The selection
work started in 1959 (and completed in 1965) at the Experimental Poultry
Station in Rovigo, a city in Northern Italy. The Sussex and Rhode Island Red
contributed to its creation. The aim of the selection was to obtain a good
producer of valuable meat and good layer.
They are a double-purpose
breed (meat and eggs), with good precocity. Also the hens can be used in the
interbreeding for the production of autosexing chicks.
The chicks are
yellow with light-grey wings. Adults have a “ermellinato” livery: white
Columbian or light (white livery with dark neck hackles and main tail
feathers). Single comb, red earlobes. Yellow skin and shanks. At 120 days,
cockerels and pullets reach the weight of 1.7-1.8 kg. The adult male weighs
about 3.5 - 3.7 kg, the female up to 2.4 - 2.5 kg. The hens lay about 170-190
rosy-shelled eggs a year, of 55-60 g. Sexual maturity begins at 6-7th month in
males and 5-6th month in females. (The breed is very similar to the Columbian
Plymouth Rock).
Contenta dn photo
source: agraria.org
About Ermellinato Chickens
