The Stara Zagora Red (Bulgarian: Старозагорска червена кокошка, Starozagorska chervena kokoshka) is a Bulgarian breed of domestic chicken from the oblast of Stara Zagora, in the central-southern part of the country. In the mid-20th century local chickens of Stara Zagora were crossed with Rhode Island Red chickens.[1][3]
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| Conservation status | SAVE, 2009: critical[1] |
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| Other names | |
| Country of origin | Bulgaria |
| Use | eggs |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Skin color | yellow[2] |
| Egg color | brown[2] |
| Classification | |
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History
editThe Stara Zagora Red breed was created in about 1970 by cross-breeding local hens of the region, of various colours, with Rhode Island Red cocks.[2][4] The red colour became fully established after the second generation. The initial results were published in 1969.[4]
Nowadays it is considered to be a rare breed. Its conservation status was listed as "critical" by the SAVE Foundation in 2009.[1] It is kept by Bulgarian Poultry Institute in Stara Zagora and a few Bulgarian breeders, members of the Bulgarian Poultry Breeders Association.[citation needed] In 2013 the total number for the breed reported to DAD-IS was 360.[2]
Characteristics
editThe Stara Zagora Red is a medium-built bird with bright red feathering, a broad straight back, full breast and well-developed wattles and comb.[4] Cocks weigh about 3–3.5 kg and hens 2.3–2.5 kg. Hens start laying at about 165 days, and lay 215–220 brown eggs per year, with a weight of 55–60 g.[1][2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Waltraud Kugler (2009). Rare Breeds and Varieties of the Balkan - Atlas 2009 Archived 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine. St. Gallen: Monitoring Institute for Rare Breeds and Seeds in Europe. p. 46.
- ^ a b c d e f Breed data sheet: Starozagorska chervena kokoshka/Bulgaria. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2014.
- ^ "Stara Zagora/Starozagorska red chicken". Hristo Lukanov. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
- ^ a b c S. Nozcev, C. Conkov (1969). The Stara Zagora Red fowl = Starozagorskata Chervena Kokoshka. The Stara Zagora Red fowl.
Further reading
edit- Величков и колектив, В. (1987). Частно животновъдство. Земиздат.
- колектив (1997). Албум фамилни ферми за производство и породи птици отглеждани в България. PENSOFT. ISBN 954-642-032-8.
- колектив (1996). Отглеждане на птици. ЗЕМИЗДАТ. ISBN 954-05-0347-7.
- колектив (2000). Птицевъдство. ФОРУМ. ISBN 954-9794-22-9.
- Семерджиев, Валентин (2005). Атлас и характеристика на продуктивните птици. "Съюз на учените-Стара Загора". ISBN 954-9329-25-9.
External links
edit- Starozagorska red hen. agrobiodiversity.net.
- ELBARN - Starozagorska red hen