Backyard poultry Flashcards
When did domestication of poultry occur?
< 2000 BC
What are the main purposes for poultry?
- food
- sport i.e. cockfighting
- hobby i.e. showing
- pets
How many pure breeds of chicken are there?
> 70
Name some outdoor hybrids.
- Black Rock
- Calder Ranger
- Blue Belle
- Speckledy
- Amber Star
Name some common pure breed chickens kept.
- Ancona
- Brahma
- Cochin
- Malay
- New Hampshire Red
- Old English Game
- Plymouth Rock
- Scots Grey
What are the different categories of geese?
Heavy
Medium
Light
What are the different categories of ducks?
Heavy
Light
Bantam
Call
What are the different categories of chickens?
Soft feather: heavy/light True bantam Asian hard feather Hard feather Rare soft feather: heavy/light Rare hard feather Rare true bantam
What are the benefits of choosing outdoor hybrids?
- better growth
- better FCR
- better egg production
- better resistance within their environment
What are the roles of housing?
Protection from: *adverse weather *predators *rodents Provide adequate: -- temperature -- ventilation Preventing: *dustiness *NH3 accumulation
By what criteria must poultry be defined to be considered ‘free-range’?
During daylight, birds have access to:
- ground with vegetation
- mud
- nettles
- bark, woodchip, gravel or mesh
What risks are presented if feeders are not well kept?
- vermin access encouraged
* feed becoming moist - increasing risk of Aspergillus development
What risk does wet food present birds?
Fungal growth
e.g. Aspergillus infection – risk of mycotoxicosis or Aspergillosis
