Poultry Productions

JAY KENNETH B.
CERNAL
BASIC PRODUCTION
TERMINOLOGIES
Poultry – are domesticated birds kept for meat and eggs
including birds of the order Galliformes: chicken, turkey
and natatorial or swimming birds: ducks and goose.
Flock – is a group comprised of one species of poultry.
Trio – is typically a group of poultry with one male and two
females.
Chicken – is a common domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus).
Chick – is a newly hatched or a very young chicken.
Cock/Rooster – is a male chicken at least one year of age or
older.
Cockerel – is male chicken less than one year old.
Hen – is a female chicken at least one year of age and
older.
Pullet - is a female chicken less than one year of age.
Capon – are male chickens that have been caponized.
Broiler Chicken - raised specifically for meat
production.
Layer – a type chicken usually raised for commercial
egg production.
Comb - is a fleshy growth or crest on the top of the
head of gallinaceous birds, such as turkeys, pheasants,
and domestic chickens
Wattles - are two oblong fleshy growths that hang
below the chin of a chicken.
Ducks – are any wild or domesticated swimming
birds of the family Anatidae, typically having
broad, flat bill, short legs and webbed feet.
Drake – is an adult male duck.
Duck – an adult female of the duck family.
Ducklings – are young ducks.
Old drake – is a male duck over 1 year of age
Old duck – is a female duck over 1 year of age
Young drake – is a male duck under 1 year of age
Young duck – is a female duck under 1 year of
age.
Geese – sing. (goose) are wild or domesticated water
birds of the family Anatidae, and of the genera Anser
and Branta that typically have a shorter neck than
swan and a shorter, more pointed bill than a duck.
Gander – is a male goose over 1 year of age
Goose – is a female goose over 1 year of age
Gosling – is a young goose up until feathers have
replaced all of their down.
Down - is a layer of fine feathers found under the
tougher exterior feathers.
Young gander – is a male goose under 1 year of age
Young goose – is a female goose under 1 year of age
Turkey – is a large North American bird
(Meleagris gallopavo) that is widely domesticated
for food and comes in manu varieties.
Hen – is a female turkey over one year of age
Tom – is a male turkey over one year of age
Poult – is a young domestic turkey
Young hen – is a female turkey under 1 year of age
Young tom – is a male turkey under 1 year of age
Plumage — the feathers of a fowl
Oviposition – the act of laying eggs of poultry
species
 Poultry Species
Common Name Scientific Name Incubation Period
Pigeons Columbia livia 17 days
Chicken Gallus gallus 21 days
domesticus
Turkey Meleagris gallopavo 28 days

Mallard Duck Anas platyrhynchos 25 – 29 days

Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata 35 days

Quail Coturnix coturnix 17–18 days
Ostrich Struthio camelus 42 days
Japanese Quail Coturnix japonica 17–18 days

Guinea Fowl Numididae 26 to 28 days

Peafowl/Peacock Pavo cristatus 28 to 30 days
BREEDS AND VARIETIES
OF CHICKEN
1.Breed — a group of chicken (fowls)
possessing certain conformation or
shape of body that distinguishes them
from other chickens.
2. Variety — a group of chicken
within the breed which possesses the
same plumage color and type of comb.
Chickens are classified according to their
purpose:
Egg Class
- Example: Leghorn, Minorcas, Anconas, Mikawa.
Meat Class
 Example: Brahmas, Cochin, Langshans, Cornish, White
rocks.
General Purpose Class
Example :New Hampshire, Rhode Island Red,
Plymouth Rock, Lancaster, Nagoya, Cantonese.
Fancy Class

Example: Frizzle, Bantams, Long tailed

 Fighting Class

Example : Ruble, Hulsey, Claret, and Oasis.

Standard Classification
American Class (developed in America)
- Plymouth Rock (White, Barred,Speckled, Brown).
Wyandottes, Rhodes Island Reds, New Hampshire,
Land Caster.
Asiatic Class(Asia)
- Brahmas, Cochin, Langshang, Cantonese, Nagoya.
Mediterranean Class
- Leghorn, Minorcas, Anconas.
English Class ( England)
- Dorkings, Australorps, Cornish, Orpington.
POULTRY REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Testicles: Produce sperm
Papilla: The organ in the wall of the cloaca that places the
sperm inside the female’s reproductive tract
Ovary: Produces the ovum
Infundibulum: Receives yolk from ovary, where sperm is
stored, and fertilization takes place
Magnum: Secretes the thick white of the egg (3 Hours)
Isthmus: 2 shell membranes are placed around the yolk
and thick white (1 ¼ Hours)
Uterus: Thin white and outer shell are added to the egg (20
Hours)
Vagina: Completed egg is stored for a short time till laid
(Total: 25-27 Hours)
Poultry Digestive System
Beak - It all starts here
Esophagus (Gullet): Transports food from the mouth to
the stomach.
Crop: A pouch in the esophagus used to store food
temporarily before moving it on to the stomach.
Stomach (Proventriculus/Gizzard): Principally the
organ where food is broken into smaller units. It has two
parts: the proventriculus for storage and the gizzard. The
gizzard is a muscular part of the stomach that uses grit to
grind grains and fiber into smaller particles.
Small Intestine: Aids in digestion and nutrient
absorption. Composed of the duodenum, jejunum and
ileum.
Liver: The largest glandular organ in the body. Aids in the
metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
Ceca: Bacterial action in the ceca helps break down
undigested food passing through the intestine. The ceca
turns into the large intestine, which connects with the
cloaca.
Large Intestine: Functions primarily to absorb water, dry
out indigestible foods and eliminate waste products.
Cloaca: Where the digestive, urinary and reproductive
systems meet.
Urinary System: Consists of two kidneys and two ureters.
The kidneys are located in the pelvic bones. They filter
waste from the blood and pass it through the ureter to the
outside via the cloaca/vent.
Vent: The external opening of the cloaca that passes waste
to the outside.
Environmental Requirements to Hatch
Chicken Eggs Natural:
 The hen lays egg (1 per day) over
period of several days
 After 21 days, the eggs hatch
A hen who is laying on her eggs is
referred to as broody
Artificial Incubation:
Incubator keeps eggs at proper
temperature and humidity
-Temperature: 36 – 38 degree celsius
-Humidity: 60%
Eggs are turned 3-5 times daily to
prevent embryo from sticking inside
the shell
Selection of Hatching Eggs
Grading Exterior Quality:
1-Cleanliness - Shell should be free of debris or organic
matter
2- Shape -Small end and large end. Not round or oblong
3- Soundness -No Cracks
4- Size -Not very small nor extremely large
Grading Interior Quality:
1- Air Cell
2- Viscosity of Albumen (white)
3- Check for abnormalities (Blood/Meat Spots, Cracks or
leaks in shell)
Candling
- Done by placing the eggs against a bright
light such that the outline of the contents of
the egg ¡s seen from the outside
- - Used a candler or tester
- Done in 3 periods:
- 4th or 5th day — to remove infertile eggs
and13th day or 14th day and on the 18th day
— remove dead embryos
BROODING MANAGEMENT
Brooding
- Starts as soon as the chicks are placed in
the brooding area where heat is supplied
until the chicks gave grown to the point
where they no longer need additional heat to
keep them comfortable
- This period lasts for approximately 4
weeks
Temperature requirements for
brooding:
Day old -1 week 90 -95 °f (32.2 -35°c)
1 -2weeks85-90°f(29.4 - 32.2°c)
2 -3weeks80-83 °f(26.7-29.4°c)
3 - 4 weeks 80 °f (26.7 °c and below)
Cannibalism - is a bad habit developed by some
growing birds. It usually starts from feather or
toe picking which may result to serious
wounding and death of birds.
The possible causes of cannibalism are:
1. Imbalanced ration - a high energy diet with
low protein leads to this problem
2. Overcrowding and insufficiency of feeding
and drinking space
3. Extended period without feed and water
4. Poor ventilation
5. Excessive heat and too much light.
6. It may also be a strain characteristic.
 System of Rearing

1. Range System — this is a good system but because of

more land area required, this system is commonly practice
by native chicken growers & by duck raisers.
2. Semi —confinement system — this is a system of
raising poultry where the birds are provided with shed or
housing & an area to graze or pasture. Ex. in native
chicken, organic chicken production.
3. Complete— confinement — the modern trend in
raising commercial strains,
a.) Deep Litter/Litter floor
b.) Slat floor
c.) Combination
d.) Cages
Slatted Floor System
 wooden or metal floors with narrow gaps between
slats to permit discharge of feces and urine to the
external environment.
Signs of sexual maturity
Change in appearance of the secondary sexual
characters.
1. Comb & wattles begin to increase in size & the
color becomes red
2. Pullets become friendly & cackle
3. Pullets instinctively looks for nest
4. Pullets become docile (easily manage) &
gregarious (sociable)
5. The vent & abdomen become enlarge
Note: The surest sign of sexual maturity is the
laying of the 1st egg.
LAYER FLOCKED MANAGEMENT

Feeding

- Day — old to six weeks old — chicks starter

mash (20% CP)
- Six to twelve weeks old — grower feeds;
16% CP
- Twelve to 18 weeks old — developer feeds;
14%CP
- 18 to 42 wks. Old — layer feeds; 18% CP
- 42 weeks to culling — layer feeds; 17% CP
Watering
- Drinking water must be available to the
layers all the time.
- The egg is about 65 to 70 % water.
- One hundred layers can consume about 7
gallons of water during a normal day and
will drink much more when the temperature
of the environment becomes higher.
Floor space requirements:
Egg Type Chickens
1 day - 3 wks 0.3 sq,ft/bird
3 - 8 wks 0.5 sq.ft/bird
8 - 12 wks 1.0 sq.ft/bird
After 12 weeks, the floor space requirement of varies
according the systems of housing used.
Meat Type Chickens
day 1 – 18 days - 0.5 sq.ft/bird
19 days to 42 days - 1.1 sq.ft./bird
Common Diseases of Poultry
Avian Pest/ New Castle Disease – caused by virus
Chronic Respiratory Disease CRD – caused by
Mycoplasma organism or pleuropneumonia like
organism (PPLO).
Coccidiosis – caused by microscopic organism
called coccidian (Eimeria species).
Marek Disease – caused by virus, sign leg
weakness and paralysis.
Avian Malaria – caused by microscopic
protozoan parasite.