Meat and egg varieties of laying hens are gaining popularity. Their breeding is justified by the most tender meat and stable egg-laying. These varieties include the Master Gray hybrid breed of chickens. Birds are a cross, which is extremely rare.
History of origin
The hybrid was created by the Hubbard organization. This is an international company with laboratories where selection work is carried out, located in France, Germany, and the USA. The same organization bred several varieties of the hybrid: master gray M and master gray S.
Thanks to a whole network of laboratories, hatching eggs of the breed from Hungary got to Ukraine. The progenitors of Master Gray chickens are unknown, as specialists of the breeding company keep such information a secret. However, many farmers assume that the Rebro breed was used as a basis when creating the hybrid.
Description of the breed
According to the description, the breed of Master Gray chickens is similar to Foxy Chick. The only difference is in the color of the plumage. Foxy chick is fiery red.
Appearance
The description of the breed should begin with the exterior. Chickens are distinguished by a peculiar coloring – gray and white shades constantly alternate. However, there are also places that are darker in color – the neck, tail, wings. The back and abdomen are covered with light plumage, where the alternation of shades is not so clearly visible. The feathers on the tails are not particularly long.
In appearance, individuals of the Master Gray breed are similar to the classic broiler. Combs and earrings are rich red. They are well developed. The shape of the comb resembles a tree leaf.
Chickens
They are distinguished by a massive physique. Paws are strong, medium in length, rich yellow shade with light claws. A strong skeleton is explained by body weight.
Well-developed breasts, which allows you to get a lot of white meat from one individual. The front part of the head of laying hens is smooth, red in color, with whitish bristles. The eyes are round, and the iris is orange.
Chickens
After hatching, the chicks are covered with white down. The tips of the wings and the top are distinguished by gray fluff. On the third day, chicks begin to actively cover themselves with feathers. It differs in lighter shades from the plumage of an adult.
Nature
Cross has a peaceful character. Males are not fearful and do not attack, if other inhabitants of the chicken coop do not behave aggressively, they exist peacefully with other birds.
Not timid. The chicken has no attachment to the owner. Hens do not experience stress when the environment changes, and the egg-laying does not deteriorate.
The difference between a rooster and a chicken
The difference between males and females is obvious. Chickens are smaller in weight. The body of the female is characterized by rounded shapes with a bulging breast and abdomen. Master Gray roosters have an elongated body shape with a taut stomach and less bulging chest.
Comparison with broilers
Broiler breeds require careful care. They should be kept in buildings where a constant temperature is maintained. With any deviation, the young die. The diet is only balanced, complete, containing special additives. Broilers were created for growing in specialized poultry houses with greenhouse conditions.
The hybrid was created taking into account the shortcomings of broilers. During selection, they were eliminated. They grow crosses in the yard. According to the description, the Master Gray breed is hardy, calm, stress-resistant.
Laying and productivity
The first clutches appear three months after hatching. This is rare for egg breeds. With proper care, a chicken can lay at least 300 eggs a year. However, by two years, the indicator decreases by almost 40%. Up to 340 eggs are obtained from individual individuals. These indicators put Master Gray on the same level as egg breeds. The weight of the egg is 70 grams. The number of eggs is reduced due to improper diet or maintenance. As for meat, one hen weighs 3000-3500 g, and a rooster – up to 7000 g
Maintenance features
Chickens do not require special housing conditions. They are raised as poultry. There is no need to introduce expensive supplements, equip chicken coops with specialized feeders or drinkers. You can keep such a bird indoors, in cages. They behave calmly in the pens for grazing.
Feeding
In summer, laying hens are fed 2 times, in winter – 3 times. Chickens kept in cages are recommended to be fed at least three times a day in summer.
To obtain eggs, chickens are given products containing protein and carbohydrates, for example, fermented milk products, oats, sprouted grain, nuts, fish meal. You also need more products containing tocopherol (E) and calcium. Vitamin E contains spinach, pumpkin, dandelions and other herbs. Dairy products, especially cheese and sour milk, are rich in calcium. Roosters fattened for slaughter are fed protein food (lentils, peas) at a certain time once a day (morning or evening).
According to the classic scheme, compound feed is mixed with vegetables and herbs. It is given twice a day. Such feed is considered balanced. In the morning and in the evening, it is recommended to give grain to laying hens. This allows individuals to gain weight without reducing their reproductive capacity.
In the diet of laying hens, flour from animal bones is added, and in winter – from grasses. Without these components, the health of chickens can deteriorate. This can be determined by the state of plumage and indicators of laying.
Beets, carrots, corn, cake, wheat, fish meal should be present in the diet.
The main products for chickens are vegetables, herbs, grain.
The table shows the amount of food per kilogram of body weight gain:
| The age of the laying hen | Average mass, g | The amount of feed for each kilogram of weight |
| 2 weeks | 300 | 1.3 |
| 35 days | 1245 | 1.7 |
| 9 weeks | 2550 | 2,3 |
To strengthen the bones, conch shell, chalk, milk extract, and crushed limestone are introduced into the diet.
Keeping in a chicken coop with free range
When equipping a chicken coop, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the breed. For 20 individuals, a room with an area of 10 square meters is required. It is forbidden to sit high. When falling from them, chickens can be seriously injured due to their heavy weight. This can cause the death of the bird. Seats are made at a height of no more than 50 cm from the floor. At the same time, the structure is equipped with a ladder.
Nests are installed at a height of 40 cm from the floor. At the same time, their size should be 35 by 40 cm.
The ideal option for chickens of this breed is to replace the perches with boxes filled with sawdust.
Laying hens cannot withstand a sharp drop in temperature in the hen house – they begin to get sick and die. When breeding chickens in the regions north of the Middle Strip, it is necessary to build heating rooms. There should be no dampness and drafts in such a chicken coop. The room is made dry and warm. Cleanliness is constantly maintained.
To reduce humidity in the chicken coop, lime is sprinkled under the litter layer.
The paddock for walking should correspond to the size of the livestock: 16 square meters are needed for 10 individuals. A bird of this breed likes to walk if the air temperature does not fall below -5 ˚С. In severe cold weather, frostbite of combs and paws is noted in chickens. This affects the number of layers. The optimal temperature in the chicken coop should be maintained within 2-30 ˚С.
Caring for birds also requires a regular change of bedding. It should be shallow. Sawdust, straw, peat are suitable. Sand cannot be used – it is a cold accumulator, unless infrared lamps are installed above it.
Drinkers and feeders, which can be easily removed and washed, must be installed in the chicken coop. A box filled with ashes is installed in the room for the chickens to bathe.
In order for laying hens to be able to freely go out into the pen for walks, the henhouse is equipped with special perches. At night and with the onset of cold weather, they should be closed. In the paddock, it is recommended to periodically sow herbs, for example, clover. When choosing a place for setting up a unit, preference is given to quiet areas. So that laying hens are not injured on a hot day, shade is created – sheds are built, bushes are planted. Drinkers with clean water should be installed in the corral.
Keeping in cages
Cross can be contained in cages. Such conditions are typical for large poultry farms. Laying hens will be kept in multi-level chicken coops. Due to their low mobility, individuals quickly gain weight. At the same time, farmers need to carefully consider the diet of poultry in order to avoid obesity.
Linka
After 7-8 months after hatching, individuals begin to molt. To reduce stress for chickens, special additives containing nutritional components are introduced into their diet. Liquid vitamins are added to the water.
In adults, molting begins in October. The change of plumage deals a blow to immunity, because almost all the resources of the bird are spent on the formation of new feathers. Molting is marked not only by the deterioration of the spring appearance, but also by a decrease in egg production by 40%. Performance is restored after 2 months.
During molting, chickens are covered with bald patches. Because of this, laying hens can freeze. During this period, the bird is protected from drafts, humidity, and fully fed.
Diseases and prevention
If laying hens are kept in improper conditions, poorly fed, the risk of infection with infectious and non-infectious diseases and parasites increases. This affects the performance characteristics: the number of lays decreases, weight loss is noted.
The table shows the main parasites and symptoms of infection with them:
| vermin | symptoms |
| Red tick. Dangerous for humans | Decrease in gestation and weight, development of anemia |
| Feather mite | In severe cases, parasites are visible in the nostrils, near the eyes. Laying hens lose weight quickly. At the same time, baldness appears in sick individuals due to the loss of feathers. |
| Acariform parasites | Decreased carrying capacity and rapid weight loss. Chickens do not eat well. |
With such diseases as mycoplasmosis, pasteurellosis, salmonellosis, other symptoms may occur in birds:
- depressed state, lethargy;
- thirst;
- foamy or purulent discharge from the eyes;
- wheezing and coughing;
- pale crest;
- foamy, green or white diarrhea with an admixture of blood;
- impaired coordination of movements.
A daily examination of the head of each livestock individual will help to identify a sick laying hen in a timely manner and isolate it.
If any signs of illness are detected, it is recommended to seek help from a veterinarian.
For treatment, standard measures are carried out:
- Affected individuals are isolated.
- The chicken coop is disinfected, and the birds are transferred to another structure.
- All feeders, drinkers and other equipment with which laying hens came in contact, are fried or treated with a hot 5% soda solution.
- The laying hen is treated with chemical means, for example, “Ekoflis”, “Ivermerk”, “Iretrium”. Folk remedies are also used, for example, wood ash, garlic, mint, tar, bitter wormwood and vegetable oils.
For the prevention of diseases, chicken coops are equipped with quartz lamps, they sense the air and destroy parasites. Turn on the equipment only if the birds have left the premises.
Crossbreeding
Master Gray belongs to hybrids. You will not be able to breed laying hens yourself, because the chicks obtained by crossing a rooster and a hen of this breed lose their parental characteristics. To grow laying hens and change the stock, you will have to buy hatching eggs or young animals at specialized farms.
Experienced breeders cross Master Gray roosters with raspberry, orpington, australorp laying hens to obtain meat chickens. The fertility of such offspring is significantly reduced.
Caring for the young
Chicks are characterized by vitality. From a population of 100 individuals, no more than 3 can be lost during the first week after hatching. The chicks are immediately given time to dry and transferred to the brooder, where the temperature is maintained within 30 ˚С. Gradually, this indicator is reduced. After 2 weeks, the young begin to get accustomed to the conditions of the external environment.
Inside the chicks’ housing, they maintain cleanliness. Wet bedding is regularly replaced with dry. On the first day after hatching, it is recommended to use cotton fabric as bedding – it is easily changed and absorbs well. When the young grow up, the floor can be covered with wood shavings.
Feed
The health of chicks depends on the correct diet. Hard-boiled eggs are given daily. On the second day, onion stalks are added to the food. Then the chickens are transferred to the starter compound feed. Vegetables are gradually introduced into the diet of the young. For example, carrots, zucchini, pumpkin. The products are pre-shredded on a grater. Young people like wet mixtures, prepared not on water, but on whey, with greens, steamed millet.
The young must receive food of animal origin. 2 times during 7 days, chicks are given low-fat cheese, boiled fish of white varieties.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages include:
- the beginning of pregnancy in 3-3.5 months;
- stress resistance;
- unpretentiousness to food and housing conditions;
- calm temperament;
- endurance;
- survival of young within 96-97%;
- appearance;
- immunity;
- the opportunity to receive both meat and eggs;
- product taste.
Disadvantages include the inability of the young to retain parental traits when breeding the breed at home.