Poultry Husbandry Flashcards
(27 cards)
T/F: primary breeder facilities are essential suppliers of genetic stock, but are not part of the company-owned complex
true
What is meant by a “least cost formulated” that is produced by commercial feed mills?
rations made from a variety of ingredients purchased at lowest cost, but technically meet the nutritional requirements of the birds.
They use these because feed is most (70%) of the cost of production.
How do geneticists select breeding stock?
by performance indicators such as Feed Conversion Ratios (lbs of feed, lbs of body weight gain, or # eggs prod)
LOWER FCR = better (less feed required to produce meat or eggs)
Why should scratch never be used as a sole feed source?
It does allow them to partake in normal/natural behavior, however, it requires MORE energy to obtain the feed than it will provide. It does NOT provide all necessary nutrition in order to produce a decent # eggs and meat.
What type of feed is fed to most commercial and backyard birds?
corn-soy based rations in either pellets, crumble, or mash.
What is the purpose of pelleting mash?
It kills any bacterial organisms found in the feed material through temperature and pressurization.
___________ means birds must eat ONLY organically grown feed (no animal byproducts) and cant be treated with synthetic hormones or antibiotics. They must have access to outdoors (free range). They cannot be cloned.
Certified organic
__________ means that the appropriate withdrawal period was observed to ensure that antibiotic residues are not present.
antibiotic-free
___________ means that the bird never received antibiotics over its lifetime POST-HATCH, but excludes egg injection.
raised without antibiotics
_______ means that the bird never received antibiotics over its lifetime including pre- and post-hatch periods.
no antibiotics ever
_____________ means that the bird received no synthetic hormones.
Raised without added hormones (including steroids), no hormones administered, or no synthetic hormones.
T/F: broiler chickens can be bred naturally.
true
turkeys require artificial insemination
Define the typical age and weight of the following:
- Cornish Hen:
- Broiler:
- Fryer:
- Roaster:
- Cornish Hen: <35d, 1-2lbs
- Broiler: 37-45d, 4-4.5 lbs
- Fryer:49-70d, 4.5+ lbs
- Roaster: 74-140d, 5-7 lbs
Why do turkeys require special nest boxes that kick them out once their eggs are laid?
because they are broody and will sit on the eggs after laying them.
Define the following turkey’s by age and weight:
- Light hen
- Heavy hen
- Tom
- Light hen: (12-14 wk, 14 lbs)
- Heavy hen (14-16 wks, 20 lbs)
- Tom (16-20 wks, 40 lbs)
T/F: FCR is typically lower for hens than toms
true
Also: feed efficiency in turkeys decreases as age increases.
Why are poults placed into brooder rings during the first 5-7d after hatching?
they are cold
to avoid them piling up and suffocating one another, they keep them in these smaller rings to warm them.
How many table egg chickens are in one house?
150,000 birds
how many eggs are produced in 1 house per year by table egg chickens?
39.6 million
What is the potential downside to cage-free birds?
they are walking on their droppings and diseases like salmonella have the potential to spread faster.
T/F: Range-reared birds are certified organic birds.
true
they live on the pasture and are supplemented organic feed. At night, they are secured into a coop that protects them from predators.
T/F: gamebirds are birds used illegally for fighting
false – gamefowl are
gamebirds are birds like guineas, peafowl, pheasants, and quail
what are the 4 components of a dust bath given to backyard chickens?
sand, hardwood ashes, dry topsoil, and diatomaceous earth
can add permethrin dust if mites are problem, or dried lemon balm, lacendar, oregano, pennyroyal.
why do chickens need adequate feeder space?
they have pecking order, so birds who are lower in the pecking order will be bullied and not allowed to obtain food if the space is limited.
