Poultry in the apartment. Which bird is more profitable to breed at home?

Even ancient people domesticated wild birds and began breeding them in order to obtain food in the form of eggs and meat, as well as feathers and down, which were used in everyday life. Today's birds are different from those bred by our ancestors. As a result of selection work, the most suitable breeds for breeding were developed. In this article we will tell you which birds are more profitable to breed at home, because now anyone who has the desire and a small suburban area can breed birds.

First on our list are ducks. It is no coincidence that they were among the first to be domesticated by our ancestors. This is because these birds are famous for their unpretentiousness and quickly gain weight. The last circumstance is especially important, because ultimate goal Breeding ducks is to produce meat that has an amazing taste and high nutritional value due to its fat content and fiber.

Duck eggs are usually not consumed as readily as chicken eggs, because they have a specific taste. However, they can be used to prepare sauces and other dishes. Feathers and down are suitable for stuffing pillows and blankets, so they are also valuable.

Those who not only maintain a poultry house, but also tend a vegetable garden, will be able to use duck droppings as fertilizer.

Choosing a breed

Before you start breeding ducks on your own, you should pay attention to the characteristics of the most popular and suitable varieties of birds, and choose the ones that are suitable for yourself. We present a selection of the most profitable breeds for breeding.

You don’t have to be a gourmet to not try a baked bird of this breed in a restaurant at least once in your life. The body weight of an adult female is 3 kilograms, and the drake weighs a kilogram more. The fibrous, fatty meat is very nutritious and literally melts in your mouth; the edible portion of the duck is approximately 70%.

Pekin ducks lay about 140-150 eggs per year, from which about 100 ducklings grow.

Muscovy duck

Also known as Indian duck. This breed can significantly surpass the previous one in size: the weight of the drake reaches 6 kg. The resulting meat is soft and lean. The character of these birds is always calm, which is also a plus. They don't fight in enclosures and don't make noise. Disease resistance is another undeniable advantage of the Muscovy duck.

Duck Mulard

This breed is a hybrid of the two varieties listed above. Chicks obtained by crossing Peking and Muscovy ducks are characterized by a rapid growth rate and high adult weight. Hybrids do not produce offspring, but this can hardly be called a minus, because the option of keeping them remains very productive due to the large yield of meat.

Video - Breeding Muscovy ducks at home

What should a room for ducks look like?

Any structure that has been carefully equipped will become a duck house. First of all, you should take care of insulating the room, since egg production and weight gain of birds directly depend on the comfort of the temperature.

Thus, an extension made of logs must be caulked and plastered from the inside; a plank house can be upholstered with plywood, covered with plaster, plastered with clay, and so on. In hot weather, the inside of the house should be cool to give the ducks the opportunity to rest, and in frosty weather they should be warm and calm inside.

When arranging a house for ducks, pay special attention to the floor. It should be about 25cm above the ground to prevent rats from getting inside. Peat, sawdust or straw mixed with grass should be placed on top of the floor. Dry everything thoroughly and remove impurities. For one individual you need to prepare approximately 12 kg.

The laying of eggs in ducks directly depends on sufficient light and warmth. Make sure that they are always warm and dry inside their house, otherwise you risk being left without an increase in livestock. Be sure to consider ventilation inside the house.

Reduced daylight hours in winter can be a serious problem for ducks. Increase daylight hours with artificial lighting in the mornings and evenings.

Setting up a duck house

First of all, decide in which part of the house the duck hole will be made. A good option will place it in the south or southeast. The size of the hole is 40 cm wide and 30-40 cm high. It would be a good idea to build a small vestibule to protect the hole from wind and drafts.

In summer, it is worth fencing off the bird walking area so that they do not wander around the area and spoil the garden plantings. You can make such an enclosure not only on land, but also on water. The following materials can be used for fencing:

• fishing net;
• shingles;
• chain link;
• metal mesh;
• slats.

For a land plot, a meter-high fence will be enough, but in water the fence should go 70 cm below and 50 cm above the surface, since ducks can dive and accidentally swim out of the fence. If you do not have a small private pond, this may lead to a decrease in the number of fish.

To protect birds from the heat, canopies are attached to the fences in the summer. Great idea will immediately set up enclosures under spreading trees, in the shade of which the birds will be able to cool off.

Birds will want to walk not only in summer, but also winter period. To do this, it is necessary to constantly keep the enclosure clear of snow and cover its floor with a thick layer of dry straw. When the air temperature is acceptable and there is no wind, ducks can walk from morning to evening, however, in frosty conditions you should never force them out for a walk, as this will lead to hypothermia. The poultry house needs to be cleaned every day, ventilating it carefully so as not to blow out the feathered residents.

Interior design

Bird feeders are installed on a wide board, at least 2 cm thick. It is necessary to attach a bar on top of it, which will prevent ducks from trampling down the food. In addition to its basic diet, the duck must receive mineral supplements, which it ingests with mud in its natural environment:

• small shells;
• limestone;
• gravel, etc.

Because ducks need large number drinking about 600 ml daily, you should immediately arrange a large and comfortable drinking bowl. It can be made of metal or wood. Its height should be the height of the duck to keep the water clean (about 20 cm).

Duck nests are located in darkened compartments of the duck house to make it easier for ducks to lay eggs. However, do not crowd, leave room for people to move freely, because you will have to regularly collect eggs and clean nests. Each side of the nest should be from 40 to 50 cm, and the height should be 50 cm. To prevent the nesting litter from falling out of the perch, arrange a small threshold at the exit.

Count how many laying ducks there are among your wards and organize nests, one for every three birds. The eggs are collected in the morning.

Be careful while cleaning, because ducks are very shy. Severe stress can cause them to stop laying eggs completely.

Creation and maintenance of a tribe

The main condition for creating a duck tribe is uniformity. It should consist of birds of the same age and weight. There are about eight females per drake. When selecting ducklings for your stock, do not take hybrid chicks, because they cannot leave offspring.

The most important indicator for selection is the appearance of birds. The constitution of the bird must be strong, it itself must constantly move and radiate energy. The number and health of the future offspring depends on how healthy the parent tribe is.

For high egg production, females need to be created comfortable conditions living ducks, do not scare them by breaking into the chicken coop, do not allow other pets to offend the bird. Once you start raising small ducklings into a parent flock, increase the length of daylight hours by half an hour every week until it reaches 16 hours. Leave minimal light in the house at night to avoid injury. Monitor the cleanliness of the floor and nesting litter.

The appearance of chicks

Incubation is carried out only from those ducks that are completely healthy. To do this, select eggs that are no older than a week. They are examined and weighed. The weight should be 70-90 grams for light breeds of birds and up to 100 grams for heavy breeds. Infected or spoiled eggs must be disposed of quickly.

Proponents of natural incubation of eggs need to remember that not all varieties of ducks have a developed instinct for raising offspring. For example, the Peking duck spends almost no time laying eggs. Below we provide a table with which you can determine whether a duck will hatch offspring.

Ducks preparing to hatch can be given previously collected eggs. It is important to take into account the size of each hen so that she completely covers the clutch with her body.

Breeding chicks artificially is based on an uninterrupted supply of oxygen and constant ventilation. At the very beginning, the temperature in which the eggs lie should be about 38 o C. By day 20, it is lowered to 30. The eggs are examined and checked to see if the embryo is developing on the 8th, 21st and 25th days.

How healthy hatched ducklings are is determined by these features:

• by evenness of pigmentation;
• feather fluffiness;
• wings pressed to the body;
• soft belly;
• dry navel;
• weighing 50 g.

The period for breeding this bird for meat is approximately 60 days, since after this the birds begin to lose weight.

Let's sum it up

From all of the above, it is clear that keeping and raising ducks is not so easy, however, it is quite acceptable. This activity does not require specialized education or specific knowledge and brings truly great benefits.

Geese breeding

Geese, being close relatives of ducks, are also unpretentious in keeping. Juicy goose meat has long been an integral element of Russian cuisine, decorating holiday tables. Goose down is used to stuff bedding and winter clothing.

Goose meat is a frequent guest on the holiday table.

Breed selection

Today there are a large number of products available for purchase. different breeds this bird. Almost all of them are resistant to any climatic conditions of the area where they live. However, taking into account the characteristics of each variety, it is better to choose the ideal one for breeding in your region, since the regularity and completeness of obtaining offspring depends on this.

We present to you a list of the most profitable breeds for breeding.

Gray Kholmogorovsky geese

Perfect for beginning poultry keepers. This ancient breed is considered large and meat-producing. Adults have strong bones and resistance to disease. They were bred specifically to be kept in pasture conditions. The ability to acclimatize to any weather is their undoubted advantage. Raising the Kholmogorov breed for meat is very profitable: an adult drake reaches a weight of 12 kg, and a female - 8 kg. Egg production is about 30 eggs per year, which is a high figure.

Romny geese

Graceful southern birds. Perfect for natural brooding. Adults reach a weight of 5.5 kg for females and 6 kg for males. Despite the small final weight, the popularity of their breeding does not decrease due to the special delicate taste of their meat and a large amount of fluff and feathers. Egg production is 20 eggs per year.

Shadrinsky geese

In other words, Ural. True extreme sports enthusiasts are capable of living in the harsh winter conditions of Siberia. The body weight of adult individuals corresponds to the Romny geese, but egg production is 25-30 eggs per year. They quickly gain weight and are suitable for feeding in pasture conditions.

Another heavyweight on our list. They have a formidable appearance, but a calm character. The weight of an adult goose reaches 11 kg, a goose weighs approximately 8 kg. This variety is bred specifically to produce fatty liver, which weighs all of 500 g, but its nutritious fatty meat is also popular among food lovers. This bird denies natural incubation, but lays eggs consistently - up to 30 eggs per year.

The French by nationality are also suppliers of the liver delicacy. The liver of a fattened drake reaches a weight of as much as 700 g, while its body weight is 8 kg. Egg production remains at 25-30 eggs per year. Excellent for crossing and breeding hybrid breeds that will be even heavier than their parents.

Arrangement of the territory and poultry house

First of all, it is necessary to tidy up the land for cultivation. The site on which the poultry house will be located must be located outside the city. Supporters of free grazing of geese should have an area based on the number of livestock: an average of 10 meters per goose.

For a comfortable life for the bird, organize a poultry house. This must be a permanent structure, the area is also calculated according to the number of birds: 1 m2 for 4 birds. Since the air temperature in winter should not fall below 10 o C, take care to connect the heating system to the gooseneck. It can be represented by a self-built brick stove, a diesel stove, batteries or any other device.

The floor of the room should be made of wood or any other strong and high-quality material, since geese spend the night right on the floor. It is lined with a deep layer of peat, shavings or straw. This is necessary to protect the delicate paws from getting cold. The house should always be kept clean, so prevent rotting and severe contamination of the litter by cleaning the inside more often. A large volume of water evaporates from the feather surface of geese; for 10 birds it is approximately 2 liters. Constantly ventilate the bird house, otherwise its inhabitants will start to catch a cold.

Dryness and long daylight hours inside the goose coop are the key to productive egg production of geese.

IN summer time Geese spend the entire day on the pasture, and are driven into the house to spend the night. Birds eat up to 2 kg of green grass per day, so the quality of this natural food on the pasture must be high. Bad grass from dry or swampy fields, as well as tall grass, are not suitable for birds to eat. Here is a list of herbs that geese prefer:

• bindweed;
• sorrel;
• dandelion;
• yarrow;
• nettle;
• sow thistle, etc.

To allow birds to hide from the midday heat, a canopy should be provided.

If there is absolutely no way to dig a pond on your site, use a trick and buy a spacious one for the geese. children's pool with low sides.

Feeding

Geese lay eggs for a short period of time. To get the most out of it, provide the geese with complete rest and intensive nutrition.

The winter diet per head is 150 g of grain and flour feed, 100 g of legumes, 400-500 g of root crops. To the list add chopped dry and steamed hay and mineral supplements: chalk, gravel, etc. You can feed the bird puree made from carrots, potatoes and hay. In the evening, feed the geese grain without any admixture of other foods.

During the period of laying eggs, the daily food intake of geese increases by 100 g of grain and flour feed and 30 g of animal feed - milk and cottage cheese. If laying hens cannot cope with the increased food allowance, reduce it by cutting back on root crops.

A month before the start of the breeding season, males need to start feeding. Sprouted oats are perfect, in the proportion + 100 g per bird.

It is necessary to provide clean water both in summer and winter, despite the fact that in cold weather the geese will eat snow.

Getting offspring

The egg-laying season for geese begins at the end of February. The process begins with 1-2 eggs, the next month, with proper feeding and comfort of the bird, up to 10 eggs are laid, up to 9 eggs in April and 5 in May.

Preparations for the season begin in early February. Nests are installed on the floor, one for two females. A standard perch should be 50 cm wide and 75 cm long. The front part should not exceed 50 cm, the back part should not exceed 75 cm. It is best to fence off the nests from each other so that the birds do not fight among themselves and damage the eggs.

The litter usually occurs in the morning. After the hens go for a walk, it is necessary to remove the eggs from the roosts and store them at a temperature of 12 o C.

Let's sum it up

It is not for nothing that the goose is a universally recognized favorite of poultry farmers. Resistant to any climate, unpretentious in food and care, it gives back much more than what was invested in it. It doesn’t matter whether it is for sale or for food, raising geese is very profitable.

Chicken breeding

The chicken has long been the heroine of almost all Russian fairy tales. This is because even in the conditions of previous years, keeping chickens was simple and very profitable. It is chicken meat that is consumed in our country every day and on holidays. It is prepared by hospitable housewives, losing weight models, and athletes. And fried eggs made from two eggs have long become a traditional breakfast all over the world.

Choosing a breed

Let's move on to listing the most popular chicken breeds. They are distinguished primarily by egg production.

Loman-brown

Chickens with brown plumage, the egg-laying period of which lasts as much as 80 weeks. They produce more than 300 eggs per year.

Russian white

As the name suggests, these chickens have elegant white plumage. The egg production of a laying hen of this variety is about 200 eggs per year. The chickens themselves grow dense, with tender meat. Suitable for both mass and private breeding.

Hisex

High line

They produce approximately 350 eggs per year, which is an amazing result. They acclimatize well and adapt to any living conditions.

Kuchinskaya

A meat breed, chickens can weigh up to 3 kg. Egg production is approximately 220 eggs per year.

Isa Brown

The weight of one egg produced by a chicken of this species can exceed 63 g. Productivity is 320 eggs per year.

Conditions of detention

Building and equipping a chicken coop will not require large financial investments. You can build a bird house with your own hands, using boards, beams, cinder blocks, etc. Don't forget to insulate it before the winter season and install a stove inside so that the chickens continue to lay eggs in the winter.

The height of the room in which the birds will live should not exceed two meters. It is imperative to have ventilation and a source of natural light, as well as lamps for artificial lighting to compensate the chickens for daylight hours in winter conditions. It must be cool inside in summer and warm in winter, otherwise the birds may get sick.

It is necessary to regularly clean the premises and replace bedding on the floor and in perches. You can cover the floor with peat moss, shavings or sawdust from coniferous trees, as well as straw.

The entrance to the chicken coop should be located on the east or southeast side. Inside, the structure should be equipped with nests and common perches, as well as feeders and drinkers. There is one place for every four hens to lay eggs.

Feeding chickens

The easiest way to save yourself the hassle of organizing poultry feeding is to buy ready-made feed. However, it costs money and this can be a deterrent for new bird keepers. In this case, the optimal diet per bird would consist of corn, carrots, potatoes, millet, bone meal, common grass and mineral supplements such as shells, sand and gravel. A laying hen eats only 120 g of feed per day. If you personally take on the task of preparing the leafy and herbal portions of the diet, and also purchase grain products at wholesale prices, then it will cost only 35-40 rubles per month for one chicken.

Raising and diet of offspring

Chickens are the few poultry that have strong parental instincts and are therefore ideal for natural brooding. Chicks can also be raised in an incubator and, after hatching, transferred to a homemade aviary - a large, solid box illuminated by a heat lamp.

The menu for children should consist of fortified foods. In the morning you should give the whites of boiled eggs, crushed shells, chopped green onions and wheat, mixing it all together.

In the evening, mix cottage cheese with kefir and place it in feeders along with river sand, which acts as a mineral additive.

Shells - mineral supplement for chickens

Let's sum it up

Breeding chickens requires the least material costs throughout the entire process and pays off a large number eggs and healthy chicken meat. Beginners should give their preference to these birds.

Turkey breeding

Turkey meat is becoming increasingly popular in the food market healthy eating. Breeding this type of bird today is considered very profitable.

Choosing a breed

Typically, the choice of breed is made after all the characteristics of the location of the future turkey poultry are known, such as the climatic features of the region. However, there is a list of turkey varieties that are most profitable to breed.

Big 6

Highly productive meat breed, gains weight much faster than other varieties. The weight of an adult male is approximately 19 kg, and that of a female is 11 kg.

Bronze broad-breasted

Very suitable for breeding for meat, the weight of turkeys reaches 15 kg, turkeys - 9 kg. The downside of this breed is its complete unsuitability for pasture feeding, as it was bred to be kept inside a poultry house. It is characterized by high fertility - up to 120 eggs per year.

North Caucasian bronze

Suitable for pasture feeding. The weight of males is 14 kg, females are about 10 kg. Egg production is reduced - up to 80 eggs.

White broad-breasted

Quickly acclimatizes to any conditions, egg production is maintained at a level of 120 eggs per year. One of the most profitable breeds, as turkeys reach up to 25 kg. live weight, females remain at 10 kg.

Cross Big 6

Heavy, meat breed, characterized by instant growth. It is bred and purchased to produce tasty and nutritious dietary meat. A negative feature is the need for artificial insemination of birds to breed this variety.

Breeding chicks

The turkey house should be spacious, equipped with straw nests, the width and length of which are 40 cm. There are about 15 eggs per female, so there should be enough space.

Hatched chicks must be immediately given boiled water with the addition of green tea and sugar to boost their immunity. This solution replaces water for the first four days of life, then it is introduced into the diet.

Young turkey poults should always have the light on, which should be gradually reduced by 30 minutes so that by the 20th day of life, 15 days of light is enough for them. The temperature should not be high, but also too low, since chicks are highly susceptible to colds.

Since turkeys are characterized by rapid weight gain, it is better to spend money and buy feed for their food, which already includes vitamins, amino acids and minerals. However, to save money, you can feed the bird a mixture of corn, barley and bran, as well as cottage cheese, carrots and even fish giblets. To saturate food with vitamin A, you can add dry yeast to it. The presence of mineral additives is required, which can be ordinary chalk.

Conditions of detention

Turkeys are headstrong birds, so even at a young age they should not be kept with chickens, geese or ducks. In the southern regions, turkeys can be raised without a special room, since they are very resistant to weather changes, but in the northern regions, an insulated building is required.

Pens for walking turkeys are fenced with metal mesh or any other material. Feeders and drinkers are installed inside the turkey poultry, preferably vacuum ones. Temperature at 27 degrees is provided either naturally or with the help of special heaters.

Drinkers should be rinsed several times a day, avoiding heating the water, which should remain cool and clean. You also need to constantly keep the poultry house clean, otherwise the development of infections cannot be avoided.

An important point is to adhere to the feeding regime for turkeys and turkeys. Food is provided 4-7 times a day at the same time. This schedule significantly affects egg production and body weight gain.

Let's sum it up

Turkeys are reared specifically for the purpose of obtaining and selling meat, but eggs and chicks can also be sold. Caring for this bird is not as easy as others, so experienced poultry farmers should choose it.

Video - How to breed and keep turkeys

Now that you have learned about the features of breeding the most popular bird species, you can get to work fully armed and achieve real success.

When there is no time to walk the dog and look after the cat, people usually buy a more unpretentious pet. If wet and silent fish are not your thing, you can get a superhero pet. What else can you call a feathered comrade who can fly, sing, and sometimes speaks to the point?

The popular game Angry Birds and the cartoon Rio reminded children who they should really ask their parents to have. Don't you need to ask anymore? Well, great, every serious adult can afford a parrot, or a canary, or a crow at worst. We will tell you about the pros and cons different types poultry.

Canary

A simple and inexpensive option for beginners. Lives for about 15 years. The bright singers from the Canary Islands have no competitors in the art of vocals, except, perhaps, nightingales (but these birds are very gentle, and it is very difficult to tame them). When buying canaries, you need to remember that only males sing. Although the females try their hand at singing, they are not very good at it. It is quite difficult to distinguish between males and females, so you should purchase a bird only after you personally hear its voice. The opinion about the pros and cons of a canary is very subjective: if you are happy to hear year-round trills from morning until evening, then the bird will be happy, because they fall silent only during the molting period, once or twice a year.

The color of canaries varies: there are white, yellow, fawn, gray, variegated, green, orange, and red birds. A picky buyer can easily match the bird to both the color of the eyes and the color of the wallpaper in the living room. True, many canary fans believe that the green (natural) color of the birds adds to their stamina.

Jaco

The bird is unusually smart. Can not only remember words and expressions, but also conduct a meaningful dialogue. Research has shown that Grays are able to associate words with the objects they represent, as well as perceive the concepts of shape, color and serial number. Be prepared for the unexpected: Grays reproduce not only speech, but also the sounds of a working vacuum cleaner, coughing or laughter.

The downside is that the time that needs to be devoted to the bird is directly proportional to its intelligence. Therefore, you will have to constantly entertain your parrot with games and communication. Otherwise, they may scream obnoxiously, attracting attention to themselves. Having found no use for their inquisitive mind, birds are prone to neuroses, leading to self-plucking and illness. At the same time, their life expectancy can only be envied: 60-98 years.

The macaw is the largest, most expensive, most jealous and, perhaps, the most beautiful of the parrots. It reaches a length of 95 cm and is brightly colored in green, red, blue and yellow tones. This royal appearance requires an appropriately sized cage, enclosure or separate room. Moreover, if it is a cage, then it is better not to place it next to furniture: among other things, these birds also have the strongest beaks on earth, and therefore can literally tear your cabinet apart. The same applies to fingers unsuccessfully stuck into the enclosure of an irritated bird. Macaws live on average from 30 to 60 years.

If you have never kept birds before, we do not recommend that you immediately purchase large parrots. It will be difficult for a beginner to tame such a serious bird, but you can easily ruin its character forever. But if you really want to, then it’s better to immediately contact a professional trainer.

Budgerigars

Beautiful small birds that happily make friends with children, adults, and even pets. An inexhaustible source of family jokes related to phrases spoken at the wrong time. They willingly strive to carry out commands. If kept well, they can reproduce in captivity, causing you and your children to delight in alternate hatching of eggs in a special house. They live 10-15 years, although some specimens live longer.

The main color of the plumage is protective green, matching the color of the vegetation, but others are also found: blue (from pale blue to purple), white, yellow, variegated.

A budgie can remember up to 150 words. This is a playful and non-offensive bird, easy to care for and maintain.

Crow

One of the most extravagant household inhabitants, despite all the oddities, has a lot of advantages:

Has an intelligence comparable only to primates. Patient. If waiting before making a decision can achieve more than any action, the raven will wait. He knows how to attract attention with gestures and demonstration of objects.

An adult bird can only be tamed if it was picked up and nursed by you after being injured. In other cases, you can only find contact with young individuals. Having matured, the birds do not recognize anyone except the owner who raised them from chick age.

In captivity, a raven can live longer than a human, so you “will have something to leave for your descendants.” Just think whether the descendants will be happy from such a unique inheritance.

Omnivorous. Eats the same thing as you. In special cases, it can feed you from its reserves.

Doesn't scream in the morning, but doesn't sing either.

The only negative is that it requires a lot of space, and your family members may not like such a neighborhood.

Birds living next to humans are pranksters, dandies, intellectuals, restless interlocutors and simply funny loudmouths. Each of them is a personality. By making such a friend, you gain a lot of emotions and memories.

Tatyana Zaidal

It’s spring, everything around is filled with birdsong: blackbirds give concerts in the evenings, nightingales take their watch at night, starlings sing during the day. Previously, songbirds in Russia were often kept indoors. And even now, many would not refuse to have a small feathered singer as a pet. How to make the right choice?

Canary

The first place is firmly held by canaries - singing birds, which began to be imported from the Canary Islands and Tenerife back in the 15th century. Initially, they were only green, but as a result of selection, yellow and orange appeared.

Canaries are valued for their excellent singing, but those who want to have them should take into account: the voice of these birds is quite loud, and they can sometimes sing for days on end (only males).

Domestic canary species can sing for all year round, but still they have their own singing season. It begins, as a rule, at the end of November, by the beginning of winter the birds' voice gains strength, and they usually demonstrate their best singing from February and throughout the spring. By summer, canaries take a well-deserved vacation and give their vocal cords a chance to rest. Experts attribute this to the fact that during this period the birds are molting, and all the forces of their body are aimed at shedding the old plumage and replacing it with a new one - there is no time for songs.

Chizhik

In pre-revolutionary Russia, a cage with a siskin was a common attribute of a high school student’s room, a craftsman’s workshop, and a roadside tavern. And now the siskin is perhaps the first bird that can be recommended for keeping to a novice zoo lover. Despite its modest appearance, the siskin captivates at the first meeting with its grace and liveliness. In a matter of days he stops being shy of people, gets used to flying out of the cage and comes back. Of all the household, he usually singles out the one who looks after him. And it is to this person that he will make all “requests” for a treat or a bath, raising the feathers on his head, jumping on a perch and greeting his person with a perky song. Its singing includes many different trills, which may resemble the sounds of other birds, in particular tits. The siskin can sing up to 10 months a year.

Goldfinch

The goldfinch's repertoire can consist of more than 20 variants of melodies, and the sounds it makes while singing can be either pleasant and melodious or harsh and rude. Goldfinches can only compete with canaries in their singing abilities. By the way, like them, goldfinches become silent during molting and do not sing. However, if only males sing in canaries, then in goldfinches both males and females sing, and females sometimes do it more skillfully.

If you did not purchase a goldfinch at a pet store, but caught it in the wild or sold it to you wild, you will be disappointed: wild birds remain wild, and rarely delight their owners with their singing.

Finch

The chaffinch's singing is melodious, beautiful and cheerful - it is often confused with the song of the nightingale. A typical chaffinch song is a rolling trill ending with a “stroke” - a specific loud short sound. The finch tolerates captivity quite well, but never becomes such a tame bird as the siskin. In finches, only males sing. It is quite easy to distinguish a male from a female: males have a reddish breast, and their head and neck are decorated with bluish plumage in the warm season; females have a discreet brownish-green color.

Amadina

The zebra finch is one of the most popular today ornamental birds. It is often also presented as a songbird, but finches have a rather specific voice, and not everyone will like their song: finches make sounds that resemble buzzing, grumbling, whistling, chirping, and sometimes hissing. Moreover, they sing especially loudly and actively early in the morning. However, thanks to their variegated coloring, finches look very impressive and exotic, they are quite active and funny. Despite their apparent friendliness, finches do not accept human hands; they prefer to live side by side with their own kind - big company or in pairs. Therefore, finches are perfect for constantly busy and working people as a pet.

Have you decided to have a bird at home? Well, good morning!

The most important thing is to decide which one feathered friend will become your pet. To do this, it is important to understand what you want from your bird, and also to accept that the bird will require your attention and care.

Especially for you, we have compiled a top list of birds that are most often kept in an apartment.

Canary

The canary is rightfully considered one of the most popular domestic birds. This unpretentious yellow beauty with a clear voice is suitable even for those who have never had birds in their home.

For more than 5 centuries, the canary has been considered a domestic bird. She is famous, first of all, for her trills. Agree, waking up to the chirping and shimmer of a canary is much more pleasant than to a boring alarm clock. However, it is important to remember that only canaries sing. If you want to enjoy the sound of a bird, buy a boy.

Canaries are quite easy to care for. They do not need a spacious cage; universal bird food is suitable. Daily care is only necessary for the canary's bathtub. These birds love to swim; they constantly need clean water for their procedures.

Amadina

Are you familiar with finches? These are exotic birds with bright colors. Great singers. So that your bird does not feel lonely, it is worth getting several finches at once. To care for your pet, you will need a cage measuring 20x40x60 cm and an ultraviolet lamp. Birds must spend at least 45 minutes under its healing light.

Avoid drafts and carry out general cleaning in the bird’s cage at least once every 2 days. Finches feed well on ready-made grain mixtures; the most important thing is not to forget to add fresh fruits and vitamins to the diet.

Parrots

As you know, a large number of species of parrots are found in nature. You can choose for yourself either a small budgie or an impressive macaw. Certainly, most Parrot owners expect their feathered pet to talk. But for this you need to be patient and practice daily with your winged friend.

Budgerigars

These birds are characterized by increased curiosity. They quickly become attached to a person and chat a lot with their owner with pleasure. It should be noted that budgies They master the language very well and even understand individual phrases.

Most often, parrots have a bright green, blue or yellow color.

Buy birds from experienced breeders. Since budgies are very popular; at the poultry market they may give you a weak or sick bird.

If we talk about the peculiarities of keeping, budgies need a bright place. At the same time, a window sill is not a suitable option, because parrots, like other pichugas, are very afraid of drafts.

The cage should be quite spacious. The minimum dimensions of the house for budgies are 25x40x40 cm. The cage must be cleaned daily. You also need to periodically treat the birds’ home with a special disinfectant or chamomile decoction.

Take care of the bird's leisure time. It is advisable to place a swing, a mirror, perches in the cage, as well as a bath for water treatments and a sippy cup with clean water.

Ready-made grain mixtures for parrots, which can be purchased at our pet store, fruits and vegetables, herbs and mineral supplements are the basis for a proper diet for budgies.

In the second part of our article, you will learn about birds such as grays, lovebirds, cockatoos and cockatiels. Read and choose a feathered friend to your liking.

Birds are the most beautiful creatures in the world! Their appearance is full of bliss, and their movements are full of grace. It is impossible to imagine our world without birds. There are currently about 9,000 species of birds on Earth - a huge variety of colors and sounds! All birds are unique in their own way.
For a long time, people have been interested in birds - after all, they can fly! And man has always dreamed of flight, of open spaces and new horizons.

Ornamental birds have been kept in people's homes since ancient times. In ancient times, they were decorations of palaces, castles and houses of noble people. They delighted with their bright plumage, or their beautiful voice, or both. The fashion for decorative birds is still alive today. Today, everyone can enjoy communicating with feathered beauties. The main thing is to choose the right pet so that its temperament and maintenance characteristics do not become a problem for the owner.
Keeping ornamental birds is a fascinating activity. You can watch them for hours, listening to the trills of representatives of singing species. Such a hobby helps to get closer to nature and has a beneficial effect on a person’s psychological state and the moral climate of the family.

We present to your attention the most popular types of ornamental birds:

Finches native to tropical regions of the Earth. Their brightly colored plumage attracts many bird lovers. Thanks to him, finches look very impressive and exotic. In addition, they are funny and active. These birds easily get used to people and, if treated well, begin to trust them. But the finches sing, to put it mildly, not very well. The sounds they make resemble whistling, buzzing, chirping, grumbling and even hissing. However, this disadvantage is more than compensated for by the exterior and friendliness of the birds, as well as their unpretentiousness in maintenance.
– Japanese finches are the easiest birds to keep at home. Their coloring is not too bright, but the song is pleasant and quiet. This type of finches does not fuss or litter, so cleaning their cages is a mere formality.
– Zebra finches are the most popular among this species of birds. They breed well in captivity, are brightly colored and often start their cheerful song. They are more mobile than Japanese finches, so there will be more garbage from them.
– Gould’s finches are shy and bright birds. They are very delicate and sing quietly, with tints.
– Rice finches are large, unpretentious birds. Their song is very unique and similar to electronic music.
To maintain finches in good mood You need to keep at least a couple of birds in a cage. Alone, only rice finches feel the best.

Blackbirds They are famous for their unique melodic singing, but they are not easy to maintain. Blackbirds are shy birds. They are distrustful of people and do not give in to their hands. Birds take a long time to adapt to the conditions of captivity, but blackbirds, accustomed to a cage, sing regularly. Blackbirds need a lot of space, so they are kept in large cages or enclosures. They also require sunlight and regular bathing, for which a bath is built in the cage. Despite the difficulties in keeping, blackbirds are popular ornamental birds.

Finches small interesting birds, quite often kept at home.
They have developed sexual dimorphism, so it is very easy to distinguish between males and females. Males have bluish plumage on the head and neck (only in the warm season) and a bright reddish chest. Females are discreetly colored. The main color of their plumage is brownish-greenish. Finches become tame quite easily. They are also easy to maintain. It is worth noting that only males sing among finches.

Goldfinches attract lovers of domestic ornamental birds with their bright elegant plumage and in a melodic, non-irritating voice. Goldfinches are energetic and active birds. They quickly become tame. They are also smart and willful. Some individuals can be pugnacious, but most birds are still friendly towards other birds. Despite this, goldfinches should not be kept in the same cage with other bird species. Female goldfinches have less singing ability compared to males. Males have a sonorous and beautiful song. Sometimes there are individuals with a developed multi-generational song.

Siskins peace-loving birds. They combine aesthetic appearance and melodic singing,
due to which they are popular, but mainly in their habitat areas. Siskins can be kept in the same enclosure with others finches, but they also feel good alone. Caring for these birds is easy. They are also not picky about food. Siskins have a pleasant timbre and a beautiful song consisting of several knees; they can also imitate the songs of other bird species.

jays beautiful, bright and very interesting birds. In addition to their attractive appearance, birds
They are distinguished by their ability to imitate almost all sounds that they hear. Jays are able to copy various noises, sounds, human voices, songs of other birds, melodies, even words. The contents of these amazing birds quite unpretentious. They can eat any food. If the bird comes into the house as a chick, then it becomes completely tame, and if it is already an adult bird, then the jay will need quite a lot of time to get used to people and begin to trust them.

Pigeons very popular and ancient birds all over the world. Today they are kept mainly for
aesthetic pleasure, that is, like decorative birds. More than eight hundred breeds of pigeons are known. Each breed has not only its own unique appearance, but also a number of behavioral and other characteristics. Unlike many other decorative birds, pigeons are not distinguished by their beautiful singing, as they only coo. Basically, the popularity of pigeons is due to their appearance and beautiful, mesmerizing flock flight. Birds are kept mainly in groups in special dovecotes or in spacious home cages (1-2 individuals). Pigeons are not picky about food and do not require complex care.

Canaries some of the oldest birds kept in captivity. These small birds They are distinguished and valued for their bright attractive color, low maintenance requirements and melodic multi-step singing. The singing of birds obtained as a result of selection has a greater depth of phrases, but fewer elements than the songs of wild canaries. When buying a canary, keep in mind that only males sing. Wild canaries have approximately 400 song elements in their arsenal, which makes them more diverse. Canaries are birds that are easily tamed, trust people, live long enough (7-12 years) and reproduce successfully in captivity.
The appearance of canaries is sunny - they are painted mainly in bright yellow tones. Kenars very easily get used to their owner and do not require a large enclosure. The cage of these birds can be cleaned every 2-3 days, but the water for drinking and bathing needs to be changed every day.

Parrots

These are the most popular ornamental birds. This is caused by the variety and brightness of color, rapid adaptation to new conditions of detention (many species become tame) and, most importantly, the ability to imitate a person’s voice - to “communicate”. For a sociable person, there is no better pet than a parrot.
They have been kept at home for a long time and successfully. They adapt well to captivity conditions, quickly begin to trust people, and are unpretentious in food and maintenance. There are parrots different sizes(from 10 to 98 cm), and almost all of them have bright plumage, which attracts many bird breeders. Parrots are funny, cheerful and smart birds. The most popular types of parrots to keep at home are budgerigars, cockatoos (many members of the family), and macaws.

Another popular decorative bird of the parrot family is gray parrots or gray parrots. These rather large birds have earned popularity due to their amazing ability to reproduce voices and melody. The fact is that these charming creatures in nature communicate with an imitative whistle and, living side by side with a person, they try to contact him in this way. It is generally accepted that red-tailed grays are more talented than brown-tailed grays, but this is not so. If the latter are given due attention, they will delight their owners with amazingly accurate reproduction of sounds.

In captivity, these parrots can live up to 60 years with proper care and veterinary care. Before getting a Gray Gray, you should think about whether you are planning to move within a few years. Of course, it is impossible to plan for the next half century, but the acquisition of such a feathered friend must be taken responsibly. Grays can also breed in captivity, and the owners, who have provided all the living conditions for the couple, will have a unique opportunity to watch the family troubles of their feathered friends.

The demand for medium and large parrots is constantly growing not only in Russia. Reproduction in special nurseries is clearly not enough, and therefore the capture of parrots in the wild continues, which leads to a reduction in the number or complete disappearance of the subspecies.

The most popular types of ornamental birds was last modified: August 19th, 2014 by allpets1