Poultry Production

Poultry ProductionObjectives:

A. Define common poultry termsB. Identify common breeds of chickensC. Compare and contrast broiler and

layer chickensD. Describe the poultry reproductive

systemE. Describe environmental requirements

to hatch chicken eggsF. Candle eggs to determine their interior

and exterior quality grade.

A. Define common poultry terms

Chick: newly hatched chicken

Pullet: Female chicken < 1

year

Cockerel: Male chicken < 1

year

Capon: Castrated male

chicken

Hen: Mature female chicken

Rooster: Mature male chicken

B. Identify common breeds of chickens

White Leghorn

Rhode Island Red

Barred Rock Araucana

Some fun breeds…

Silkies

CochinsPolish

Crested Varieties

C. Compare and contrast broiler and layer chickens

Broilers: For Meat-Broiler chickens are raised primarily for their meat.-Chickens can be ready to harvest around 6 weeks of age

Layers: For eggs-Hens begin laying eggs around 4 months of age-A good hen lays 1 egg a

day-Lay eggs year round

-Production slows in winter

D. Describe the poultry reproductive system Rooster

TesticlesVas deferens

Cloaca

Testicles: Produce sperm

Vas Deferens: Carries seminal fluid and sperm from testicles to cloaca

Papilla: The organ in the wall of the cloaca that places the sperm inside the female’s reproductive tract

Hen

Ovary

MagnumVaginaCloacaInfundibulum

IsthmusUterus

Ovary: Produces the ovumInfundibulum: Receives yolk from ovary, where sperm is stored, and fertilization takes placeMagnum: Secretes the thick white of the egg

3 HoursIsthmus: 2 shell membranes are placed around the yolk and thick white

1 ¼ HoursUterus: Thin white and outer shell are added to the egg

20 HoursVagina: Completed egg is stored for a short time til laid

Total: 25-27 Hours

1 Infundibulum 4 Uterus2 Magnum 5 Vagina (with egg inside)3 Isthmus

Air Cell

YolkYolk Membrane

Outer Shell Membrane

Germinal Disc

Thick White

Thin WhiteThick White Membrane

Egg Processing Video

Outer Shell

Compare Mammalian and Poultry Reproduction2 functioning ovaries

2 ovaries, but only LEFT ovary functions

Sperm cells are only viable for a short time after depositing into the female

Sperm cells live for atleast 6 days…and as long as 10-15 days!

Testicles are inside the scrotum on the OUTSIDE of body

Testicles are INSIDE the body cavity

Separate exits for the urinary, digestive, and reproductive tracts

ONE exit from the body (vent)

E. Describe environmental requirements to hatch chicken eggs

Natural:• Hen lays eggs (1 per day) over period of several days

• When she has an adequate nest, she begins to lay on them to keep them warm

• After 21 days, the eggs hatch

• A hen who is laying on her eggs is referred to as “broody”

E. Describe environmental requirements to hatch chicken eggs

Artificial Incubation:• Hen lays eggs and they are placed in an incubator

• Incubator keeps eggs at proper temperature and humidity

-Temperature: 102-103 degrees-Humidity: 60%• Eggs are turned 2 times daily to prevent embryo from sticking to the inside of the shell

Taste

• Taste acuity poorer than for mammals– Taste receptors

• Humans: 9,000• Rabbits: 17,000• Chicken: 250-350• Pigeon: 37-75• Japanese quail: 62• Ducks: 375• Parrots: 300-400

• Birds can taste the same four primary flavors (sour, sweet, bitter, salty) but with less acuity

Smell

• Sense of smell not well developed in birds– Exceptions: Kiwi, some vultures and seabirds– Flowers and fruits that rely on birds for

pollination and seed dispersal - would it be beneficial to the plants to be scented?

SKELETAL SYSTEMS

Keel

POULTRY VS MAMMALIAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

• Skeletal system– Differences ?

SKELETAL SYSTEMS

Keel

SKELETAL SYSTEM

KEEL

KEEL BONE

Birds that have a keel, whether they can fly or not,are called carinate birds.

Ratite – No keel bone

POULTRY VS MAMMALIAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

• Respiratory system

HUMANS

Tidal respiration

CHICKENS

Inspiration Expiration

Avian Genetics

• Mammals– Male XY– Female XX

– Males determine sex of offspring

• Birds– Male ZZ– Female ZW

– Females determine sex of offspring

POULTRY VS MAMMALIAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

• Reproductive system

Avian reproductive tract

Infundibulum

Ruptured follicleStigma

Mature ovum

Magnum

Isthmus

Uterus/ Shell gland

VaginaCloaca

Part of large intestine

Ovary

Oviduct

When the yolk comes to full size, it is released from the ovary by the rupture of the follicle along the stigma.

The discharged yolk and its germinal disc are engulfed by the infundibulum, and within ten minutes the journey down the oviduct commences.

It is in the infundibulum that fertilization will occur if the particular ovum is to become a fertile egg. Once the egg has passed through the infundibulum and the layers of albumen have started to be placed on the yolk, fertilization is impossible.

The yolk spends approximately 3 hours in the magnum where the thick albumen is added. This is about half of the total egg white. The remainder of the egg white is added after the shell membranes have been formed and the egg has entered the uterus.

The two shell membranes are formed in the isthmus during a period of 1.25 hours.

However, the yolk and the thick albumen do not have the appearance of an egg until water secreted in the uterus, passes through the shell membranes and the egg assumes its characteristic shape.

The egg spends over 20 hours in the uterus, where calcium carbonate is deposited on the outer shell membrane.

When the shell structure is complete, the egg passes into the vagina where it may be retained for a few minutes while a very thin coat of albumen-like material is deposited over the shell.

This material is referred to as the bloom or cuticle and functions to fill the pores of the shell.

The egg passes through the oviduct small end first, but just prior to laying the egg turns horizontally 180° so that the large end of the egg comes out first. This allows for more shell surface area on which uterine muscles may apply pressure prior to the egg-laying process.

Ovary

Ovulation

Video

Avian reproductive tract

Infundibulum

Ruptured follicleStigma

Mature ovum

Magnum

Isthmus

Uterus/ Shell gland

VaginaCloaca

Part of large intestine

Ovary

Oviduct

Infundibulum

Video

Avian reproductive tract

Infundibulum

Ruptured follicleStigma

Mature ovum

Magnum

Isthmus

Uterus/ Shell gland

VaginaCloaca

Part of large intestine

Ovary

Oviduct

(Fertilization)

(Albumen)

(Shell membranes)

(Water & Shell)(Bloom/cuticle)

Avian male reproductive tract

Avian system similar to mammalian system, but testes are located inside the abdominal cavity

Questions?