Vitebsk Zoo sells silk and chintz chickens to everyone

October 14, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The Vitebsk Zoo is selling Silkie and Cochin chickens to everyone. These are not fabric toys made of silk or chintz, as one might think, but live decorative birds, the zoo director Aleksey Andreykov explained to a BELTA correspondent. The zoo has received a license for commercial activities for the first time. Now, visitors can not only observe animals and birds but also buy a pet they like. However, the zoo is only allowed to sell domestic and exotic representatives of fauna. Along with guinea pigs and budgerigars, chickens and goats are also on the list of animals for sale. According to Aleksey Andreykov, decorative chickens and miniature Cameroon goats can become a good source of income for the Vitebsk zoo. Silkie chickens are one of the ancient breeds that came to Europe from China. Eastern medicine equates the value of their meat and eggs to ginseng. And the chickens themselves, for their silky feathers, are often called cats of the poultry family. Cochin chickens, weighing no more than 0.9 kg, lay eggs that are no less beneficial in their chemical composition; they are excellent brooders, have a gentle disposition, and are patient with children. For lovers of large birds, the zoo can offer giant Brahmas, noble and stately chickens that sometimes reach a weight of 10 kg. Despite the fact that there are no whalers in Belarus who always took small Cameroon goats on long voyages to have fresh milk and meat, Aleksey Andreykov is confident that there will be those who wish to breed these domestic animals in Vitebsk as well. The zoo expects the first goat offspring by mid-winter. As for raising young chickens, the zoo will use an incubator. An artificial brooder can hatch eggs of various birds, from parrots to geese. The Vitebsk Zoo houses 45 species of amphibians, birds, and mammals. About 300 representatives of the animal world have found their home here. -0-