Poultry Flashcards
What is the average weight of chicks at hatching?
40g
How many eggs would need to be set to produce 1000 viable chicks?
Depends on hatching perecentage.
If hatchability is 80-85% need 1170-1250
. Name three possible causes of low hatchability
Eggs were infertile, temp too low, high humidity, eggs not turned
Which breed or breeds are being used to produce the laying hens in UK?
Hyline, Lohmann, Isa Warren, Shaver, Bowen
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?
Temperature. Correct brooding system (34c)
What is a deep litter system?
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
What is a young hen called?
pullet
What methods could be used to stimulate early egg production?
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.
At what temperature would you expect laying hens to be kept?
19-26c
How is chicken house temperature maintained in UK conditions?
Heating systems within houses- temperature controlled and recorded by internal sensors and computers
How much food would you expect a laying hen to consume at 70% production?
110g per day. May be more if free range
What are the main ingredients of rations for laying hens?
Protein
Grains or some kind of digestible carb
Calcium and phosporus
What is ad-libitum feeding?
Can eat as much as they want, whenever they want
What are the possible reasons for so many eggs being laid with thin shells?
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
At what age would you expect the birds to have:
(a) 50% production?
(b) 95% production?
(c) 70% production?
(a) 50% production? 21 weeks
(b) 95% production? 28 weeks
(c) 70% production? 76 weeks
What is the productivity level (eggs per day) at the end of the laying period?
50-70%
What is the age of laying hens when they are slaughtered?
80-100 weeks. Although many are being rescued
Is the presence of a cockerel necessary to bring hens into lay?
nope
Could hens produce eggs for more than one annual laying cycle?
Yes. Need to induce moulting to start another laying cycle
At what age ‘chicks’ (also known as pullets) are likely to be transferred to laying farms?
16 weeks
Incubation parameters
- 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
broiler breed
ross, hubbard
how much light should chicks get
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.
main characteristics of broiler birds
live body weight- esp breast muscles FCR skeletal strength fast growing low mortality
main characteristics or laying birds
low mortality
good egg quality
high egg production
role of vets?
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
