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Rural and UrbanPoultry Management

Laws and RegulationsBreeds

PhysiologyHusbandryEgg Quality

Meat QualityHousing OptionsAvian Nutrition

Health Management

Rural and Urban Poultry Management

• Welcome• Icebreaker• Tour of department• Course Layout• Resources and sharing

Walter J. TaylorAgricultural Educator & Co-FFA AdvisorPlymouth Comprehensive High School

Adjunct Agricultural EducatorLakeshore Technical College

walter.taylor@gotoltc.eduwtaylor@plymouth.k12.wi.uswww.phsagzone.org 920.980.7865

B.S. Agricultural Education, UW River Falls

Ice breaker• Everyone will:–State your name–Why you are taking the class?–What questions do you want

answered?

Questions from learners1. Add text

Poultry History• Domesticated as early as 3200 B.C.• Egyptian and Chinese records show that fowl were laying

eggs for man in 1400 B.C.• Europe has had domesticated hens since 600 B.C. • 1493, Columbus’ ships carried to the New World the first

of the chickens related to those now in egg production. These strains originated in Asia.

• Gallus domesticas• Nearly 200 breeds and varieties of chickens have been

established worldwide. Only a few breeds are economically important as egg producers. Most laying hens in the U.S. are Single-Comb White Leghorns.

Poultry History• Source for Egg History– http://www.incredibleegg.org/

Rural and Urban Poultry Management

TOUR

Rural and Urban Poultry Management

• Course layout Topics– Breeds– Nutrition and diet– Housing– Waste Management– Health Concerns– Resources: birds, supplies, etc

Rural and Urban Poultry Management

• Items for next class period–Bring ideas of breeds desired–Bring a design/photo of a coop desired–Research costs of equipment–Research feeds

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Egg ComponentsPh

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Egg Grades

Egg Grades

Egg Grades

• Often egg color is correlated with earlobe color– Red ear lobes ---- brown eggs– White ear lobes ---- white eggs– Pink ear lobes--- bluish-green – Orpingtons, Cochins, Wyandottes, Chanteclers, Rhode Island

Reds, White Rocks, White Shamos, White Malays• Have red earlobes by lay white eggs

• Most breeds take time off in the winter• Moderate exceptions: Rhode Island Red, Wyandottes

• Laying eggs is related to day length (leave a heat lamp or regular light on for 14 hours)

Eggs

Eggs• Hens lay fewer eggs as they age, around 3 years

of age they begin to decrease• Araucanas and Ameraucana and birds related to

them lay blue to khaki green eggs• Black Australorp is reported to have laid a

record 364 eggs in one year, but most birds take a few days off each year.

• Birds lay less during annual molt– Happens in late summer

Eggs• Freshness Grades for eating/marketing– AA (fresh egg, laid most recent) 60-70oF air cell will

start becoming larger– A (size comparable to a nickel– B(size of a quarter)

• Weight Grades for selling– Small: – Medium: – Large: – Jumbo:

Incubation

• Chickens: average 21 days• Ducks: 28-35 days• Geese: 29-31 days• Turkeys: 27-28 days

Chicken Classifications• American Breeds: – Developed in North America and were created based

on the need for egg and meat production• Asiatic Breeds:– Developed in Asia primarily as a show quality group

bred for size and appearance• English Breeds:– Developed in England as a meat group that is

commonly cross bred with other breeds to improve meat quality

Chicken Classifications• Mediterranean Breeds:– Developed in the Mediterranean as an egg production

group bred for large size and quality eggs• Continental Breeds:• Standard Breeds:

Best Egg Layers• Plymouth Rocks (white eggs)– Feather variation: Barred Rocks (white eggs)

• Red Island Reds, RIR (brown eggs)• New Hampshire Reds (brown-lighter then RIR)• Buff Orpingtons (brown eggs)• White Leghorns (white eggs)• Wyandottes (mixed color eggs)

• Sexting birds: chest and body feathers– Males come to a point– Females are rounded

Biosecurity• Practice good hygiene• Practice thorough cooking• Do your research from credible sources• When in doubt, contact a veterinarian• Get a premise ID– http://

datcp.wi.gov/Animals/Premises_Registration/index.aspx

– http://www.wiid.org/

The Coop• 2-4’ feet inside the coop/bird• 8-10’ outside• To many birds per square foot cause problems– Pecking and cannibalism

• Have multiple perches for roosting– Decrease pecking order issues

• 4-5 hens per nesting box– Up off the ground– Otherwise some may want their own box

• Use an artificial nest egg to encourage them to lay in a desired area (wood is most desired)

The Coop• Clean constantly

– Minimum once a week for smaller flocks• More cleaning is needed for larger flocks

• Winterizing– Sheltered from elements– Can put a heat lamp in– Do not let outside– Collect eggs quickly, they can freeze

• Litter– Absorbs moisture from droppings– Sawdust, chopped straw, dry leaves, cedar shavings

• Design the coop so you are not always bent over and have easy access for cleaning and collecting eggs

The Coop• Online Resources– http://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops– http://

www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Coops-c3.aspx?all=all

– Many books available on Amazon or from your local library

– Buy coops pre-made from distributors like:• Nasco, FleetFarm, Tractor Supply, Farm&Fleet, Home Depot

– You can also buy materials to constructor your own from hardware/lumber yards at the above stores

Feed Requirements• Omnivores: eat plant and meat foods– Chicks need 20% protein– Adults need 12-18% protein (even when not laying)

• Adults will cannibalize if not receiving enough protein

• Need to have access to feed all the time• Laying rations will have higher protein• Supplement with oyster shells for calcium• Do not feed them their own egg shells– Causes them to break open their own eggs

DISEASEShttp://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/

Common Diseases

• Marek’s Disease– AKA range paralysis– Caused by a herpes virus that causes diarrhea,

weight loss, leg or wing paralysis and death– There is no cure at this time, but a vaccine is

available

Everythingpoultry.com

Common Diseases

• Newcastle Disease– Caused by a virus that affects the respiratory

system causing wheezing, gasping for breathe, open-mouthed breathing, possible paralysis, soft-shelled eggs, and possibly no egg production

– Notable sign is birds attempting to twist their necks

– No treatment– A vaccine is available– Bird comes in contact with bad air and feed

Infonet-biovision.org

Common Diseases

• Infectious Bronchitis– A respiratory virus that affects only chickens,

mostly young birds– A vaccine is available– Prevented by proper sanitation and isolation of

sick birds– Signs: bronchitis, wheezing, nasal discharge,

gasping for air, poor appetite, ruffled feathers, depression

Common Diseases

• Fowl Cholera– Caused by a bacterial infections – Signs• Fever, purple coloration to heads and cobs, yellow

droppings, sudden death

– A vaccine is available– Can treat with antibiotics called sulfonamides

Common Diseases

• Avian Pox– A virus spread by mosquitoes and is

a slow spreading disease that has several strains, it is species specific

– Difficult to manage/control– No treatment available– A vaccine is available– Signs: respiratory distress and wart-

like growths on the skin and beak

Common Diseases

• Avian Influenza– AKA Bird Flu– Virus that affects all breeds of poultry, is zoonotic– Naturally occurring in the intestinal tract– Transmitted by bodily fluids, droppings, or nasal

discharge– A human vaccine is available but not treatment or

vaccines for birds

Common Parasites

• Poultry are susceptible to 10 parasites both internal and external

• Coccidiosis– Internal parasite– Caused by a protozoan– Found in droppings of wild birds (soil, food, water

sources)– Signs: lethargy or depressed appearance, bloody

droppings, pale skin, weight loss, loss of appetite, ruffled feathers

Common Parasites

• Large Roundworms– Occur in the intestinal track– Can be three inches in length– Signs: diarrhea, weight loss, emaciated

(dehydrated and appearing thin), droopy wings– Prevention: dewormers and sanitation

Backyardchickens.com

Common Parasites

• Tapeworms– More common in poultry with access to the

outdoors– From ingesting: snails, earthworms, beetles, and

fliers– Prevention: dewormers and proper sanitation– Signs: pale skin over the body, head and legs

Common Parasites

• Mites– External parasite– Types: lice, ticks, chiggers– Use approved insecticides, limit access to the

outdoors and interaction with wild birds– Signs: visible parasites, droopy wings, listless

appearance, itching, feather loss or damage, and pale skin color

Diseases• Bacterial and Fungal Diseases

– Staph Infection• Naturally occurring in chickens• Seen on cuts or pus pockets on joints/foot pads• Vets have erythromycin for treatment• Prevention: eliminate sharp objects in the coop and removing wet litter

– Colibacillosis• Bacteria from the intestines, non transmitted by birds, but from the litter• If this occurs, disinfect the coop with bleach or other disinfectants

– Avian Mycoplasmosis• Respiratory infection, bacterial disease

– Loss of appetite and laying– Coughing and sneezing occurs– No treatment, transmitted to each bird via the air– Not a problem for human consumption

– Newcastle Disease• Velogenic strains are severe and cause high mortality….no signs showing

– If you look closely, rapid breathing, depression, watery/greenish diarrhea

• Mesogenic: more common in the US, similar to the veolgenic strains, less mortality, neurologic issues are seen, respiratory issues

– Marek’s Disease• A herpes virus disease cause tumors, paralysis results• Good to know where your stock comes from to know if they have been vaccinated

When in doubt, ask a Vet!

Diseases• Parasitic Disease

– Coccidiosis• Very common• Bleed internally…can see blood in feces• Typically look sick and depressed• Vaccine:

– Administered through food or water

– Worms• Live in the ground and litter, get into feed or birds dust in them• Dewormer can be given, typically in the water

– Mites (spider family, 8 legs) Lice (6 legs)• Suck blood• Look for them on the neck, vent area, under the wings• Check at least once a month, more often in the winter• Serious infestation can kill birds in a matter of days• Buy poultry dust, follow label guide for administering• Buy poultry shampoos, follow label guide for administering, make sure birds are dried

thoroughly

When in doubt, ask a Vet!

Consuming Eggs and Meat• Candling is necessary to check interior quality• If a fertile egg is sat on and reaches 90oF, the

embryo will begin to form• Quality Cut Meats is a regional poultry processor

• 125 Milwaukee Ave, Cascade, WI 53011• 920-528-8424 (be respectful and call ahead for booking birds

to be harvested)

• Always cook meat and eggs thoroughly, consuming raw or undercooked meat and poultry products can cause illness or death

SOURCES• Ms Nikki Beucler

– Agriculture Instructor, Lake City High School, MN

• How to Raise Chickens. Heinrichs, Christine

• http://datcp.wi.gov/ • http://www.wiid.org/ • Chicken Coops by Judy Pangman• Website: mypetchicken• Website: backyard chickens• http://www.cacklehatchery.com/• Murrymcmurry.com• Various veterinary textbooks