In this opportunity, we are going to mention some fine and quite old hens, the Blue Andalusian Hen. When black hens are crossed with other hens but in this case white, if the color of the latter is not dominant, the offspring appears with a gray or ashen plumage, more or less irregular, depending on the purity of the crossed colors. These ashy birds have been frequent in the rural henhouses of Andalusia and around Gibraltar.
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Origin and history
When black birds with white cross with each other in the color of the latter is not dominant, it appears that the offspring of a more or less irregular or ashen plumage, according to the purity of the cross colors. These descendants of birds have always been and still is frequent in rural cooperatives in the Andalusian provinces, breeders from the rest of Spain and around Gibraltar, probably came to England.
These beautiful blue Andalusian hens originated in a beautiful Spanish region of Andalusia (hence the name), but has always been known in England and the United States. It is an old breed and very robust, they are lovely to look for the elegant, majestic and delicate blue-tailed body suit delicate, and is a collector of the field, very active.
The history of the blue Andalusian hen is not known, but it is likely to take root in the race of black type.in Spanish similar to the same, but a little lighter in weight. At like the other breeds of Mediterranean origin have white earlobes, and is a large egg white coat.The ideal color pencil is a beautiful slate blue with a narrow bead of a darker blue.
The male has a glossy bluish-black coat, sometimes shaded by a ton of gray skin color.The is white, the legs and claws or toes are leaden blue, the chicks are not likely to cluckle. The Andalusian blue hens, first imported to England by Mr. Leonard Barber 1846-1847, from a man in Jerez de la Frontera.
In 1851, Mr. Coles and Mr. John Farnham Taylor in Shepherds Bush, also imported more open-minded Andalusian chickens from Cornwall and Devon were distributed. The new arrivals were small and ugly. but they attracted attention by their hearty attitude and the extra large size of their eggs. To improve the volume and trim their color, they are repeatedly crossed with other breeds, especially the Castilian (Spanish) and Menorca, to improve the comb.
The purebred type, which is quite different from Menorca, has a small convex arch at the front, reaching further behind the head, and more points or spikes on the crest. Due to the necessity of the blue Andalusian hen, the arms fall on one side of the head without covering the eye. The race was first shown at the Baker Street Show in London in January 1853. Meet the Escribano Soteño.
Sometime between 1850 and 1855, Andalusian chickens were brought to America. The blue Andalusian hen was recognized by the American Poultry Association as a breed standard in 1874. The main breed distinction of the Andalusian hen is the blue plumage. Each feather should be of a light slate blue, clearly laced with dark blue or black. These blue-colored birds are produced as a result of crossing black birds with white birds.
The transformation from gray plumage of primitive birds irregular dirty, dark gray slate perfect flank (mind whimsical blue flame) today distinguishes this race is one of the most honorable and best oriented enterprises reached how many have been out of the English farmers of cattle in the spring field. In their hands, they came to Andalusia to be the favorite birds of all risks, without losing any of its magnificent qualities of utilitarian exploitation.
General description
The scientific name of the chicken is Gallus gallus domesticus, it is the gallinaceous group is a bird covered with feathers, plays the important role in the chicken’s body, as it is to protect it from heat, cold, rain, sun thunder and even scratches. This bird has several bumps on the head called the crest and wattles, their function is sexual in nature, they are associated with courtship to attract the chicken has the crest an additional feature is that it acts as a thermal regulator in hens body helps maintain proper body temperature in the bird.
There are several varieties of chickens, especially those raised in the home is always on the ground or in small delivery can go outdoors, as they can only make small flights, and those who do not manage to escape, characterized by a day animal market lamps used for The hatcheries chickens eat day and night to accelerate their growth. They have estimated 10-12 years of life, but this depends on the breed of the male. This bird has the distinction of being a territorial and hierarchical bird, so they eat in that order and look for their place to sleep.
The chicken is a bird that is bred for the benefit of people, the eggs used and in certain breeds for their meat, although some are used ornamental for the beauty and abundance of their plumage, their droppings are also used as fertilizer and called gallinaza.
There are different hens of this particular breed that we are mentioning, all with different purposes, this bird is created especially to obtain its meat for human consumption and commercialization. It is known that chicken meat is excellent for the palate and is used in different dishes, it has a thousand uses in the kitchen and is famous all over the world. Within this line of chicken breeding we can find the brahma, houdan or hollandaise blue, exclusively destined to take advantage of its meat. Discover here a little more about these chickens, which belong to the meat-producing poultry breeds.
These chickens are created to take advantage not only of the good egg laying, but also the juicy meat, exquisite for the palate and with many uses. Take advantage of these birds an environment of at least 160 eggs per year, these hens horse racing hens weighs about 3.5 kilos, there are many hens dual-purpose end of today mention some as Rodhe-island, The Sussex, the orpington, the new-hampshire , the Plymount-rock, the wyandotte, the houdan, etc.. I also recommend you to see: Wooden Chicken Layers
Blue andalusian laying hen
From the crosses between several species of existing hens, breeding hens emerged, which exist today, for different consumption and commercialization purposes. This bird is one of the most coveted and popular in the world, the egg is a source of protein for humans and its meat is used to the maximum, there is no doubt that the chicken meets the expectations in terms of profitability and nutrition. Let’s look at the types of breeds according to their purpose, knowing a little about the world’s chicken breeds.
Laying hen breeds, as its own name suggests is a type of bird that is dedicated to the laying of eggs, there are several breeds with excellent attributes and can reach a set of annual eggs from 180 to 300, its meat is also rich but not abundant as in other breeds, so they are called layers. They are breed chickens suitable to be created in closed or open environments, they endure very well, most of them are resistant to climate change and good mothers.
Among the main laying hens we can find the chicken leghorn, the Ancona and Sicilian hen, the Castilian, the Menorcan and the Andalusian blue.
It is one of the breeds of hens that produce eggs, which has undergone several changes until the blue Andalusian is now known to have a beautiful welt in their feathers, is approximately 180 eggs per year, good action, is the figure of size, thin and thin medium , has a fairly large hill, its meat is considered good, but not good for this type of production, but rarely becomes melancholy. Then you will see a video of laying hens.
Characteristics of the blue Andalusian hen
A unique genetic trait of this breed is the constant recurrence of the offspring, not only of all blue chickens, but also of black ones. With the intersection of black and white and white used in the original crosses, many generations ago, to produce these blue hens. (see article: (tixagag_16) Lanius Collurio ).
All females have the blue color gene and once crossed, black on white or with another blue, and the result in turn results in very blue offspring. Ideally, it is in the breeders to use the best cocks and the best dark blue color with well formed chicks and we will get it. About 50% of the chicks will be blue. The other 50% will be black, white and in combinations of black and white.
Head, face, beak and eyes like the male. Crown of a simple, medium, deep flesh color, having five distinct teeth. The front part of the crown and the first tooth are upright. The remaining part of it falls gradually on one side.
Its structure is good, free of wrinkles. Barbels and ears like a man. Neck rather long, arched and bent. Wings and back no difference, with respect to the male, breasts the same as the male. The long, open tail is carried at an angle of 35 ° above the horizontal, broad and overlapping rectrices. Thighs, tarsi and toes as in the sheet. Ports like man. Weighing 2.5 kg.
In 1851 Dürigen tells us, the first export to England of blue Andalusian hens left Gibraltar. They seem to have been small, but attracted attention because of their large size and the extra large size of their eggs. There, who were already beginning to know about the crossbreeding, they would surely give the larger size; they liked the white ears, but the larger body.
The intersections indicate that they did what seems most likely to be what the English standard indicates: they crossed it with Menorca. The darker dark edge probably happened to them, they liked it and fixed it.
It is a medium-sized bird, medium-sized, elongated, thin-stemmed, cylindrical and slightly inclined; single gun and white ears. The black border is striking on each of its springs. It has become an ornamental contest, but then had an acceptable attitude. There are references of 165 eggs per year.
Morphology of the Blue Andalusian Hen
With respect to the male there is not much visible difference, with respect to gender differences and the tail is more closed, a lower position (35º refers to the horizontal) with wide and aerial cockpits. The hill has the front and the first tooth is sincere; The rest falls gradually on one side without wrinkles and folds.
Plumage Color
Plumage: Quite long feathers; light, soft and dense.
Hen: The head is very dark blue, shiny. The outline of the body is uniform, with a very dark, bright blue tone. The front of the neck is slate blue. The wing hood is slate blue; Each feather is surrounded by a bright dark blue.
The back and caireles are very bright dark blue. The tail is slate blue; each feather lined with light light light blue. The chest is slate blue; each feather is lined with dark blue.The thighs are slate blue. Below is grayish blue.
The top of the neck is dark blue almost black; The rest of the feather suit is homogeneous slate blue, each feather darkened.
Eggs: at least 58 g; with white shell.
Weight: Cock from 2.9 to 3.5 kg – Hen from 2.2 to 2.8 kg.
Diameter of rings (in mm): Cock 18 – hen 16.
It is worth mentioning that, they are not considered gender, within a more generic term that can be Andalusian. White-Cinderella and black. Every breeder should know that they occur in the ratio of 25º each in the intersection of blue copies between them and the cross between a black hen and a white basket or vice versa, better planes are obtained. Certainly, they are not considered gender because they do not appear in contrast to the link that Blue has, and it has certainly been what made it look like a unique variant.
Habitat
The main area of distribution of the Andalusian Blue is, as the name suggests, in Andalusia, being the area of Seville and Cordoba countryside, its main area of distribution, and there are other important centers in Cadiz and Huelva. The Andalusian Blue is a British-created breed developed in the mid-19th century by English breeders of blue Andalusian hens that were imported to England from the port of Cadiz or Gibraltar.
English breeders were attracted to the white ears, plum and eggplant, but wanted a larger chicken. To get the perfect type of hens, the original Andalusian hen crossed the Menorcan breed. The dark edge may have happened by chance, but the breeders liked it and that’s how they fixed the British Andalusian blue type.
The British blue Andalusian hen is a Mediterranean type, medium-sized, long-figured, slender-stemmed, cylindrical, sloping bird with simple arms and white ears. The black border is striking on each of its springs. The only known color in the pattern is blue-edged black. (tixagag_16) Meet the Anas Penelope Duck here .
Feeding
Feed for the Blue Andalusian Hen breed is as important as the opposite, they have different purposes, but they all lay eggs and most are used to feed people. Therefore, it is important to be special stewards of the great attributes and qualities of this important bird. Chickens are oviparous and have no teeth, so their diet must be careful because they cannot grind their food and swallow it all. These foods are treated by their muscular taste stones that are there and ground up.
Proper feeding for hens race based on giving them a considerable amount of protein to help their healthy growth and development and is essential when chickens are already laying period, fats and carbohydrates, which will give them the energy they need, vitamins and minerals needed to prevent disease, and calcium and phosphorus are the perfect ally for a healthy egg laying, these two elements contribute to the good formation of the egg shell without the hen must use calcium from the bones and weaken it.
Reproduction
The Andalusian is one of the oldest Spanish breeds. Of Mediterranean type, of medium size and size, at the beginning it did not present the edge that today presents in its feathers, this edge is due to the selection and improvement made by the English that at the beginning of S. XIX moved these hens to their islands, where it was crossed among other breeds with Menorquina.
The English liked the chicken for its color, bluish or ashes and its abundant posture, about 180 eggs per year, but not the size, so they tried to improve it. In one of these crosses, the characteristic feather edge appeared on the chicken.They liked it and from there they tried and managed to fix it. Because of that some authors differentiate Andalusia in two types, Andalusian blue, what would be the mother of the current one, without the creation of their sorrows and British Andalusian blue, name given to the blue Andalusian reinforced by these and that presents that beautiful shore.
From the selection made by the English this chicken ceased to be as important as the laying hens, its stage fell, having an average setting of 160 eggs, although still high, today it grows more like an ornamental bird, of exhibition. Its meat is good, but this chicken is of little carcass so it is not created for this production.
The blue Andalusian is a lean and slender chicken; it has the crest not very big; white and wide ears; the face and the red barbels; the prominent chest; the legs well high, tar, black or white, as well as the beak; cylindrical trunk; the prominent tail and the pigeon blue plumage on the whole bird and with the pains offering sharp edges. Their education in perfect purity, i.e., with their characteristic bluish hue, is very difficult.
Despite having an acceptable level of posture, 165 eggs per year with an average size of 70-80 grams, it is currently considered an ornamental breed. It is one of the most vigorous and productive Spanish show breeds. Some authors mention its lack of aptitude for cloze.
These hens are mainly used as a honey mother to obtain kids, which are mainly destined for the training of fighting sticks or chickens. This is because they are balanced chickens with no visible physical deficiencies.
This type of good chicken comes from the crossbreeding of several breeds of roosters and chickens. Its name is mainly due to its origin, since it took place in the city of Albany, New York.It belongs to the group of fine chickens due to its genetic quality, making it excellent for breeding (see article: Teal ).
Hen eggs reproduce these oviparous this process begins after 18 to 20 weeks of chicken, produce fertile eggs as infertile eggs, usually a hen daily has to lay an egg. For this to happen, the male has to mate with a female and this tends to make a courtship in which makes a circular dance seems chicken is always to escape and rooster stop chasing the rooster must be quick to reach and climb on it.
These birds have a hole called sewage, join and tip deposited a sack full of sticky sperm as about 7 or about 10 days, fertilized eggs will be born. When the chicken begins the process of laying eggs after adding about 8 to 10 October fertile eggs that begins the incubation process, most chickens this maternal instinct is required, but by other artificial incubation.
The incubation of eggs is usually about 21 days, depending on the breed can achieve ovulation of 120 to 300 eggs per year. Below video on chicken reproduction.
Breeding of the Andalusian Blue Hen
To breed a breed of breed we must first be clear about what we want to breed and for what purpose, in this article you have a complete explanation and based on this information you can choose the chicken breed you want. Keep in mind when choosing a hen the attitudes and qualities, you need a hen with good health, the eyes should be bright, the spring suit should be ready, the crown should have its striking color.
After selecting the goose that suits you best according to its purpose and characteristics, find its housing where the life and growth of this chicken should be sized according to the number of chickens in it, control the proper ventilation and enter the sunlight provided with feeder and drinkers, straw rocks or other egg-laying materials.
Give them enough food, drinking water every day, keep a permanent toilet inside the house to avoid diseases, food and water dishes should also be cleaned and disinfected, water should be changed daily. They should be masked and vaccinated as often. It is important to leave a space for dust baths, there is a need for them. It is always good to have a dust and ash area for this bath, it gives good health to their body.
After the chickens are comfortable, well fed and have enough time to start laying eggs normally after 18 to 20 weeks, they should consider adding more calcium until the chicken does not use its legs in the production of a strong shell, also more protein because the pile is in the process of reproduction.
It is recommended that you collect the eggs dry clean, but to avoid this always place a good bedding for the hens to place their eggs, add chips or straw, is always alert on the consistency of the eggs, to see if they are being well fed and you are providing the necessary amounts of calcium, vitamins and minerals they need.
There are several types of hens clucking get and they themselves are incubating their eggs are also good mothers and provide excellent care to their cubs, but there are other breeds that do not hatch and here should adopt a method of artificial incubation will give the same results, since the parameters that are indicated for the use of these machines.
It should be noted that this fascinating Andalusian hen is currently in danger of extinction, and its hunting, commercialization and capture for domestic purposes are totally prohibited and punishable, according to the policies in custion of each country.
