Hello! My Name is Missy. I’m From… Harness Hill Farm Cross Discipline Horsemanship

Education Hamburg High School Graduate 2004 University of Connecticut 2008 Major: Animal Science Minor: Psychology Internships Hawk Creek Wildlife Center The Buffalo Zoo Lion/Tiger/Hyena Reptile House

Experience Veterinary Clinics University of Connecticut Horse Barn Lab Assistant Guatemala Physical Therapy Clinic The Buffalo Zoo Harness Hill Farm

Chicken Husbandry Melissa Pfohl

Origin of the Domestic Chicken Gallus gallus domesticus1 Subspecies of Gallus gallus Red Junglefowl: Asia, 5,000 years ago2 Grey Junglefowl: India, Hybridization2,3 Initially for fighting in Asia, Africa, and Europe1 Later meat and eggs Prolific reproduction of junglefowl when food abundant1

Meat Egg Laying Dual-Purpose Breeds4,5 Meat Egg Laying Dual-Purpose Jersey Giant White Leghorn Rhode Island Red Ornamental Bantam Polish Silkie

Lifestyle Foraging behaviors Omnivorous Flock oriented – pecking order Flightless Roosting 5

Characteristics of the Rooster Mature at 25 weeks8 Territorial http://youtu.be/HcZs8_Fv4K4 Protects flock Cares for hens http://youtu.be/eGwGVOEiYbY Comb and spurs Specialized feathers

Hens Start laying at 18-20+ weeks of age8 1 egg every 25 hours Will lay for 5-10 years but slow down after first few years8 Broody behavior Maternal instinct: not all hens are broody

Rooster or Hen?

The Incredible Egg Can be stored for 4-5 weeks in the refrigerator8 High quality protein, essential vitamins and minerals, antioxidants9 1 egg / day with no risk of heart disease9

Incubating Chicken Eggs 21 days to hatch chicks! Incubator

Temperature and Humidity Keep incubator out of direct sunlight8 Keep temperature consistent8 Follow temperature and humidity guidelines that come with incubator Water trough More humidity for hatching8

Egg Rotation Hen shifts eggs every 15 minutes8 Manually rotate at least 3x per day Rotate at even intervals No rotations causes development problems or embryo death Automatic incubator takes care of this for you

Hatching Day! Increase humidity to 70%8 Pip hole 1 – 24 hours to hatch Do not help! 24 hours in incubator to dry off and fluff up8 Transfer to chick rearing box http://youtu.be/eEgatSO-Ipk

Chick Essentials Dry substrate: 2-3” pine shavings7 Avoid slippery surfaces Heat source Clean water: dip beaks7,8 Yolk: 48 hours nutrition8 Feed: Starter crumbles Draft free environment Normal Chick Behavior http://youtu.be/eEgatSO-Ipk

Too Hot Just Right Too Cold Keeping chicks warm Too Hot Just Right Too Cold Poikilothermic during first days of life6 Homeothermic 95-100oF for 2 weeks7 Reduce by 5o each week until one month old7

Caring for Adult Chickens Coop Nesting Boxes Roosting Perches Bedding Yard or Turnout Water Feed Grit Oyster Shell Special Treats

“Buffy” The Buff-Laced Polish Hen

“Rita” The Rhode Island Red Hen

“Pepper” The Cuckoo Maran Hen

References Wikipedia. Accessed December 31, 2013. www.Wikipedia.org. “Chicken.” Wikipedia. Accessed December 31, 2013. www.Wikipedia.org. “Red Junglefowl.” Wikipedia. Accessed December 31, 2013. www.Wikipedia.org. “Grey Junglefowl.” Wikipedia. Accessed December 31, 2013. www.Wikipedia.org. “List of chicken breeds.” Google Images. Accessed December 31, 2013. Hill, D. The Early Brooding Period: Issues and a New Technology Solution. Online: Accessed December 31, 2013. http://www.thepoultryfederation.com/public/userfiles/files/PP%20Donna%20Smith%20PhD%20The%20Early%20Brooding%20Period.pdf Tractor Supply. Chick Care Quick Tips. Rossier, J. 2002. Living with Chickens, Everything you Need to Know to Raise Your Own Backyard Flock. Incredible! Accessed December 31, 2013. www.incredibleegg.org. “Egg Nutrients”, “Cracking the Cholesterol Myth”.

Thank You and Good Luck! Melissa Pfohl Harness Hill Farm Cross Discipline Horsemanship www.harnesshillfarm.com 716-374-0861