Poultry Flashcards
What is the chain of laying hens?
Grandparent flock lays breeding flock
Breeding flock las pullets which become all female laying flock
These lay the infertile eggs that are for sale
How long does it take to become laying age?
16 weeks
How long are chickens layers?
16-70 weeks
What is the chain for broiler chickens?
Grandparent flock
Breeding flock
Table birds
How long are table birds alive for?
5/6 weeks
How are chickens sexed?
Females red
males white
What types of farm are there for poultry?
Rearing farm
Laying farm
Broiler farm
What are pullets?
Young laying hens before they start laying
How is the broiler industry different?
Most intensively farmed
most mechanised
low labour
What businesses control the layer market?
Major egg packers
What business controls th ebroiler industry?
Processors
Mostly contract production
What are the 3 main layer breeds?
Hyline
Lohman
Novogen
WHat are the two main broiler breeds?
Avian
Cobb
What is different about free range?
Loose housed
Access outside through popholes during day
What is the stocking density for broilers?
14birds/m2
What is the stocking density fro layers?
7 birds/m2
How are turkeys usually housed?
Indoor
What is different about ducks and geese?
Ducks feed in water, geese on land
Geese same colour male and female, ducks dimorphic
What must ducks have?
Water trough that they can dunk their heads in
What is used to bring birds into lay?
Extended day lengths
How much light should broilers have?
6 hrs
4 hrs continuous
How much daylight should laying hens get?
8hrs
What kind of lighting are chicks used to?
Intermittent
What problems can you get with lighting?
Can see flickering lights more than humans
need UV light
How much do ducks weigh at slaughter?
males 5kg
females 3kg
How much do broilers weigh at slaughter?
2.3kg
How much do turkeys weigh at slaughter?
7-10kg
What is important to note about temp in chickens?
Packed to tight can cause overheating
46 degrees is fatal
How often are eggs layed?
Every 22-26 hrs