About Ermellinato Chickens
 |
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