Poultry

Question 1

What is the average weight of chicks at hatching?

Answer 1

40g

Question 2

How many eggs would need to be set to produce 1000 viable chicks?

Answer 2

Depends on hatching perecentage.

If hatchability is 80-85% need 1170-1250

Question 3

. Name three possible causes of low hatchability

Answer 3

Eggs were infertile, temp too low, high humidity, eggs not turned

Question 4

Which breed or breeds are being used to produce the laying hens in UK?

Answer 4

Hyline, Lohmann, Isa Warren, Shaver, Bowen

Question 5

Which feature of the climatic environment is most important for the young chick and how would you ensure that the needs of the chick are met in UK?

Answer 5

Temperature. Correct brooding system (34c)

Question 6

What is a deep litter system?

Answer 6

the repeated spreading of straw or sawdust material in indoor booths. An initial layer of litter is spread for the animals to use for bedding material and to defecate in, and as the litter is soiled, new layers of litter are continuously added by the farmer

Question 7

What is a young hen called?

Answer 7

pullet

Question 8

What methods could be used to stimulate early egg production?

Answer 8

Lighting regimes. Increase amount of daily light. Gradual light increases during peak help maintain the high levels of the two hormones - Luteinizing Hormone and the Follicle Stimulating Hormone.

Question 9

At what temperature would you expect laying hens to be kept?

Answer 9

19-26c

Question 10

How is chicken house temperature maintained in UK conditions?

Answer 10

Heating systems within houses- temperature controlled and recorded by internal sensors and computers

Question 11

How much food would you expect a laying hen to consume at 70% production?

Answer 11

110g per day. May be more if free range

Question 12

What are the main ingredients of rations for laying hens?

Answer 12

Protein
Grains or some kind of digestible carb
Calcium and phosporus

Question 13

What is ad-libitum feeding?

Answer 13

Can eat as much as they want, whenever they want

Question 14

What are the possible reasons for so many eggs being laid with thin shells?

Answer 14

Not enough calcium or Vit D in diet
No spending enough time in shell gland
Reproductive tract hasn’t developed properly due to early breeding

Question 15

At what age would you expect the birds to have:

(a) 50% production?
(b) 95% production?
(c) 70% production?

Answer 15

(a) 50% production? 21 weeks
(b) 95% production? 28 weeks
(c) 70% production? 76 weeks

Question 16

What is the productivity level (eggs per day) at the end of the laying period?

Answer 16

50-70%

Question 17

What is the age of laying hens when they are slaughtered?

Answer 17

80-100 weeks. Although many are being rescued

Question 18

Is the presence of a cockerel necessary to bring hens into lay?

Answer 18

nope

Question 19

Could hens produce eggs for more than one annual laying cycle?

Answer 19

Yes. Need to induce moulting to start another laying cycle

Question 20

At what age ‘chicks’ (also known as pullets) are likely to be transferred to laying farms?

Answer 20

16 weeks

Question 21

Incubation parameters

Answer 21

• Temperature – Optimum: 37.8 – 38.0 C
• Humidity – Optimum: 55 – 60 % • Ventilation - as much as possible but maint. T
• Microbial - shell hygiene/integrity - explosion?
• Turning 5-6x/day → Important for proper embryo development – Avoids embryo adhering onto shell membranes – For better yolk sac and allantoic vascular development – For better embryo positioning before hatching

Question 22

broiler breed

Answer 22

ross, hubbard

Question 23

how much light should chicks get

Answer 23

Chicks should have min 14 hours a day. Will gradually reduce to 8hours by half an hour each week until chickens reach maturity and are at peak egg production and light will be increased back to 14 hours.

Question 24

main characteristics of broiler birds

Answer 24

live body weight- esp breast muscles
FCR
skeletal strength
fast growing
low mortality

Question 25

main characteristics or laying birds

Answer 25

low mortality
good egg quality
high egg production

Question 26

role of vets?

Answer 26

Vets are responsible for the welfare of chickens. Each farm has a named vet to look after health and welfare of their birds.

Implement disease control programme
Welfare management
Advise on treatment and preventative health care
Meat inspector at slaughtering house- ensure welfare at slaughtering house