Poultry Flashcards
What is used to distinguish between the types of poultry?
the head and neck features
What are the eight varieties of turkey?
-Bronze
-Narragansett
-White Holland
-Black
-Slate
-Bourbon red
-Small beltsville white
-royal palm
What color are most turkeys grown for meat?
white
What two turkey types are commercially important in the US?
small white and large broad breasted white
What is the most popular breed of duck in the US?
white pekin
What are breeds of domestic geese that are used for meat production?
-Embden
-Toulouse
-White Chinese
-Pilgrim
What is a class of birds?
a group of birds that have been developed in the same broad geographical area
What are the classes of chicken?
-American
-Asiatic
-English
-Mediterranean
What are the breeds of american chickens?
-rhode island red
-new hampshire
-plymouth rock
-jersey giants
What are the breeds of Asiatic chickens?
-brahmas
-cochin
What are the breeds of English chickens?
-cornish
-sussex
-dorking
What are the breeds of Mediterranean chicken?
-ancora
-leghorn
-Minorca
What is a breed of bird?
a subdivision of class composed of birds of similar size and shape
What is a variety of bird?
a subdivision of breed composed of birds of the same feather color and comb type
What are the color options for chickens?
-dark
-light
-buff
-barred
-silver penciled
What are the comb types?
-buttercup
-rose
-single
-pea
-strawberry
Broiler
raised for meat
Poussin
-1 lb. or less
-less than 24 days old
-mild and tender
Cornish Game Hens
-2 lbs.
-less than 30 days old
-can be male or female
Fast-food Oriented Broiler
-2.14-2.6 lbs.
-less than 42 days old
-cut-up into parts
-goes to restaurants
3’s and Up
-3-4.75 lbs.
-40-45 days of age
-standard retail bird
-grow very quickly
Roaster
-5-8 lbs.
-47-56 days old
Broilers for Deboning
-7-9 lbs.
-47-56 days old
-bones will be removed
Capon
-7-9 lbs.
-98-105 days of age
-surgically castrated males
-rare
Heavy Hens
-5-5.5 lbs.
-used in pre-cooked items (cans of soup and stews etc.)
-spent broiler breeders
Characteristics of non-layer hens
-comb is shrunken and cold
-pelvic bones are close together
Characteristics of young layer hens
pelvic bone and keel bone are further apart
Characteristics of full production hens
the distance between the pelvic bone and keel bone are the greatest
Order of pigmentation loss
- Vent
- Eyering
- Earlobes
- Beak
- Bottom of feet
- Entire shank
- Top of toes and hocks
Vent during production
-first loss of pigmentation
-yellow vent changes to white or pink
-0-10 days
Eyering during production
-second loss of pigmentation
-loses its yellow color
-8-12 days
Earlobes during production
-third loss of pigmentation
-lose pigmentation
-10-15 days
Beak during production
-fourth loss of pigmentation
-turns white (bottom first)
-35 days
Bottom of feet during production
-fifth loss of pigmentation
-turn white
-68 days
Shank during production
-sixth loss of pigmentation
-the entire leg loses pigmentation
-159 days
Top of toes and hocks during production
-seventh and last loss of pigmentation (first to return if not in production)
-115-180 days
What can you look at on a hen to determine egg color?
the earlobes
Hens with blue earlobes will lay ________
blue/blue-green eggs
Hens with red earlobes will lay _________
brown eggs
Hens with white earlobes will lay _________
white eggs
How much of the total weight of the egg is the shell?
9-12%
How does the air cell form in an egg?
-7,000-17,000 tiny pores distributed over the shells surface (more on the larger end)
-as the egg ages the holes permit moisture and carbon dioxide to move out and air to move in
What is the protective covering of the shell?
the cuticle or bloom
Cuticle (bloom)
the protective covering of the shell
-preserves freshness and prevent microbial contamination of the contents
Air cell
-empty space between albumen and shell
-at the large end of the egg
-as eggs age the air cell gets larger
Albumen
-egg white
-67% of egg’s liquid weight
-thick and thin layers
-as age ages, thin albumen increases
-protein, niacin, riboflavin, chlorine, magnesium, potassium, sodium, sulfur
Vitelline membrane
-covering of the yolk
-protects the yolk from breaking
-as eggs age it becomes more fragile
Chalaza
-ropey strands of egg white (albumen)
-anchor yolk in place in the center of the thick albumen
-fresher eggs have a more prominent chalaza
Germinal disk
-slight depression on the surface of the yolk
-sperm enters via the germinal disc
Yolk
-33% of eggs liquid weight
-fat, protein, vit. A, D, and E
-site of embryo formation in fertilized eggs
AA quality eggs
-clean, unbroken shell
-air cell is 1/8 in. or less in depth, unlimited movement, and free or bubbly
-white is firm and clear
-yolk outline is defined slightly, practically
What grade eggs are sold in retail stores?
AA and A
A quality eggs
-shell is clean and unbroken
-air cell is 3/16 in. or less in depth, unlimited movement, and free or bubbly
-white is clear and reasonably firm
-yolk outline is fairly well defined, practically
B quality eggs
-shell is clean to slightly stained and unbroken
-Air cell is over 3/16 in in depth, unlimited movement, and free or bubbly
-white is weak and watery with small blood and meat spots present
-yolk outline is plainly visible, enlarged and flattened with a clearly visible germ
What grade will all eggs end up being as they age?
grade B
Factors in egg size laid
-age (older = larger)
-breed
-size/weight of hen
-environment (heat, crowded, nutrition)
Jumbo egg
30 oz./dozen
Extra large egg
27 oz./dozen
Large egg
24 oz./dozen
Medium egg
21 oz./dozen
Small egg
18 oz./dozen
Peewee egg
15 oz./dozen
What is the standard egg size?
large
How days does it take for an egg to hatch?
about 21 days
What is the most critical requirement for successful incubation?
temperature
What temperature do eggs start incubating at?
99.5-100.0 degrees F
At the end of the 4th day what should the temperature be lowered by?
0.25-0.5 degrees F and remain there until eggs are transferred to hatching compartments
When should eggs be moved to hatching compartments?
four days prior to hatching
What is the temperature lowered by 3 days before hatching?
1.0-1.5 degrees F
What does a low temperature do to the egg?
slows the embryonic process and causes embryonic mortality or deformed chicks
What is the relative humidity needed for hatchability?
60-65%
What position should eggs be in to incubate?
large end up
What happens if eggs incubate small end up?
a high percentage of the developing embryo will die before reaching the hatching stage
What position should the eggs be placed in the last few days of incubation?
a horizontal position
What happens to eggs not turned during incubation?
they have little to no chance of hatching because the embryo becomes stuck to the shell membrane
How often should eggs be rotated per day?
5 or more times daily
What should the oxygen content of the air surrounding eggs be during incubation?
21% oxygen by volume
What should the carbon dioxide content not exceed during incubation?
0.5% by volume
-incubators must be properly ventilated to prevent excess accumulation of CO2
How often should eggs be candled during incubation?
at least once so infertile and dead-germ eggs can be identified
-some will candle a second time when transferring the eggs to the hatching compartments
When are eggs usually candled during incubation?
the 4th or 5th day of incubation
What does broiler barn design depend on?
where in the country they are located
What type of flooring do broiler barns have?
-mostly dirt
-some concrete or asphalt
How are vaccines/meds given to broilers?
through the feed and watering systems
How often do barns fill per year?
6-7 times per year
Broiler diet is how much crude protein?
20-20.3%
How are broilers fed?
ad lib with ad lib access to water
How are energy requirements met for broilers?
-cereal grains (corn, milo, wheat)
-grain by-products
-fats
Substances used for litter
-shavings
-sawdust
-wood chips
-peat moss
-ground corncobs
-peanut hulls
-rice hulls
-sugarcane fiber
-recycled paper
What should moisture levels of litter not exceed?
35% and should be at least 2 in. thick
High-rise houses (layers)
cages are arranged in a manner that directs manure through a slot in the floor into a storage area or manure pit at a lower level
Enriched colony (layers)
contain around 60 birds and provides more space for each bird
-nesting boxes, perches, scratch pads, and dust baths are provided
Free-run barns (layers)
hens roam freely within an enclosed barn
-includes enrichment for hens
Free-run aviary (layers)
allows hens to roam freely within an enclosed barn
-provides multi-tiered system of enrichment for the hens
Ideal temperature of laying barns
55-75 degrees F
How many hours of late are needed for optimal egg production?
about 16 hours of light
Function of combs
-regulate body heat (breeds originating in warm climates will have larger combs)
-aid in the attraction of a mate (brightly colored, large combs are appealing)
Buttercup comb
-double sided
-crown like appearance
-1 point at the front, 2 ridges divide forming a rounded pattern
Cushion comb
-rounded shape
-small size, short distance up head
-no points or ridges, solid appearance
-begins at the top of the beak and reach only a short distance up the head
Pea comb
-3 lengthwise ridges
-comb runs from top of the head to the beak
-middle ridge is the tallest
Rose comb
-top of the beak is a fleshy tube covered in rounded bumps (2/3 of the comb)
-last 1/3 is a tube or spike
-three parts: base, rounded point, spike
Silkie comb
-genetic relation to rose comb
-lumpy and round comb that is wider than long
-comb has a rear point
-feathering on the head covers most of the comb
Single comb
-most common comb type
-usually upright but can hang to one side
-takes the form of a straight line that reaches from the beak to the rear of the head
-series of points on the top of the head
-end of comb is thickened called the blade
Strawberry comb
-rough texture with bumps
-small size
V-shaped comb
-sometimes called horn or antler comb
-two thick points that branch out on opposite sides forming a V
Anconas physical description
black coloring with white tipped feathers, white ear lobes, and yellow legs
Ancona class
Mediterranean
Ancona egg color
white
Ancona comb type
single or rose
Brahma physical description
red wattles and ear lobes, profuse feathering, feathered shanks and toes
Brahma varieties
light, dark, and buff
Brahma class
Asiatic
Brahma egg color
brown
Brahma comb type
pea
Cornish physical description
skin and shank color is yellow, muscled body, slightly curved beak, and short feathers
Cornish varieties
dark, white, white laced red, and buff
Cornish class
English
Cornish egg color
Brown
Cornish comb type
single
Jersey Giant physical description
-largest breed in American class
-yellow skin, black shanks in black varieties, dark willowed shanks in white varieties
Jersey Giant varieties
black and white
Jersey Giant class
American
Jersey Giant egg color
Brown
Jersey Giant comb type
single
LegHorn physical description
red wattle, white earlobes, and yellow skin
LegHorn varieties
-Single comb-dark brown, light brown, white, buff, black, silver, red, black tailed red, and columbian
-Rose comb - dark brown, light brown, white, and buff
LegHorn class
Mediterranean
LegHorn egg color
white
LegHorn comb type
single or rose
New Hampshire Reds physical description
medium to light red color
New Hampshire Reds class
American
New Hampshire Reds egg color
brown
New Hampshire Reds comb type
single
Plymouth Rocks physical description
long, broad back with a deep full breast
Plymouth Rocks varieties
barred, white, buff, partridge, silver penciled, blue, and columbian
Plymouth Rocks class
American
Plymouth Rocks egg color
brown
Plymouth Rocks comb type
single
Rhode Island Reds physical description
rectangular, long bodies, typically dark red in color, and yellow skin
Rhode Island Reds class
American
Rhode Island Reds egg color
brown
Rhode Island Reds comb type
single or rose
