Term
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Definition
| Removal of a portion of the beak tip |
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Term
| Breeder or Breeder Hen or Broiler Breeder |
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Definition
| A term applied to mature hens whose eggs will be hatched to produce broilers |
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Term
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Definition
| A chicken raised for meat production that is slaughtered at about 5 to 7 weeks of age with a body weight of 4 to 6 pounds |
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Definition
| The period of growth in the life of a young bird where it must be provided with a source of external heat in addition to that generated by its own body. |
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Term
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Definition
| The condition of a hen where she is prepared to sit on eggs for the purpose of incubation and becomes receptive to caring for the young. Hens cease to lay eggs during this period of time. |
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Term
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Definition
| The process of examining an intact egg to determine interior egg quality, shell quality, or stage of embryonic development. This is accomplished in a dark room by holding the egg in front of a strong beam of light and reciprocally turning the egg. |
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Term
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Definition
| A trait of some types of poultry in which they peck flock mates. If the pecking draws blood, other flock mates join in and they may peck an individual to death. Beak trimming reduces this by blunting the beak and rendering it less damaging. |
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Term
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Definition
| A castrated male chicken raised for meat production. Capons are slaughtered at a live weight of 8 to 10 pounds at 8 to 10 weeks of age. |
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Term
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Definition
| A young (1-2 week old) chicken of either sex |
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Term
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Definition
| A male chicken more than one year old. The term male or rooster or breeder male is a more commonly used term for this category of birds. |
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Term
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Definition
| A cockerel is a male chicken just before and shortly after the onset of sexual maturity |
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Term
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Definition
| A fleshly outgrowth on the top of the head of a chicken, generally red in color in healthy birds. |
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Term
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Definition
| A chicken raised for meat production that is slaughtered at a very young age (around four weeks) and light body weight (2-2.5 pounds). It is neither a game bird nor a hen. By USDA definition, it must contain some genetic contribution from the Cornish breed of chicken. |
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Term
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Definition
| A soft, fluffy type of feather located under the contour feathers. These feathers primarily serve the bird as an insulating material |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Comb removal, usually in single comb type birds. This procedure may also include the removal of the wattle. This is usually performed in young birds from day of hatch to five or six weeks of age. |
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Term
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Definition
| A rounded, sometimes pigmented area of skin below the external ear canal of chickens |
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Term
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Definition
| The process of submerging eggs in an antibiotic solution under specific condition of time and temperature. The purpose is to reduce or eliminate certain microorganisms on or within the egg. |
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Term
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Definition
| An undesirable behavior of hens where they eat the contents of their own eggs and those of other hens. |
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Term
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Definition
| Total number of eggs produced over a period of time divided by the number of hens living at the start of production |
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Term
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Definition
| The amount of feed utilized per unit of production. When referring to laying hens, feed conversion is expressed as pounds of feed consumed per dozen eggs produced, or pounds of feed consumed per pound of eggs produced. When referring to broilers, feed conversion is expressed as pounds of feed consumed per pound of body weight gain. |
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Term
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Definition
| Conversion of a whole poultry carcass or cut up parts into a wide variety of poultry products |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Young immature goose, of either sex, from day of hatch to about ten weeks of age |
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Term
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Definition
| The percentage of chicks that hatch from a group of incubated eggs. |
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Term
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Definition
| An artificial environmental chamber that is used for the last two or three days of incubation. The eggs are allowed to hatch in flat bottom trays inside the hatcher. |
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Term
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Definition
| The process by which the fully developed chick leaves the protected environment of the egg and emerges into the world. |
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Term
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Definition
| A hen is a mature female chicken. |
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Term
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Definition
| All eggs produced over a period of time divided by the hen days, expressed as a percentage |
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Term
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Definition
| A production term that represents the mathematical product of the number of live hens times the number of production days. |
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Term
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Definition
| The process by which eggs are maintained under conditions favorable for embryonic development |
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Term
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Definition
| An artificial environmental chamber designed to provide the proper environment for the development of the fertile egg and embryo into a chick. |
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Term
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Definition
| A management technique used to synchronize the natural molting process of older hens and extend the egg laying cycle. This process results in the cessation of lay and a regression of the reproductive tract followed by the subsequent redevelopment of the reproductive tract. |
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Term
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Definition
| A mature hen that lays eggs for table consumption. |
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Term
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Definition
| The percentage of birds living at a point in time expressed as a percentage of those living at the start of the production cycle. |
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Term
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Definition
| A form of feed that is finely ground and mixed so that birds cannot easily separate out ingredients. |
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Term
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Definition
| The process of feather loss and re-growth. The molting of laying chickens is usually accompanied by regression and re-growth of the reproductive tract. |
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Term
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Definition
| A condition of sickness or disease. Morbidity is associated with substandard production performance or the cessation of production |
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Term
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Definition
| The death of a bird, usually expressed as a percentage of all birds living at the start of production |
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Term
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Definition
| Equipment for providing drinking water to birds. It basically consists of a stubby pipe fitting with a ball-bearing-type valve activated by the birds as it pecks at the valve, releasing drops of water. |
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Term
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Definition
| The process of laying an egg |
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Term
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Definition
| A form of feed that is compacted and extruded to about 1/8 inch in diameter and 1/2 inch long, usually fed to older poultry |
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Term
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Definition
| Domestic birds generally adapted to rearing in confinement for their eggs or meat production. This includes all chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese, as well as swans, guineas, pigeons, peafowl, pheasants, and ostriches. |
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Term
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Definition
| The ten major flight feathers on the wing of birds. |
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Term
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Definition
| The slaughter and evisceration of poultry to produce edible poultry products. |
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Term
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Definition
| The period of time during which egg production occurs. The first production cycle is often referred to as the pullet cycle; subsequent cycles are referred to as molt cycles. |
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Term
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Definition
| The time period of maximum egg production |
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Term
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Definition
| A female chicken that is approaching the initial stage of egg production. |
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Term
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Definition
| The cooking of animal by products to make them useful as a feed ingredient. The raw material that is rendered may be byproducts from poultry or livestock processing facilities (internal organs, blood, etc). |
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Term
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Definition
| A large chicken raised for meat production that has a body weight of 7 to 8 pounds. |
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Term
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Definition
| The age at which a bird commences egg production (females) or semen production (males). |
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Term
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Definition
| An older hen at the end of the productive laying cycle |
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