In breeder farms, they usually want to breed birds that are distinguished by high aesthetic value and high productivity. The Spanish Minorca is a breed of chickens that meets both parameters: it combines high productivity and beautiful appearance.

In the Mediterranean Sea among the Balearic Islands is about. Menorca. It was from there that this bird originated and got its name. It came to Europe, from where it spread throughout England. Minorca chickens came to Russia together with the Turkish khan at the end of the 19th century. The meat tastes excellent and is kept by many for cooking.

The breed has three different lines, with different selection times:

  • Spanish chickens. They are distinguished by black plumage with a greenish overflow, a small head, a leaf-shaped comb, which sticks out vertically in roosters, and falls off in layers without covering eyes. Bird earrings are large, bright red. The head of roosters does not have plumage. The beaks are black. Rounded chest, long trapezoidal body, strong wings and belly. Legs are strong, high, dark shades.
  • British Minorks are white in color. The comb may be in the shape of a rose, the eyes are red. Beak and limbs are light pink. Minorca white chickens are somewhat larger than the breed standard of the Spanish variety;
  • A dwarf standard developed in Germany. Much lower in size than other subspecies. Female up to 800g, male up to 1kg.

Minorki-white chickens: description

Has an egg breeding orientation. Animals have different sizes depending on the origin. So, Spanish birds can weigh up to 3 kilograms males and up to 2.5 females, and British whites are significantly larger in size - up to 4 kg in males and up to 3.5 in quads.

The breed is highly productive. Specifications:

  • The meat yield from one slaughtered individual can reach 3 kilograms;
  • In the first year of life, hens lay up to 170 eggs, in the second, a little less, up to 140. German dwarf birds bring up to 120 eggs;
  • The eggs have a high mass, so first-year-olds lay eggs weighing up to 60 g, in mature individuals it reaches 80 g, dwarf breeds lay eggs weighing from 35 g.

Breed of Leghorn laying hens

Breeding and keeping

Hungarian giant (breed of chickens): description

According to the description of the Minorca chicken breed, they are distinguished by their unpretentious content. However, they require some special conditions:

  • They do not tolerate the cold well, therefore it is necessary to equip the poultry house with heating for the winter period;
  • Roosts should not be more than 75% off the floor;
  • The coop should be large in size, without drafts;
  • In winter, you will need to cover the ridges with fat to prevent hypothermia;

On a note.Feeding chickens is no different from other breeds. In the first days, it is required to give a crushed chicken egg, fermented milk products, with age, transferring to compound feed. Vegetables, fresh herbs and vitamin complexes are added to the diet. Adults can be fed dry compound feed, adding cereal mixtures and shell rock.

The incubation instinct of chickens is weak, so eggs need to be incubated. For this, eggs are selected from one-year-old and older chickens. Chicks do not tolerate cold well, so the brooder needs to maintain a stable high temperature in accordance with age requirements.

Advantages and disadvantages

Bress Gallic breed of chickens

Their main positive aspects:

  • Large egg size and early onset of egg production, from the age of 5 months;
  • Calm disposition, they will get along with other breeds;
  • Delicious meat;
  • Aesthetics;

The disadvantages include:

  • Poor tolerance to cold and high humidity;
  • Shy character:
  • Lack of incubation instinct.

To decide to breed these unusual productive birds, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons.