Content
One of the most common redbro breed today in western poultry farms is a large chicken, which some consider to be clean broilers, others to the meat and egg direction. It is not even clear whether it is a cross or a breed. Russian owners of chickens of this breed have long argued about this. But since this chicken is very similar to other similar breeds, it is difficult to say who exactly was bred by the person who claims that the redbro is a cross / breed.
It is believed that the redbro chickens are of English origin and were obtained as a result of crossing Cornish chickens with Malay fighting cocks brought to England. It was from the Malay roosters that the redbro chickens received large sizes.
At the same time, the Hubbard laboratory, which is engaged in the development of industrial crosses for large poultry farms, offers for sale three types of redbros: JA57 KI, M and S, - slightly different in their productive characteristics. This is not typical for breeds, but for industrial crosses. The redbro labs presented on the website are a breed of chickens, the description of which clearly indicates the presence of a recessive gene in females. The presence of this gene determines the phenotype of a rooster-looking chicken. The breed also usually does not have this.
Chickens of the Redbro breed, a detailed description with a photo
It is rather difficult to describe the breed of Redbro chickens without a photo clearly indicating the difference in types, since Hubbard does not provide a detailed layout by type. In Russia, this breed is referred to the meat and egg direction, in the west they are more and more inclined to believe that this is a slowly growing broiler, that is, a meat breed.
The general features of chickens of this breed are almost the same:
- large head with a leaf-like crest and a strong beak of medium size;
- comb, face, lobes and earrings are red;
- the neck is medium in size, set high, with a curve at the top;
- the position of the body depends on the type of cross. The JA57 KI and M have a horizontal body, the S body is at an angle to the horizon;
- the back and lower back are straight;
- wings are small, tightly pressed to the body;
- roosters' tail with black tail feathers. The braids are relatively short, black;
- metatarsus unfeathered, yellow;
- laying hens weight up to 3 kg, males up to 4.
Interestingly, a similar description is typical for Loman chickens brown, red highsex, foxy chick and many others. It is impossible to say, based on the above description of redbro chickens, which breed of roosters are in the photo below.
Meat productivity
Redbro is often referred to as a colored broiler for its rapid weight gain. By the age of 2 months, the chickens are already gaining 2.5 kg. Chickens of this breed really grow faster than usual meat and egg breeds, but are they really on a par with commercial broiler crosses?
Comparison of the productive characteristics of Cobb 500 and redbro chickens with the photo shows that the growth rate of redbro chickens is significantly inferior to commercial meat crosses.
A research farm in Maryland is raising two types of broiler chickens: the familiar Cobb 500 and the redbro color broiler. According to experts, Redbro chicks grow 25% slower than Cobb 500. Redbro chicks have less developed pectoral muscles, but more powerful thighs. And most importantly, the taste of redbro broiler meat is richer than that of the Cobb 500.
Comparative characteristics of Redbro and Cobb 500
| Breed | Cobb 500 | Redbro |
| Housing | Short legs, heavy body | Longer legs, lighter body, upright posture |
| Plumage | Feathered bellies are common | The whole body is fully feathered |
| Meat yield | Big breasts and wings | Big hips |
| Slaughter time | 48 days | 60 days |
At the same time, slow-growing chicken meat is gaining popularity, and many chicken producers are switching to products from slow-growing chickens. Basic basis: tastier meat. Companies such as Bon Appétit and Nestlé have already announced a gradual switch to slow-growing chickens. Bon Appétit claims that by 2024 its products will only be made from such chickens.
Comparison of feed consumption for the production of a kilogram of meat shows that regular broilers consume more feed per day than redbro. Broilers need to gain weight in time, which means they have a very good appetite. Redbros are more economical on a daily basis, but in the long run they consume more feed to produce a kilogram of meat. This is because redbros grow much less and, moreover, they are more mobile than conventional broilers, which means that “colored broilers” require more energy, which they spend on movement.
Egg production
The egg characteristics of redbro chickens are low, regardless of the type. For the egg breed, redbros begin to lay very late: at 5 - 6 months. There are also differences in egg production depending on the type of cross.
Type M in 64 weeks lays 193 eggs weighing 52 g. Of them 181 incubation eggs. Peak productivity 28 weeks.
Type S for the same time produces 182 eggs weighing 55 g. Incubation 172. Peak productivity 29 - 30 weeks. Type S has higher body weight.
For home keeping, the JA57 KI type is most convenient, which has a fairly high egg production: 222 eggs in 64 weeks with an egg weight of 54 g. Incubation eggs from this amount are 211. Peak productivity is 28 weeks. But in terms of meat indicators, this type is close to egg breeds.
Conditions of detention
Due to the similarity of redbro with other "red" breeds of chickens, it is difficult to find not only a video on growing redbro chickens at home, but in general any visual information about which we can confidently say that the video is about redbro.
According to the manufacturer, that is, all of the same Hubbard company, redbros are good primarily for private farms, since their content and diet practically do not differ from the conditions for traditional chicken breeds bred by the method of folk selection.
As with any heavy chicken, outdoor or low perching is preferable for redbro.
Therefore, the device of perches with a ladder, along which chickens can climb a high pole, is undesirable. They will be able to climb, but they are unlikely to guess going down the stairs. Jumping from a height can damage the chicken's paws.
Thanks to the calm nature indicated in the description of the Redbro breed, reviews of chickens on foreign sites sound something like this: “I was very impressed with these chickens in terms of endurance and ability to consume any feed. It was fun to watch them free-range. They have no problems with their legs, they grow well. They are very active. Promise in the future to acquire a fleshy breast and powerful muscular legs. "
Information from the video of a foreign user only confirms this review.
The five-week-old chicks in the video do look very large and powerful. But the author of the video bought these chickens on a farm controlled by the relevant services and giving a guarantee of the sale of purebred poultry.
The comparative photo shows that in the same area there are significantly fewer colored chickens than conventional broilers.
Reviews of redbro chickens from Russian users can even be negative.And it is most likely that the matter is not in violation of the content of these chicken crosses, but in the fact that they were not bought at all redbro.
Pros of redbro
Due to their lighter body and better feathering, they do not have bedsores and ulcers, like broiler crosses. Bad feathering of common broilers is clearly visible in the photo.
The lack of a feather interferes with keeping an ordinary broiler in a private backyard. Such a bird needs special conditions. In contrast to conventional broilers, the S cross is doing well running around the yard with another bird. The plumage of the redbro is of good quality.
The pluses include the resistance of crosses to diseases, which does not negate the routine vaccination. In addition, these crosses tolerate cold well, which makes them almost ideal for keeping in the Russian climate. But due to the small number of these chickens in Russia, it is not yet clear whether they can be bred as a breed or is it really a cross that will split in the second generation.
The only drawbacks are slow growth, late maturity of layers and higher feed consumption than broilers.
The diet
With today's demands for chicken meat to be sourced from a "free and happy chicken," Hubbard began producing crosses that could live like a country bird. Therefore, redbro crosses really do not need a special diet.
Chicks are fed in the same way as chicks from a regular laying hen would be fed. In the early days, feed rich in protein. Later, the chickens are transferred to the diet of adult chickens. What exactly to feed his bird is up to the owner himself, depending on his own views and preferences. “Colored broilers” successfully absorb both industrial compound feed and self-made grain mixtures and wet mash.
Free-range in summer, the redbro will find greens on its own. In winter, they will need to be fed with finely chopped vegetables and root crops.
Reviews of Russian owners of the Redbro chicken breed
Conclusion
The description of the Redbro breed, photos of chickens and reviews about them are very contradictory, since these chickens are often confused with other birds of a similar color. In particular, one can even find statements that the redbro was bred in Hungary and is one of the breeds that are called Hungarian giant... Therefore, guaranteed purebred Redbros can only be bought from reputable breeding farms or directly from Hubbard's laboratory. But redbro is now gaining popularity among industrial producers, so soon chickens of this breed will be as easy as the egg and meat crosses that are now being bred.
Several times I took RedBro chickens, I like the breed, I refused broilers the first time, I did not start them again. The only problem with RedBro is his propensity to disease. The roosters have reached a size of 3 to 4 kg, I took it at the end of May, now the chickens have entered, the eggs are small, but I don't need it. But I just don't know if it is possible to leave the chickens until next year, which of these eggs to get a brood
Hello. The Redbro is not a breed, but a Hubbard industrial cross. They have broilers, all-rounders and egg crosses. You refused broilers, so you have either a universal or an egg cross? Then they are not threatened with death from gaining too much muscle mass and the chickens can be left for next year.
The issue of obtaining a brood is more complicated. Since this is a cross, the offspring will have splitting traits. In other words, even Hubbard specialists will not tell you what quality the second generation chickens will grow up to. Although they have a simulator of getting crosses from crosses on their website. the original material is Hubbard products, but when crossed with certain types of crosses, offspring with specified characteristics can be obtained. True, you can not cross chickens from the same cross. That is, for example, a Redbro M chicken cannot be crossed with a Redbro M. rooster, but it can be crossed with a Redbro or New Hampshire rooster. And they have strict rules of who to breed with to get the desired result.
Second point: industrial crosses are usually very bad with hatching instinct. That is, an incubator is required to obtain chickens.
If you are just interested in getting offspring from these chickens, then, of course, you can do it. The chicks will hatch.