2. Urban Chicken Management
Curious what all the cluck is about? Wondering what your neighbors are up to or thinking about having a few chickens, but not sure how to get started?  Let Walter Taylor, PHS Agriculture Department Instructor and FFA Advisor, orientate you with the facts. You will learn chicken husbandry, which includes instruction on:  diet, climate needs and housing, diseases, breeds, permit requirements and more.  With more cities, including Plymouth, approving chicken ordinances, now is the time to get stared with this sustainable hobby.   Class is appropriate for all:  from those who want to get started, those who need assistance with their current setup or those who are simply curious. 

3. Urban Chicken Management
Walter J. Taylor
Agriculture Instructor and Co-FFA Advisor
Plymouth Comprehensive High School
ext 1552
B.S. Agricultural Education
UW River Falls
Welcome
Icebreaker
Tour of department
Course Layout
Resources and sharing

4. Ice breaker Everyone will: State your name
Why you are taking the class?
What questions do you want answered?

5. Questions from learners
Add text

6. Urban Chicken Management
TOUR

7. Urban Chicken Management
Course layout Topics
Breeds
Nutrition and diet
Housing
Waste Management
Health Concerns
Resources: birds, supplies, etc

8. Urban Chicken 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

11. Egg Components

12. Egg Grades

13. Egg Grades

14. Egg Grades

15. Eggs Often egg color is correlated with earlobe color
Red ear lobes equal brown eggs
White ear lobes equal white eggs
Pink will 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)

16. 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

17. Eggs Freshness Grades for eating/marketing Weight Grades for selling
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:

18. Incubation Chickens: ave. 21 days Ducks: 28-35 days Geese: 29-31 days
Turkeys: days

19. 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

20. Chicken Classifications
Mediterranean Breeds:
Developed in the Mediterranean as an egg production group bred for large size and quality eggs
Continental Breeds:
Standard Breeds:

21. 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

22. Biosecurity Practice good hygiene Practice thorough cooking
Do your research from credible sources
When in doubt, contact a veterinarian
Get a premise ID

23. 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)

24. The Coop Clean constantly Winterizing Litter
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

25. The Coop Online Resources
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

26. 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

28.
Diseases

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. Diseases When in doubt, ask a Vet! 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

40. Diseases When in doubt, ask a Vet! Parasitic Disease Coccidiosis Worms
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

41. Consuming Eggs and Meat
Do not eat an egg with a blood spot
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
(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

42. SOURCES Ms Nikki Beucler How to Raise Chickens. Heinrichs, Christine
Agriculture Instructor, Lake City High School, MN
How to Raise Chickens. Heinrichs, Christine
Chicken Coops by Judy Pangman
Website: mypetchicken
Website: backyard chickens
Murrymcmurry.com
Various veterinary textbooks