Poultry Flashcards
poultry class
aves
includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, ratites, game birds like squab (pigeon) and pheasant
chicken species
gallus domesticus
main ancestor of domesticated chicken is red jungle fowl in East Asia/India but was originally for rooster fighting
gallus domesticus cock fighting and obesity gene
selective breeding —> larger and hardier males for fighting and breeding but through genetics we found the gene related to obesity which are now our “broilers” (breeds that are plump and meaty) and created a mutation disabling a thyroid regulating gene which enables chickens to breed/lay eggs all year long: called layers since these breeds are raised to produce lots of eggs
in wild animals this gene coordinates reproduction with day length
chick
newborn
pullet
young, immature female chicken <5-6 months
hen
mature female chicken
cockerel
immature male
rooster
mature male chicken
capon
castrated male chicken
Rhode island reds
breed used for eggs and meat
Plymouth rocks
breed used for dual purpose
Polish
breeds that is a good white egg layer
has become better known as an ornamental breed often referred to as “king of all poultry”
Brahma
breed that has great size, strength, and hardiness
distinguished by feather feet and produce brown eggs
foie gras
fatty liver
food product traditionally produced using geese but now more commonly is produced using ducks
tomium
geese have
hard, spiky cartilage
looks and functions the same way as a row of teeth but it’s a growth made from the beak itself
doesn’t have enamel
Muscovy duck
descended from wild mallard duck and most commonly used for foie gras
steatosis
fatty infiltration
can be produced to a much greater degree in some domestic duck breeds (those with the capacity to secrete hepatic lipids) by feeding maximal amounts of a high carbohydrate diet
how is steatosis produced
drakes or males are raised in barns until plumage develops and are provided a period of free access to food such as outdoor grazing and then held in pens and force fed for a final fattening period of 173-304 days
why is force feeding necessary in producing steatosis?
force feeding is necessary to produce the size and fat content that makes a liver “foie gras”
cons of force feeding
degree of discomfort experienced during and after while esophagus is distended remains unclear, but capture/restraint is stressful and rapid insertions of feeding tube provide injury opportunities, there is an indication of inflammation of esophagus in later stages of force feeding
caruncles
fleshy attachments on the head that take various forms
comb on the head is a type of caruncle as is the wattle or dewlap
what do turkeys have that females usually don’t?
a snood
if females have one, it will be larger on the males
snood engorges with blood to attract a female
ideal henhouse
easily cleaned, provides shelter from elements, protects its occupants from predators and rodents, shavings cleaned at least once a week, nesting boxes kept in dark warm areas for layers
chickens are __________ during the day and ___________ at night
ground-dwelling, perch
sunlight required for chickens
they require full-spectrum natural sunlight for vitamin D/overall health, should have outdoor run by need ready access to cool, shady areas to avoid overheating
during the day chickens should be confined to a fenced yard or run
chicken nutrition
crumble or pelleted diet formulated to meet nutritional needs and are typically fed ad libitum
chicks should eat chick starter/grower diet until 20 weeks old which is higher in protein and fat than feeds made for adults
amprolium = coccidiostat often included in chick starter
what nutritional requirements do layers have?
they have high requirements for calcium, protein, and vitamins
should be fed a laying diet
if laying pitted or thin-shelled eggs even on a laying diet, you can supplement their feed with crushed oyster shell
chicken scratch
mixture of grains and corn to feed to chickens
doesn’t contain protein, calcium, and vitamins which are needed by chickens to stay healthy
should use as treat only