Healthcare of birds other than chickens Flashcards
Coturnix japonica
Japanese quail – Coturnix japonica
o Originates from China
o Domesticated several hundred years ago
o Similar to common quail (Coturnix coturnix), a migratory bird in Estonia
o Good egg layer
„Pharaoh quail“
Jumbo Coturnix quail
o From USA
o Native variety of Japanese quail
o Meat type
describe the Estonian quail
Recognized as breed in USSR in 1988
o Cross of Japanese and Pharaoh quail
o Mixed type
Physiological characteristics of quail (6)
- Able to fly – wild birds
- Irritable, tend to pick up fights
- Not easily scared
- Very sensitive to stress
- No broodiness
- Easily raised in cages
- Normal body temperature of quail
41,5-42 °C
Quail Start laying when what age
35-40 days old
o Japanese quail
Describe feeding of quail
- Naturally omnivorous
- Feed consumption 20-30 g per day
- Mixed compound feed
o Higher protein content in chicks and broilers - In addition, gravel and snail shells
- Water ad libitum
Diseases and disorders of quail in general
Susceptible to almost all poultry infections.
However – generally very resistant to poultry diseases.
Measures and precautions for all
poultry are applicable to quail.
Phasianus colchicus
Common pheasant
Common pheasant
Describe the Common pheasant
- More than 30 subspecies
- Woodlands, farmlands, scrubs and wetlands
- Group bird
o Rooster 1,2-1,8 kg
o Hen 1,0-1,2 kg - Average flight speed 43-61 km/h, prefer to run
- Average age 15-25 years
- Possible to keep with other bird species
- Most common in Estonian farms
- Raised for meat, eggs, hunting, tourism etc
Raising common pheasant in what sort of setup?
Indoors: free-range, cages
o Perches – floors, deep litter
o Mating time is important
o Controlling the environment conditions and collection of the eggs
Outdoors: free-range
o note they are Flying birds
o Need much space
o Possibility to hide
o Dry, well ventilated
o Protected from rodents, birds of
prey
Feeding of common pheasants
- Naturally omnivorous
o Fruits, berries, seeds, insects, worms, rarely mice, frogs etc. - Mixed compound feed
o Higher protein content - In addition, gravel and snail shells
- Water ad libitum
Describe breeding of common pheasants
- One rooster to 7-10 hens
- Secretive nesters – bushes, branches, hidden nests
- 25-40 eggs per year
- March to June
- Incubation period 23-26 days
o Hen raises the chicks
o Not good nesters – incubator needed - Adult size and color within 15 weeks
o Age at realization 10-12 weeks - Sexual maturity at 1 year of age
Health issues of common pheasants
- Lack of knowledge
o Problems with hatchability
o Feeding problems
o Managing problems - Main health issues of the Galliformes (landfowl)
- Reasons of dying and culling in adult
pheasants
o Reproductive problems, injuries 50%
o Infectious sinusitis – different pathogens
o Histomonosis – protozoa Histomonas meleagridis
(characterized by necrotizing lesions affecting the liver and the caecum)
Meleagris gallopavo
Turkey
Describe the turkey
- Order Galliformes (landfowl)
o Closer to pheasants - Wild turkey are Able to fly
- Domesticated turkey
o 10th largest bird
o Twice as heavy than wild counterpart (Males are much heavier than females)
o Unable to fly - Meat production: crosses
o Heavy and light breeds
o Slaughter weight within app. 20 weeks (5kk)
Keeping of domestic turkey
- Group bird, relatively aggressive
o 10 -20 females per male bird
o 2-4 birds per m2 - Deep litter, mesh or slatted floor, cages
o Relative air humidity 60-75%
o Avoid excessive air movement - Age at realization:
o Heavy at 16-20 weeks, light at 12-16 weeks
o For grilling at 14-16 weeks, for roasting at 18-22 weeks
Feeding of domestic turkey
- Naturally omnivorous
o Grasses, seeds, berries, nuts, roots, insects, frogs, lizards, snakes etc.
o Cow pastures, croplands, sometimes backyard feeders - Mixed feeds:
o Vitamins, minerals
o Note: Protein level
* 1-4 weeks – 28%
* 5-8 weeks– 24%
* 9 weeks and older – 20%
- Self-feeding type feeders
Describe Breeding of domestic turkey
- Laying period 5-6 months
o Need extra lighting before
o 50-100 eggs
o 35-70 broilers - Incubation period 28 days
o Temperature 37,7’C, relative air humidity 55-70%
o Hatched chicks are very sensitive and have poor eyesight – artificial hen used - Relatively fast growth
o Adult appearance in six months - Sexual maturity in 7,5-8,5 months and when they start laying
10 most common problems of turkey health
- According to WATTPoultryUSA:
o Lack of approved effective drugs
o Colibacillosis
o Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale infection
o Clostridial dermatitis/cellulitis
o Coccidiosis
o Leg problems
o Bordetella avium infection
o Histomonosis (protozoa)
o Salmonellosis
o Poultry enteritis of unknown origin
Describe the Guineafowl (family Numididae)
- Endemic to Africa
o 4 genera: Agelastes, Numida, Guttera, Acryllium
o Mostly savanna or semidesert, some inhabit forests - One of the most recently domesticated gallinaceous birds (landfowl)
- Domestic guineafowl originate from helmeted guineafowl (Numida
meleagris) (pictured)
o Raised for meat, eggs, as pets, pest controllers or alarms
Physiological characteristics of guinea fowl
- Strong round bodies and dense plumage (various colors)
- Upper part of the head and neck are bare and decorated with skin extensions/hues
- Average body weight 1.5-2.5 kg, the weight of females is higher than that of males
- Social; typically live in small groups or large flocks
- Timid and sensitive to stress, can be aggressive
- Able to fly
- Life expectancy 15 years
Keeping of guinea fowl
- Similarly to chickens, though room requirement is somewhat different
- Slaughter weight in a minimum
of 10-12 weeks - Hardy, survival 97-100%
Health issues of guinea fowl
- Susceptible to viral, bacterial and
parasitic diseases - Many issues related to unawareness/lack
of knowledge
Describe ostrich species in general
- The biggest bird alive
- Very adaptable
- Two toes, able to run up to 70 km/h
- Lifespan 75 years
- Wild ostriches only in Africa
- Ostrich subspecies
o Black-necked or South-African ostrich
o Red-necked or North-African ostrich
o Pink-necked or Masai ostrich - Blue-necked or Somali ostrich (Struthio
molybdophanes)
Diseases and disorders of ostriches
- Parasitoses (lice super common, protozoa too)
- Viral diseases
- Bacterial diseases
- Fungal diseases
- Nutritional and metabolic diseases
- Other health conditions
Dromaius novaehollandiae
Emu
Describe breeding of emu
- Season starts in May-June (winter in Australia)
- Nest for pair
o Male makes the nest, broods, tends the chicks
o 5-15 bluish green eggs, 450-650 g
o Incubation period 56 days - Chicks
o Brown with beige stripes
o Leave the nest at 2-7 days of age
o Leave the father at 4 months of age
o At 1 year fully grown
o At 20 months sexually mature
Describe Mallard ducks
o Almost all the varieties of domestic ducks are mallard
* More than 45 breeds
o Muscovy ducks – wild muscovy duck, 3 industrial crosses, 4 lines
o Mulard/moulard, hinny are hybrids of domestic and muscovy ducks
o Egg, meat-egg and meat types
Physiological characteristics of ducks and geese
- Lifespan: 10-15 years (ducks) and 15-20 years (geese)
- Able to fly
- Social, group birds, noisy (except muscovies), geese and muscovies
can be aggressive, geese are territorial - Advantages: hardy, excellent foragers, easy to farm, fast growth
o Growth depends on breed - Disadvantage – high feed wastage
o Bills are like shovels - Raising purposes
o Meat, eggs, feathers, pets, ornamental, protection from pests (rice production),
fighting geese
Keeping of ducks and geese
- Big poultry houses
- Proper ventilation
- Floor space 2500 cm2 per bird
- Optimal air temperature 13’C
- Soft litter – skin is very delicate
- Protection from predators
- Extra lighting 14-17 hours, light intensity 10-20 lux
