eggs production and sexing

Question 1

brooding age

Answer 1

0-6 weeks

Question 2

growing age

Answer 2

6-20 weeks

Question 3

what else happens during the growing stage

Answer 3

• switch to growing feed, less expensive and less protein than the starter feed
• beak trimming
• some vaccines

Question 4

restriction to feed supply during growing….

Answer 4

stops them from growing at a fast rate and results in both feed savings and increased egg production when the birds mature

Question 5

careful weekly weighing of the birds is essential to…..

Answer 5

restrict body weigh and low coefficient of variation

Question 6

around how many birds in an intensive production system and what kind of ways do they raise the chickens

Answer 6

10 000 - 1 000 000 birds
- cages or furnished cage
- free range
- barn
- organic egg production

Question 7

what is a semi intensive egg production system

Answer 7

small farms w a few hundred to a few thousand hens housed in a shed, access to a yard surrounded by a 2m high wire netting, free range

Question 8

what in an extensive egg productive system (opposite of intensive)

Answer 8

-a few chooks scavenging in the yard

Question 9

describe conventional cage layer sheds in intensive housing system

Answer 9

• stacked in tiers in back-to-back rows
• passageways for feeding, egg collection and bird management
• automated watering, feeding and egg collection
• extremely high standard in flock health

Question 10

describe furnished cages

Answer 10

bigger, has perches, nest box, dust baths, however, no difference in categorization so a lot less common because no value in doing it

Question 11

how many birds within a cage

Answer 11

6-20

Question 12

what is pecking order

Answer 12

dominance levels, they usually get along in cages due to established pecking order

Question 13

advantages of caged housing

Answer 13

• hens rarely get sick
• avoid injury from fighting
• lower carbon footprint
• less seen for meds and antibiotics
• protected from predators
• cage hens produce more and cleaner eggs, cheaper
• fewer occurrences of manure-borne diseases, parasites and other exotic diseases

Question 14

disadvantages to cages

Answer 14

• reduced social interaction
• unable to roam/ explore
• unable to practice natural behaviours
• unable to perch –> lower bone strength

Question 15

barn or aviary system, describe and how many birds

Answer 15

hens in this production system live in a shed
- roaming, perches, litter, nest boxes, feeders and drinkers
- 500 to 5000 birds

Question 16

what is the difference between barn and aviary system

Answer 16

barn is flat, aviary has vertical layers

Question 17

what do born or aviary system allows birds to do

Answer 17

move around, stretch, flap wings, socialize, perch, scratch litter, dust bathe and lay eggs in nest boxes

Question 18

advantages of barn or aviary system

Answer 18

• protection from the weather and predators
• ability to move around
• social interaction
• natural behaviours

Question 19

disadvantages of barn or aviary system

Answer 19

• increased occurence of manure borne diseases and parasites
• more difficult to identify and remove ill birds
• increased risk of feather pecking
• fighting and cannibalism
• broken bones
• cost of production are increased , more expensive eggs
• greater labour requirements for monitoring birds and management

Question 20

what is the little cup under their nipple system water source for

Answer 20

not to drink out of, to catch water so litter doesn’t get wet and cause foot problems

they drink right out of the nipple, closed water system

Question 21

free range system

Answer 21

• both sheds and outdoors
• perches, nest boxes, food and water only in the shed
• some small free range system have mobile shelters that can be moved around to allow rotation of the range area

Question 22

advantages of free range

Answer 22

• access to outdoor and ability to roam
• socialize
• natural behaviours
• better bone strength due to more movement

Question 23

disadvantages of free range

Answer 23

• exposure to predators
• harder biosecurity
• increased likelihood of pecking, fighting, cannibalism
• greater occurrence of manure borne diseases and parasites
• increased need for antibiotics
• exposure to weather

Question 24

will female and male broiler chicks be raised together

Answer 24

yes because they are roughly same size

Question 25

4 ways to sex day old chocks

Answer 25

• colour sexing
• vent sexing
• feather sexing
• head spot sexing

Question 26

feather sexing

Answer 26

by looking at colour of feathers
males ZZ slow feathering
females ZW fast feathering
- only works in pure lines

Question 27

vent sexing

Answer 27

turn pulp upside down and look at organs, big skill, can be done to all chicks

Question 28

whats another way to sex chicks

Answer 28

in ovo sexing; work out gender before 9 day period, male eggs destroyed, non optical and optical techniques