Poultry Production & Management

Question 1

Broiler management systems

Answer 1

• Free-range
• Semi-intensive
• Intensive

Question 2

Broiler management systems: Free-range systems

Answer 2

• Farmyard or backyard
• Feed: leftovers, grains, grass
• Housing: meager shelter under trees
• Small flock size

Question 3

Broiler management systems: Semi-intensive systems

Answer 3

• Small domestic flocks

- Small room + adjacent small amt. of land

Question 4

Broiler management systems: Intensive systems

Answer 4

• Common in commercial systems
• Birds fully enclosed in houses
• Deep litter system (wood shavings, sunflower hulls, etc.)

Question 5

Broiler management systems: Advantages of Free-range and Semi-intensive systems

Answer 5

• No major costs for infrastructure, feed, or feeding equip.

- Minimal labor costs

Question 6

Broiler management systems: Advantages of Intensive system

Answer 6

• Limited land use
• High stocking rates
• Better climate control, feed conversion, supervision, and disease control

Question 7

Broiler management systems: Disadvantages of Free-range and Semi-intensive systems

Answer 7

• Very inefficient (many days to market weight)

- High risks (predators, diseases)

Question 8

Broiler management systems: Disadvantages of Intensive systems

Answer 8

• More rapid disease spread
• Labor intensive
• High capital investment

Question 9

Layer management systems: Purpose of layers

Answer 9

1. commercial layers = produce eggs for the table

2. breeders (broiler/layer breeders) = produce eggs for breeding

Question 10

Layer management systems: Free-range systems

Answer 10

• Farmyard or backyard
• Feed: leftovers, grains, grass
• Housing: meager shelter under trees
• Small flock size

Question 11

Layer management systems: Semi-Intensive systems

Answer 11

• Small domestic flocks

- Small room + adjacent small amt. of land

Question 12

Layer management systems: Intensive systems

Answer 12

• floor or deep litter system = nest boxes for laying - individual or community boxes
• cage system

Question 13

Layer management systems: Advantages of Intensive cage system

Answer 13

• lower risk of disease
• cleaner, more hygienic eggs
• lower labor costs
• easy management
• high stocking density

Question 14

Layer management systems: Disadvantages of Intensive cage system

Answer 14

• more broken/cracked eggs
• limited space&raquo_space; cage fatigue
• boredom&raquo_space; high water consumption
• bad feathers
• more leg and feet problems
• animal welfare issues

Question 15

Rearing of chicks: Cull chicks on arrival if…

Answer 15

• <35g in weight
• beak malformations
• foot deformities
• infected umbilicus

Question 16

Rearing of chicks: Brooding of chicks

1. Brood = …
2. Brooding = …
3. Brooding site = …
4. Brooder houses = …

Answer 16

1. a family of young
2. caring of young = 3-4 weeks depending on local environmental temperature
3. prefer in same house as will grow = less stress due to shifting
4. at least 100m away from adult birds

Question 17

Rearing of chicks

1. Litter = …
2. Medications = …

Answer 17

1. depth of 6-12cm

2. vitamins in water x 1st 3 days +/- abx if nec. x 5 days

Question 18

Rearing of chicks: Feeding and Watering on arrival

Answer 18

1. count and place on clean paper over litter
2. give sweetened water (50g sugar in 1 L water = helps with hydration after travel)
3. don’t feed for 1st 4-6 hours
4. feed sprinkled over paper x 2-3 days&raquo_space; then feed from shallow trays (3 trays/100 chicks)
5. after 1st week = feed in tubular feeders (3/100 chicks)
6. water in small chick founts (3-3.5 L/100 chicks)

Question 19

Rearing of chicks: Common problems in young chicks

Answer 19

• gasping (d/t fumigation, fungal inf, etc.)
• panting and lethargy (d/t overheating in transport)
• incoordination and labored breathing (d/t i.e. anoxia during or immediately after hatching)