In this space, we discuss all about poultry farming -we are your colleague, friend and partner in the poultry business as we share knowledge to boost productivity on he farm. Let us start our gist on poultry farming with proper definition of some terms associated and relevant to poultry farming.
Poultry refers to domesticated birds raised usually for their meat, egg production or feathers. Examples of poultry include , chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks, . The rearing of these could be for household consumption or commercial purpose.
Here are some common terms in poultry farming and their meaning –
- Broiler refers to meat bird such as chicken, turkey or duck.
- Chick refers to a baby bird.
- Chicken refers to the entire fowl species.
- Cockerel is a young male chicken usually under one year
- Rooster or Cock is the adult male chicken
- Layer is a type of chicken raised basically for egg production. Layers typically start laying eggs around 18 to 20 weeks of age and continue producing for about 1 to 2 years
- Hen is the name given to the adult female chicken.
- Pullet is the term used for the immature female layer.
- Spent-hen is a female adult chicken that has finished its productive life.
- Grower ,irrespective of the gender of the bird, is a young bird that has passed the chick stage but is not yet mature enough for egg-laying or slaughter. Growers are usually between 6 to 18 weeks old.
- Flock involves a group of poultry birds kept together.
- Hatchery is a facility where eggs are incubated and hatched into chicks under controlled conditions
- incubation is the process of keeping eggs warm to hatch them
- Molting is the natural process through which birds shed old feathers and grow new ones
- Culling is the removal of sick, weak and unproductive birds from the flock to maintain overall health. It is one strategy for controlling spread of infectious pathogens or disease among the birds
- Feed additives are supplements added to poultry feed to improve health, productivity or growth
- Debeaking refers to the trimming of the tips of the birds’ peak to avoid aggressive pecking and cannibalism among the flock.
- bedding (Litter materials) basically are materials such as wood shavings, sawdust, or straw which are spread on the floor of a poultry house to absorb waste and keep the environment dry.
- Feeder is the container used in serving the poultry flock its feed
Understanding these common poultry farming terms will help you communicate better with other poultry farmers, suppliers and experts in the industry. Whether you are starting a new farm of up-scaling your poultry business, knowing these terms will give you confidence and clarity in managing your farm more effectively.
