - horizontal. The comb is medium in size, leaf-shaped, consists of 5-6 teeth of regular shape, dense, fleshy to the touch, red in color.
It is extremely rare to see individuals with a pod-like crest. The beard and earlobes are brightly decorated with cocks.. Eyes are orange-red, round. The beak is short, very strong, whitish. Raspberries have rich plumage on their feet (like the one that adorns the maranov and fireballs), strong legs, widely spaced.
The tail of the Mukhela cuckoos, even the roosters, is not very lush. In addition to its main purpose - the meat type, due to the large size and beautiful plumage, chickens and roosters look attractive, will be a good decoration of the poultry yard.
Since these are chicken meat, it is extremely important characteristics of meat raspberries. The meat is tender, juicy, fragrant, consists of fine fibers. In the historic homeland of the hens a specialty dish is cooked - Malinsky chicken.
Features
On the forums of poultry farmers such quality as excessive appetite and fastidiousness to the stern is attributed to the disadvantages of this breed. But this opinion is controversial, as opponents argue that chickens give a good weight gain.
The advantages of raspberries, in addition to the excellent taste characteristics of meat, can be attributed to their stable egg production. Another indisputable advantage: lack of standard to the conditions of detention.
Breeders joke: their name - the Mekhela cuckoo - these chickens did not get because of the color, but because, like real cuckoos, they do not like to sit on eggs.
Content and cultivation
Chickens of the Mecheln breed are rather large, therefore they require keeping in a spacious room. Raspberries, like other chickens of meat and meat-egg species, contain mostly outdoor, sometimes in cages. There are no special requirements for the litter, the standard one will be suitable (sawdust, straw cutting, dry leaf, etc.).
They practically do not fly, so a fence a little more than a meter high on the walking area will be enough for them. They have good immunity and fluffy plumage, due to these qualities, they tolerate cold quite well. Experienced breeders consider the optimum indoor temperature for chickens, including Raspberries, to be 12-16 ° C.
These chickens high egg fertility rate. About the fact that the hens do not like to sit on the eggs, already mentioned. In this case, the optimal incubation method of breeding. Chickens hatch together. The young growth is distinguished by a good survival rate, it is not susceptible to diseases, it is rapidly gaining weight. Raspberries are considered early ripening
Already at the age of one day, individuals can be easily distinguished by sex: in the hen there is a bright spot on the head, and the back is dark, almost black. Roosters have a white spot on the back. As noted by the breeders, the chickens are calm, when a person approaches, they do not panic.
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Adults also have a non-aggressive, calm disposition. Enough to go to contact with a person. Roosters vigilantly guard the hens from stranger attacks. The daily diet of an adult individual - 100-150 gr. balanced feed. Quickly give weight gain (weighty carcass by 5 months).
Specifications
The live weight of the rooster is 5 kg., And the live weight of the chicken is 4 kg.
Egg production an average of 140-160 eggs per year. In winter, with a full-fledged diet, there is no decline in egg production. Eggs are large, with good taste characteristics, rich in vitamins and trace elements. Egg weight - 60-65 gr. They start to sweep from about 6 months (this indicator depends on nutrition).
Where to buy in Russia?
The breeders of the furs of the Mecheln breed from the poultry breeders club have a good reputation.Fauna"In addition to breeding, participate in exhibitions, share practical experience in breeding poultry.
Club address: Moscow region, Yegoryevsk city, Vityaz sports complex. Also breeding raspberries engaged nursery "Bird village", his contacts: +7 (916) 795-66-55, +7 (905) 529-11-55.
Analogs
- Worthy competition for the weight and egg production of the Mechel chickens can be Brahma chicken, their weight is about the same; The eggs are slightly smaller, but the weight of the eggs is about the same.
- Chickens meat-egg type - Russian black bearded - correspond to the Mechel cuckoos by weight, egg production and egg weight.
As experienced breeders point out, the Mecheln hens are ideal for beginner poultry farmers, since:
- undemanding in the content;
- good returns on eggs and meat;
- quite common in our country, have a good gene pool.
