This bird to other chickens is not ridiculous, but envy. For chickens of breed Sibright miniature, elegant and extremely picturesque. Their consumer value is not very high, but aesthetic conditions are so obvious that these chickens have for two hundred years have their loyal fans, and the detachment of followers of Sibright has been steadily growing around the world.
Breed history
A certain English lord John Sibright, having enough money and free time, decided to bring out the chicken breed, which would be different in miniature size and black edging of each feather. Why did he need it, history is silent, but it is known for certain that the Lord used Hamburg, Polish hens and dwarf bantams for his breeding experiments.
Check out the best breeds of ornamental chickens.
As a result, after 15 years of continuous selection work in 1815, these new extravagant chickens were introduced to the broad aristocratic public of England, which soon received the name of their creator. The breed quickly gained popularity among wealthy citizens of Great Britain, and in the middle of the last century there even appeared a whole club of admirers of Sibright breeds. Nowadays, these interesting chickens are known all over the world in the form of a worthy decoration of bird houses. 
Did you know? Contrary to the negative assessment that sounds in the expression "chicken memory", in fact, the chicken is able to remember more than a hundred human faces.
Description and Features
It is impossible to confuse chickens of this breed with others - their distinctive features are too evident in the eyes.
Exterior
The appearance of the sybrates is original in everything. If you put together all the signs that distinguish this breed against the background of other hens, they will be expressed in:
- a height that is so small that these chickens are considered miniature;
- body elegant and harmonious with breast slightly protruding forward;
- plumage, looking like lace, with feathers, edged with black edges around the edges;
- a tail resembling a ladies' fan;
- the wings that are adjacent to the body loosely and lowered almost to the ground;
- the head is small and round, on which a red scallop in the form of a rose rises, and the earrings on it are rounded and smooth;
- paws, widely spaced, bluish-grayish color.
Find out how much chicken lives: home, layer, broiler.
Breed Seabright is presented in two variations: golden and silver. And silver is more capricious in growing. 
And since this breed belongs to the category of cows, that is, those in which roosters are deprived of long feathers with sharp ends on the tail and neck, chickens and roosters look almost the same. Is that the cockerels are several of the largest of their friends and have on the head a more magnificent scallop and a beard.
Character
The Siberites are quite peaceful, quickly tamed and get along well with other chicken representatives. Although in the case of aggression can give a serious rebuff, since they do not take courage and resilience. The only not very pleasant side of their behavior is excessive flashiness.
Puberty and egg production
Being a purely decorative breed, Sibrayts do not have high egg production. On average, 80 eggs weighing a maximum of 40 grams each are laid per year. These birds reach sexual maturity in 6-7 months.
Hatching instinct
The pronounced natural instinct of incubation of eggs is one of the main distinguishing qualities of this breed. Chickens incubate their eggs very conscientiously, so the house does not use the services of an incubator as often as in cases with other chicken breeds.
In order for the laying hen to please the poultry breeder with its productivity, it is necessary to know how to choose the breed, what are the peculiarities of laying hens, what to feed them and why it happens that the chickens do not carry well.
Hatching is especially successful during the hot summer months, when the surrounding heifer helps the little hen body.
Did you know? Chickens never lay eggs in the dark. Even if the time has come to rush, the chicken will still wait for the dawn in the yard or the inclusion of artificial lighting.
Feeding ration
These beauties are absolutely not capricious in food, eating all that they give to ordinary chickens. Every day they need three feedings, combined with green food. Unlike adult chickens, chickens are much more demanding on food.
Chickens
Chickens of this breed hatch from eggs a day earlier than other breeds. And immediately the babies begin to be fed every two hours with a wiped egg and carefully sifted mixed fodder. After a couple of days, the chickens are already being fed milk millet porridge, greens, and ground earthworms. During this period, the kids go on a five-day diet. After the young growth is replaced by feathers, it is transferred to adult birds and fed the same way as all other chickens.
You will probably be interested to know what it takes to feed the chickens on the first day of life.
Adult chickens
Chickens of this breed feed on the same feed as all other chickens.
Important! However, it must be remembered that the beak of these miniature creatures is much smaller than that of ordinary layers. Therefore, the feed should also be smaller, and the feeders and drinkers should be at such a height so that the little chickens can reach for food and water.
Approximately 60% of chicken feed accounts for cereals. The rest is added in the form of dairy products, vegetables, herbs and mineral supplements.
The most effective additives to grain feed are presented in the form:
- milk;
- yogurt;
- cottage cheese;
- fodder beet;
- carrots;
- yeast;
- bone or fish meal;
- potato or potato peelings.
During the molting period
When birds molt, they need an additional entry into the body of "building material", from which new feathers are formed.
Therefore, in addition to the usual food, you should add foods that are high in protein in the form of, for example, boiled fish and meat waste. Cabbage containing sulfur, vitamins and other nutrients, as well as sprouted grains are also useful.
Necessary conditions of detention
Poultry farmers emphasize that serious problems do not arise in growing Sibrayt. They are very similar to those that have to be solved when caring for ordinary chickens.
Requirements for the room
The hen house for keeping chickens of this breed should be equipped at the rate of one square meter for five heads. Closer space for these loving movement and the expanse of birds is not suitable. Perches are recommended to have in the form of a ladder and higher, because these chickens very cleverly take off. Very seriously, take flooring on the floor of the house. It can be from any thermally insulating natural material in the form of sawdust, peat, straw or hay, however, the main requirement should be observed: the flooring should be high.
We recommend to learn how to build a house with your own hands and what are the features of keeping chickens in winter.
This requirement is explained by the thermophilicity of miniature chickens. The optimum temperature of their content is from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. It is at this temperature that these birds feel as comfortable as possible.
Another important requirement for the house for Sibrayt is to keep it clean, including air, so the room should be aired more often, without, however, exposing birds to drafts. With a short light day in the house, artificial lighting is necessary.
Aviary for walking
This chicken breed is distinguished by its mobility and love for open space. Therefore, they should be allowed to walk in the aviary as often as possible. However, there is a problem that complicates the implementation of this requirement. Small birds, the weight of which in chickens is only half a kilogram, and cockerels - only 100 g more, fly very well. To overcome even a two-meter fence for them is not a problem at all. Therefore, the aviary, closed from the top of the net, is an ideal option for these birds. 
What should take care in the winter
The thermolubility of these chickens is particularly evident in the offseason, when temperature fluctuations are most sensitive. Many birds lose their natural vitality.
Important! Poultry houses for chickens of the Sibright breed must be heated.
In winter, the temperature in the room should not fall below 15 degrees Celsius.
Advantages and disadvantages
Poultry farmers who breed these interesting chickens, listing their positive qualities, primarily focus on them:
- the beauty that leaves almost no one indifferent;
- unpretentiousness of adults in food;
- highly developed maternal instinct.
But the shortcomings of these handsome enough. They mainly consist in:
- increased demands for temperature conditions;
- weak immune system;
- disease susceptibility;
- difficulties, compared with adult birds, rearing.
The ability of miniature chickens to fly well also some poultry houses belong to the disadvantages of the breed, since it is necessary to equip closed enclosures.
Statistical data reflecting the insufficient productivity of the Sibrayt chicken breed, which is expressed in low egg production and insignificant meat production, cannot serve as a reproach to these charming creatures. After all, they are grown not for the stomach at all, but to enjoy the gaze.
Breed Reviews
