Poultry 2

Question 1

What are some environmental and management keys to success when brooding and rearing chicks?

Answer 1

Proper housing (rearing vs production)

Management:

• stocking density
• Temp, humidity
• ventilation
• feed
• water
• lighting

Disease prevention and biosecurity

Question 2

What are two types of single age, controlled environment housing systems used for commercial pullets?

Answer 2

Floor rearing Rearing in cages

Question 3

What type of production is floor rearing suitable for?

Answer 3

All types

Question 4

What type production is rearing in cages suitable for?

Answer 4

Layers destined for cage production

Question 5

What are the optimising temp and humidity levels during rearing phase?

Answer 5

Vary with are of bird

(brooding 32-35C)

Relative humidity: 60-70%

Question 6

In a floor based system, how can you judge whether the temp and humidity are correct when rearing?

Answer 6

Behavior of the chicks (huddled under heat= too cold etc.)

Question 7

What do you want a house design and ventilation to do?

Answer 7

Prevent- build up of noxious gas

Promote- circulating oxygen

Help maintain- optimum temp and humidity

Question 8

Name a few types of feeders/drinkers

Answer 8

Bell drinkers

Chain feeders

Pan feeders/nipple drinkers

Question 9

What are the 5 components of poultry food and describe what they’re used for.

Answer 9

Carbohydrates- energy source (cereal grains)

Fats- energy and essential fatty acids

Proteins- needed for synthesis of body tissue, physiological molecules (hormones, enzymes), feathers, and for egg production

Vitamins and minerals- especially calcium (egg production)

Water

Question 10

What are the factors that affect the nutrient requirements of poultry?

Answer 10

Age

Genetics

Sex

Temp

Housing system

Health

Production aims

Question 11

What is the biggest cost to egg and meat producers?

Answer 11

Feed

Question 12

What are four ingredients used when formulating feed?

Answer 12

Cereal grains- cereal by products and distillers dry grains with solubles

Vegetable protein- meal or cake form,by-products of oilseed crops

Fish meal- source of essential amino acids (NO MEAT OR BONE MEAL)

Premixs- source of essential amino acids (methionine), minerals, and vitamins

Question 13

What are the three types of diets fed when rearing commercial layers and what do they promote?

Answer 13

Starter diet- rapid growth and feather development, high in energy, protein and vit/min.

Grower/developer diet- energy requirement reduced, want to maintain growth rate without encouraging obesity

Prelay diet- increase in some nutrients (ca) needed for laying

Question 14

What is the goal of a layer diet?

Answer 14

To optimise egg production and provide nutrition required to maintain health and weight

Question 15

How is a lighting program important when rearing/brooding layers?

Answer 15

Used to control sexual maturity

Question 16

What are the basic rules of lighting programs with brooding/rearing layers?

Answer 16

Never increase OR decrease the number of hours or intensity during the rearing period

Question 17

How often is an egg produced?

Answer 17

Every 24 hours

Question 18

What production system for layers was just banned in the UK?

Answer 18

Conventional ‘Battery’ cages

Question 19

What are the current types of production systems used in raisling layers?

Answer 19

Furnished cages and Floor based Systems

With or without access to open range (free-range)

Question 20

What features do furnished cages contain?

Answer 20

Nest, litter, perch

Question 21

What are the pros and cons of non-cage systems?

Answer 21

Pros:

• Hens can express normal behavior

Cons:

• At greater risk of contracting health problems (exposure to wild bird populations)
• Eggs production generally low and conversion efficiency generally lower, therefore more expensive

Question 22

In general, what should flocks be vaccinated against?

Answer 22

Marek’s Disease

Newcastle Disease

Infectious bronchitis

Infectious bursal Disease

Avian Encephalomyelitis

Question 23

Draw and explain

Answer 23

% hen housed production= number of eggs produced on any day relative to the number of birds originally placed in that house (not taking into account death of hens)

% hen housed production= number of eggs produced relative to number of hens in the house

Question 24

What are the two types of bone fractures that are a welfare conern for layers?

Answer 24

Old fractures:

• Occur in lifetime
• More common in non-cage systems (flying to perches)

New Fractures:

• Occurs at depopulation with handling
• More common in cage systems

Question 25

List some of the welfare issues in laying hens

Answer 25

Fractures

Feather Pecking

Cannibalism

Beak trimming