Within birds we find chickens, birds that have undergone a process of domestication over time. As a result of this process, a great diversity of breeds has originated, so much so that there are more than 1,600 varieties throughout the world, among which we find the Paduan hen or padovana, as it is known in Italian.
In this tab on our site we show all the characteristics of the Paduan hen so you can learn more about this curious breed. We invite you to continue reading.
Origin of the Paduan hen
There are certain controversies about the origin of the Paduan hen, since it has been attributed that it is related to races originating from Poland and Holland, and it is that the famous doctor, astronomer, alchemist and engineer called Giovanni Dondi dell'Orologio, a native of Padua, was the one who, around the year 1300, introduced this breed to the region, which he brought from Poland in order to beautify orchards. However, some references [1] indicate that there are no records of the commented event. Thus, although it cannot be ruled out absolutely, the documents of the time do not report any contact of the aforementioned character with the Polish region. Therefore, the breed is considered originating in Italy
Characteristics of the Paduan hen
The Paduan fowl is a breed of the subspecies Gallus gallus domesticus. It is characterized by being a medium-sized bird, with females weighing between 1.5 and 2 kg and males between 1.8 and 2.3 kg. It has a medium-sized head, without a crest, but with a quite voluminous feather and very characteristic of the breed. The eyes tend to be large, round and striking, most of them brown, but in some variants such as white they change to an orange hue. The breathing holes are also large. In addition, it has a strong and somewhat curved beak.
On the other hand, the Paduan or Paduan hen does not have barbels or they can barely be seen due to the dense beard it has. The body is widened towards the shoulders, but narrows towards the rear, at the level of the haunches. The posture of this hen is upright, with the trunk somewhat elongated and with a certain inclination.
There is sexual dimorphism The body of the females is more compressed and low, having a more horizontal shape than that of the males. The roosters have a dense plume with a globular shape and the feathers on the head are drooping, narrow and pointed. In chickens, the spherical plume, although equally dense, is firm and the feathers do not hang down. In both, the neck has many feathers.
The wings are attached to the body, medium in size and arranged horizontally. The tail, for its part, is dense, wider in males, and the angle it forms in them is greater than that of females. The plumage is well developed and the individual tips are rounded.
There is a dwarf variety of the Paduan hen, which has the same traits mentioned, but differs in weight, since the male has a range between 0.8 and 1 kg, while the female from 0.7 to 0.9 kg.
Colors of the Paduan hen
Although the chamois Paduana hen or the black Paduana hen are the best known, the truth is that this breed exhibits various colors:
- Black
- White
- Tricolor
- Hawk
- Pearl Grey
- Blue border
- Gold with black border
- Silver edged black
- Chamois with white border
Paduan hen habitat
The species Gallus gallus is native to Asia, specifically from the south of the region, but later, with the domestication process of the bird, it had a global distribution and currently, with the existence of so many breeds, it found in many countries.
As we have mentioned, the Paduan chicken breed is native to Italy and has been considered an orchard animal, so its habitat is associated with these spaces. Like any bird, it requires enough space to be able to move freely. Another important aspect is that it should not be in humid places, since being exposed to conditions of this type can affect it. In this sense, you should live in dry spaces
Character of the Paduan hen
This bird is described as having an elegant bearing, which can be seen in its gait. In addition, it is referred to as having a safe character. She is not aggressive, usually has a rather docile behavior and can develop relationships of trust with people, always subject to the good treatment and care she must receive, such as all the animals.
Potro On the other hand, it is an animal with gregarious behavior, so that it is raised in groups of several individuals where there is a hierarchy in the organization.
Care and feeding of the Paduan hen
In nature, animals manage to fend for themselves, as they develop the necessary adaptations for this. However, domesticated animals are totally dependent on people because, precisely, domestication has limited their capacity for independence. In this sense, the Paduan hen is no exception, it requires certain care.
An example of the care of the Paduan hen is the need to make cuts to the abundant plume of the head, since it often grows so large that it limits your vision. On the other hand, it is important that is not in humid spaces and even that the availability of water is controlled in a container with which spills are avoided and the space where it is located.
As for food, the species is originally omnivorous, feeding on various grains, cereals, insects, worms or larvae. However, as it usually lives with us as a pet, it can be offered commercial food, although the Paduan hen, like these birds in general, has nutritional requirements that include proteins, carbohydrates, fats and minerals, so all food A commercial store should provide each of these components or offer you a variety of nutritious options through which you can meet all of your dietary needs. Of course, commercial feed must be of quality. A medium hen requires about 135 grams of feed daily
In this other article we talk more in depth about the care of these animals: "How to take care of chickens?".
Paduan hen he alth
There are three main aspects to maintaining the he alth of the Paduan hen. The first is the one referred to regularly cutting the plume, since if it grows excessively, it limits its vision, and can generate stress and mistrust for the hen to move around in its space.
On the other hand, we find what refers to humidity. It is a bird that can get sick if it is in humid spaces, therefore, it is of vital importance that the place where it develops is dry, so that in the rainy season appropriate measures should be taken.
Finally, we have food. As we mentioned, these animals depend, in general, on our care, and feed almost exclusively on what is supplied to them. In this sense, a Paduan hen that is only offered corn, for example, will not maintain good he alth, since it will lack certain nutrients. So, you have to offer a varied and really nutritional food, in addition to allowing him to go to spaces such as the garden or the patio to consume certain insects or worms that provide them with benefits.
Curiosities of the Paduan hen
The Paduan hen has a beautiful and attractive appearance, so it has been considered an ornamental animal, however, it is always important to offer it good care, like any pet, and in no case case take advantage of it for exploitation purposes.
Another of the curiosities of the Padova hen is that sexual maturity is reached in the case of the female between 5 and 6 months, while the rooster is between 6 and 7 months. In addition, these hens lay a large number of eggs a year, which are white and weigh 50 to 60 g. However, the females are not very willing to incubate them.
Despite being a breed that has spread to various countries, for some time now a decrease in the number of existing individuals has been reported.
