Millfler is a breed of chickens that does not have a large prototype. Such small decorative chickens, which were not bred from a large breed, are called real bantams. The name “Milfleur” in French means “thousand flowers” and indicates the variegation of the plumage of these little chickens. In fact, we are not talking about any thousand flowers. Although Millefleur chickens look multicolored, in fact there are no more than 4 different colors in the plumage.
In the US, this breed is known as the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle. The name is due to the fact that the hens of this breed have small beards.
The history of the breed is unknown. There is only evidence that in Holland this chicken existed already in the XNUMXth century. It is also not known which breeds were involved in its breeding. Therefore, it is possible that the data on the absence of a large prototype simply did not survive to this day.
Description
Miller’s weight is slightly more than 0,5 kg. An adult laying hen weighs only 600 g, a rooster – a little more than 700 g. Millfleurs have a red leaf-shaped comb. The face, earlobes and earrings are also red. The neck is long, vertically set. In chickens, the body in projection is closer to a spherical shape. In roosters, the body in the projection is an elongated oval with a slight slope from top to bottom in the direction from the front to the back.
The tail of the laying hens is fan-shaped, set vertically. In roosters, the bundle is denser and more oblique than in chickens. The pigtails are not long, but cover the tail feathers. The main color of the braids is black, but the tips are necessarily white.
The wings are quite large for this breed. Loosely pressed to the body and slightly lowered.
The metatarsus has a very dense plumage, which does not allow you to see the color of the skin. The feathers grow especially densely in roosters.
Colors
Beautiful coloration is the main reason why lovers get these bantams. In -language descriptions of Millefler chickens, more than 20 color variations are indicated. But not all are listed. And many are misnamed. Color options are:
- chintz;
- Colombian;
- blue (lavender?);
- black and silver;
- red-black;
- the black;
- others.
According to foreign descriptions and photos of Millfler chickens, another requirement can be traced. Of all these colors, only chintz and lavender meet foreign requirements. But usually the standards for chickens in different countries are very different from each other. Therefore, if only two colors are recognized in the USA, then in other countries there may be more color variations.
The main color is dark brown. Description and photo of this color in Millfler chickens below:
- the base plumage is dark brown;
- on each feather is a black crescent;
- the tips of the feathers are white.
The Millefler rooster in the photo has exactly this type of plumage.
There may be very little brown and black, but a lot of white. Then the Millfler chickens look like the photo below.
You can also find lavender color. In this case, the black color of the plumage will be “replaced” by blue. This is what the lavender color looks like in the photo of Millfler chickens:
There are options with not only two colors, but also a third – brown. Lavender color – “young”. Milleflers of this color were bred as part of the experiment by crossing individuals of the standard dark brown color with representatives of other breeds that carry the lavender gene.
Also lavender color, but based on the classic dark brown plumage. In the -language description of the colors of Millfler chickens, Colombian most likely meant this type of plumage.
But the name “Colombian” is not suitable here, since there are dark spots on the body of the chickens, which are unacceptable in the Colombian color.
Porcellan color of Millfler chickens (photo).
In this breed, if desired, you can find many more colors. Strict requirements apply only to exhibition lines. Fanciers who have multi-colored benthams often take them for the sake of experimenting with colors, which means that a cross between two breeds of benthams can be sold as a Millfleur. This is neither bad nor good. Suddenly, someone will be able to breed a new breed of ornamental chickens.
Character
The Millefler breed has a calm temperament. Benthams do not create problems for relatives when kept together. At the same time, kvochki are good mothers and, in case of need, are able to stand up for their offspring.
Millfleurs are easily tamed. Judging by the reviews of foreign owners, they even often prefer to sleep on a pillow with the owner.
Eggs
The number of eggs that these bantams can lay is not so small. In a year, they lay 110 eggs weighing 30 g each. In fact, few amateurs are interested in the productivity of decorative laying hens. In any case, due to the small area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe body, the hen will not be able to hatch all the eggs she lays.
If you want to get offspring from the Millfleurs, the eggs will have to be removed and the chickens hatched in an incubator.
“Classic” Millefler chicks hatch brown.
The nuances of growing young
Hatching chicks in an incubator is the same as any other hen. But when feeding chicks, it must be borne in mind that their size is much smaller than that of conventional large forms. In fact, these will be chicks slightly larger than quail.
At the beginning of feeding, you can give chickens compound feed for quail. That is what is usually given abroad. But in Our Country it is often impossible to get the right brand of quality feed. Therefore, they begin to feed the chickens in the same “traditional” way, as large forms of chickens would be fed.
The difference is only in the size of the feed particles. The egg must be chopped smaller than for large chickens. No need to give very large cereals. It is best to boil millet.
Because of their small body size, chicks need high ambient temperatures for a long time. Until the babies are fully feathered, the air temperature in the brooder is maintained at 28-31°C.
If a lump of dried droppings forms on the fingers of a chicken during the growth period, the chick may lose a finger.
Content
When arranging a home for this breed of chickens, two of their features must be taken into account:
- feathered metatarsus and fingers;
- well developed wings.
With thick plumage on the paws, chickens need perfectly clean bedding. If other chicken breeds can be kept in the winter on a non-replaceable deep litter, then the Millfleurs need a frequent change of “bed”.
It is also necessary to equip them with a well-drained paddock, on which water and dirt will not accumulate. Excrement and pieces of clay sticking to feathers will very quickly turn bantam paws into hard lumps of dirt. Therefore, the paddock should be covered with washed sand, and in the chicken coop it is necessary to carry out a complete change of litter at least once a week.
Otherwise, decorative chickens are no different from their large relatives. Milleflers are not afraid of the cold, so they do not need an insulated chicken coop. It is enough to equip perches and reliable shelter from the weather.
When equipping the paddock, it must be borne in mind that these little ones fly well. And a small body weight only contributes to flying. The paddock will have to be fenced with a fence of such a height that the bantams cannot overcome. Or make a roof in the aviary.
Feeding
If you believe the description and reviews of the Millfler chicken breed, they do not require any frills in feed. In summer, chickens make do with green fodder, a small amount of grains, and caught insects. In winter, root crops are included in the diet, the rate of cereals or compound feed is increased. To provide chickens with animal protein, birds are given cottage cheese, meat and bone meal, fish, and eggs.
Reviews
Conclusion
Chickens of the Millefler breed are not of serious economic importance and serve to decorate the yard. Their friendliness and affection are well suited to those poultry farmers who want to keep chickens for the soul, and not for the sake of production.