Kokhinkhiny chickens are birds that are popular with many farmers. They are valued for their productive qualities, the ability to obtain delicate dietary meat and egg products. Breeding chickens is considered a profitable business, but requires some additional investments.
Origin history
The ancestors of the Kokhinkhins are large birds native to Indochina. Birds were bred in large numbers in Vietnam, in the Kokhinhin region in the Mekong Delta. Hence the name of the breed. Hens were recorded in the 19th century. They entered the territory of Europe in 1843, and appeared in Russia only at the end of the 19th century.
Russian breeders appreciated the quality of this bird and derived on its basis a lot of different crosses of the meat-and-egg direction - they are often similar to Kokhinkhin.
Description of appearance and other characteristics
Cochinchins are large, massive birds with a muscular, wide chest, short and voluminous back. A distinctive feature is a pronounced bend during the transition from the neck to the shoulders. The rooster of this breed has short braids on its tail.
On a short neck there is a small head with a short curved beak of yellow color, small red-orange eyes and a leaf-shaped crest. A massive body on short and strong legs with well-developed legs makes this bird recognizable. Roosters have small wings.
Chickens of this breed in comparison with roosters have a lower figure, a stocky neck with a short tail. The body of the bird is slightly tilted forward, which makes it appear that it is a massive and squat bird.
There are individuals with different colors, the characteristic shade depends on the subspecies. But the plumage of the bird is magnificent, loose, due to which the chickens resemble a spherical creature. Under the plumage, the legs of the bird are hidden - it protects the birds from cold weather.
Birds are considered peaceful and non-aggressive animals. They easily come in contact with people, are tame. These are phlegmatic birds who prefer a measured, leisurely lifestyle.
Productive Characteristics
Compared with highly productive cross-chickens used in modern industrial poultry, the productive characteristics of Kokhinkhins are not so high. For a year, laying hens give about 100-120 brown eggs. The weight of one egg varies between 50-60 grams. A distinctive feature of the birds of this breed is that, unlike their other relatives, they rush not in summer, but in winter and spring.
The average weight of a rooster is 4.3-5 kilograms, and laying hens are 3.5-4 kilograms. Young growth does not grow too fast. By the 4th month of life, the weight of the bird reaches 2.5 kilograms. Puberty comes quite late. For these reasons, laying hens are rarely bred to produce egg products.
Although the Kokhinkhins have tender and tasty meat, one fat produces a lot of fat, because birds are predisposed to obesity.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Birds have many advantages:
- Beautiful exterior. Cochinchins are decorative birds that attract with their extraordinary appearance. Each of the subspecies attracts attention. All species of birds are good, but dwarf Cochinchins are particularly distinguished by their appearance.
- Massive body. For a long time, the breed was considered not only decorative, but also meat. And it was quite justified. But today, when the early maturity, and not the weight of the bird, is important, the Kokhinkhins are not in demand in industrial poultry farming. But such indicators quite suit farmers who breed birds in a private compound. Birds are considered a suitable option for personal consumption.
- Undemanding in leaving. It is difficult to find a breed that would be compared with the Kokhinkhins in maintenance and care - the farmer does not need to make special efforts. Animals do not need special conditions and feed. It is enough to provide them with the minimum necessary. In addition, chickens are able to adapt to cramped conditions, which allows them to be kept in a small house, if there is no way to build a spacious chicken coop.
- Peaceful and calm disposition. Cochinchins are considered friendly, non-aggressive birds, so there are no problems when keeping with other chickens. Animals of this breed do not fly, not prone to damage to property, fights and conflicts. Easy to get in touch with people.
- Good egg production in winter. If most other breeds lay the maximum number of eggs in the summer, Kokhinkhiny rush better in the winter and spring. This allows you to use them to compensate for the winter decline in productivity in ordinary birds.
But the breed also has some negative qualities:
- relatively low breed prevalence;
- difficulty in breeding breeding individuals;
- high cost of birds;
- the need for feeding in exact dosages.
Some farmers point out that some difficulties arise when rearing young animals. Chicks grow slowly, at an early age they are especially susceptible to disease. After acquiring new birds, it is required to isolate them for a while from the entire population. Chickens are born without plumage, and the characteristics inherent in the breed appear only after a year.
Varieties of Kokhinkhin
Unlike the species, Kokhinkhiny are found in different colors. The subspecies of this breed include the following varieties described below.
Black
Cochinchins of this species are considered the most common. They have black plumage and rods - shimmer with a green tint. There may be specimens with white down on their feet, but it is hiding under the wings. The bird has yellowish or greenish metatarsals, a dark yellow beak.
The marriage of the bird is evidenced by a purple tint of the main color, brown spots and black metatarsals. Animals with a dark horny beak may be found, but this is acceptable.
Whites
White birds have completely white plumage. There are specimens with a silver tint. Birds have a small yellow beak. Metatarsus is white or with a yellow-green tint. If the white Kokhinkhin feathers with a yellow tint - indicates marriage.
Silver-edged
Silver-bordered Cochinchins have a light edging and feather color. They are rare, but are considered one of the most beautiful species of this breed.
Fawn
Fawn, or rather yellow Kokhinkhiny - no less famous. The birds have shiny, bright red or yellow feathers. All parts of the body, including beak, metatarsus, and down, are painted in such a shade. On the wings and in the tail, let us say a bronze tint. The presence of black feathers or their rods, a white or red shade of a feather, white fluff, indicates marriage.
Partridge
This species includes roosters in which the head and the area to the shoulders is colored in a red-brown shade. Partridge birds also have a golden brown lower back, and a chest of black-brown color. Inside and outside the wings are black, across which is a dark strip with a green tint. These birds have a dark gray metatarsus and tail. Golden feathers are decorated with black strokes along the stem.
Partridge layers are dominated by golden brown tones. On the feathers there is a multi-row border. The collar and tail of the birds range from dark brown to black. Beak and metatarsus are yellow. Occasionally, individuals with a dark-horned beak are found.
Marriages include birds in which the feathers of the body are colored red, white spots are located on the wings and tail, there are bright spots on the stomach and chest, and there is no clear pattern on the feathers.
Blue
Blue birds have a gray-blue feather. Sometimes the "collar", back and wings of chickens can dominate a darker, close to black shade. Down is white. Animals have emerald or yellow metatarsus and beak.
The peculiarity of this variety is the velvety texture of the pen. If the blue subspecies has white feathers in the tail, the red or brown tint of the main color is a marriage.
Dwarf
Dwarf Kokhinkhiny are a decorative subspecies of cross-country. They were bred parallel to standard birds. They have the same body shape, stocky, muscular. But at the same time, the size of the birds is much smaller, and their weight varies from 650-800 grams. The individuals have soft plumage and a spherical tail. The legs are short and not so feathered. Usually there are specimens with golden plumage.
Care and maintenance
Cochinchins are unpretentious birds, due to which their maintenance is considered easy. They feel comfortable in the chicken coops, are not prone to aggression, they behave calmly. Another advantage of birds is considered excellent resistance to weather conditions. Magnificent plumage protects birds from severe frosts, they do not need additional heating.
How to build a chicken coop with your own hands is described in this article.
Arrangement of a house and a walking area
In individual enclosures, no more than two birds per 1 square meter of area. A tight fit can cause the animals to wither, their wings bend. In the common room it is allowed to set low perches - birds cannot fly, therefore they cannot climb high.
A prerequisite is dryness in the house and perfect cleanliness. If you do not monitor the litter, do not remove the droppings, the plumage of the birds will become contaminated, which may ultimately lead to disease. The light regime in winter should be 14-16 hours a day. The temperature in the chicken coop is 14-18 degrees Celsius, the humidity level should not exceed 65%.
For walking it is permissible to use any enclosure where a lot of grass and other vegetation grows. The height of the aviary is about 1 meter. A grid is used as a limiter. Birds will enjoy the space, because they like to run. Be sure to organize a shadow canopy - this will save the birds from overheating.
Feeding
Due to the tendency to obesity, you will have to limit the birds and feed them strictly in the recommended proportions. If chickens are fed natural feeds, the menu should contain whole grains of cereals such as barley, wheat, oats.
Almost half of the diet is necessarily vegetables and greens. As greens, it is better to use vegetable tops, alfalfa, clover, nettle. It is advisable to add boiled root vegetables and bran to the feed.
Read more about feeding laying hens here.
If the farmer prefers to feed Kokhinkhin with mixed feed, then it is advisable for them to give low-calorie mixtures. It is required to add chalk, vitamins, bone meal to natural feeds and animal feed. In the summer, boiled cauliflower and zucchini will not hurt. It is sometimes permissible to fatten animals with kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt as vitamins and a source of calcium.
It is necessary to give protein supplements no more than twice a week. Excess protein can lead to obesity. For these reasons, chickens of this breed are rarely given bread and potatoes. An increased amount of protein in the diet is shown exclusively during the mating period in males and in young animals up to 4 months of life. Starting from 5 months, you need to reduce the amount of protein.
Kokhinkhin breeding
If the house has decided to breed Kokhinkhin at home, it is necessary to first form the first family of birds. This requires the purchase of young animals, and not to remove the chicks from the incubator. The correct fertilization process is ensured in the presence of one rooster and five females.
During mating, it is necessary to separate the male and the female - this will prevent damage to the plumage. During this period, proteins should be present in the diet of the rooster, and in hens - the minimum amount of protein products.
After offspring, strong individuals are selected. The chicks should be strong, in properly developed individuals, a crest with uniform color, eyes are convex with a characteristic sheen.
Hatching and maternal instinct
In chickens of this breed, the maternal instinct is well developed, they are able to hatch eggs to the end. But it is possible that birds can crush eggs with their mass. For this reason, farmers occasionally use an incubator or other hens to breed their chicks.
Besides the fact that they patiently hatch the chicks, in the future they are able to take care and educate them. The chicks fledge slowly, the females warm them, covering them with fluffy wings.
Molting period
The Kokhinkhins' molting period begins in the fall. At this time, the body of birds especially needs vitamins, enhanced nutrition - this contributes to a speedy recovery. Shedding lasts for a month, egg laying at this point stops. Only after the birds regain their plumage, the bearing begins.
Disease treatment
Chickens of this breed, like the rest of any birds, are prone to many diseases. The table shows the most common diseases of chickens and ways to combat them:
Disease | Symptoms | Treatment |
Tuberculosis | Appetite decreases, limbs are paralyzed, productivity decreases. Birds become lethargic. | Special drugs are used, but because of their high cost, farmers rarely fight the disease. |
Salmonellosis | Digestion is broken, chickens are exhausted, egg production is reduced. | Apply antibiotics. Sick birds are isolated, the room is treated with disinfectants. |
Parasitic diseases | Diarrhea, sometimes with spotting. | Antiparasitic drugs are used to combat the disease. |
Colibacillosis | In addition to lethargy of birds, severe suffocation suffers. They refuse to eat, their mucous membranes acquire a bluish tint. | There is no cure. Sick birds are killed, and healthy chickens are soldered with a solution of furatsilin and antibiotics for prevention. |
Pasteurellosis | Birds become lethargic, they lose their appetite, there is a strong thirst. Feces become greenish-yellow often with bloody discharge. Often, foam is released from the nose. | Young animals die of the disease 2-3 days after the onset of the first signs. They treat birds with injections of antibiotics and hyperimmune serum. |
Growing chickens
If you take good care of the chicks, their survival rate becomes high - 90-95%. Taking into account that the Kokhinkhins have a slowed metabolism, the farmer should not overfeed the birds. They need a clear amount of servings and adherence to a diet. This will prevent obesity in the future.
Noticing that the chickens intensively begin to fledge, the poultry breeder needs to introduce cabbage and pumpkin into the diet. These vegetables will help plumage, protect birds from worms. It is also advisable to add gravel 1 time per week - 2 grams per 1 chicken. Up to 3 times a week, a solution of potassium permanganate should be given - this is an excellent prophylactic and immunostimulating agent.
When the baby is 5 days old from birth, vitamins begin to be included in his diet. Vitamins A, E, D are useful for chicks. Self-preparation of a fortified mixture is also acceptable. Combine the following ingredients:
- vegetable oil - 500 ml;
- vitamin A - 2.5 ml;
- vitamin E - 2.5 ml;
- Vitamin D2 - 2.5 ml.
The resulting mixture must be stored in the refrigerator. Vitamins are purchased in the pharmacy in the form of oils. For 1 kilogram of feed, 1 teaspoon of the mixture is used. For better bird growth, it is recommended to feed them with industrial feed, because they are balanced and allow you to quickly achieve the desired result. Combined feeds contain vitamins and proteins that poultry grown for meat needs.
From the first days of life, it is important to provide good care for young animals.A prerequisite is setting the regime and a balanced diet. It is not recommended to introduce new products until the gastrointestinal tract improves in children.
Prospects and Benefits
It is believed that Kokhinkhiny is an excellent choice for breeding in Russia. Chickens are not hot in the southern regions, warm in the northern.
Due to the fact that the breed does not differ in high productive indicators, it is not profitable to purchase it only for meat carcasses and eggs. If they want to breed a bird solely for decorative purposes, then Kokhinkhiny are considered a worthy option.
Where to buy and at what price?
Cochinchins are popular chickens in Europe. They are cultivated on mini-farms and in household plots in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, France. Hens take an active part in agricultural exhibitions. In Russia, the breed is considered one of the rarest.
You can buy an egg for incubation or young breeds in specialized nurseries. The cost of birds is unreasonably high, but at the same time, the breeders guarantee that the breed is “clean” and fully complies with the standards. An adult bird will cost up to 8 thousand rubles. The cost of an incubation egg is up to 200 rubles.
Reviews
Usually, reviews about Kokhinkhins are positive, because decorativeness and simple bird care are considered a big plus for some farmers.
Olga, 47 years old, farmer. Kokhinhinov began to breed exclusively as decorative animals. Most of all I liked the appearance of dwarf birds. I buy ready-made feed for them, which helps me save time and not cook food for the birds on my own. Of course, there are few eggs, but I knew about this feature. On the other hand - not for this I bought them. I get meat carcasses and eggs from other breeds, which I breed for specific purposes.
Victor, 41, a breeder. I liked the hens of black and white, just fell to the soul, could not pass by. I bought hatching eggs from the breeder - 10 pieces. Of these, 9 survived. The chicks adapt perfectly to the cold climate. The disadvantage of birds is that in the winter they feed heavily, probably the food helps them warm up. Although they give little eggs, this is quite enough for our family. We are also always provided with tasty meat, and for sale it remains “urban”. For eggs, I got myself chicken eggs.
Valeria, 38 years old, a housewife. I have been breeding animals for over 8 years. I like the hens of Cochin. I think that they are worthy of many other breeds. She noted for herself that there are no difficulties in keeping and care - birds are undemanding, behave peacefully, show good productive qualities. In general, I am satisfied.
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Kokhinhin chickens are nice, peaceful and friendly birds with an attractive appearance. Animals are unpretentious in care, are characterized by ease in keeping. There are no special difficulties when breeding birds, if you follow all the necessary rules, do not forget about proper feeding, cleaning in the house.
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Ukraine. City: Kryvyi Rih
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