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

2. 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

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

4. Chicken Husbandry
Melissa Pfohl

5. 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

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

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

8. Characteristics of the Rooster
Mature at 25 weeks8
Territorial
Protects flock
Cares for hens
Comb and spurs
Specialized feathers

9. 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

10. Rooster or Hen?

11. 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

12. Incubating Chicken Eggs 21 days to hatch chicks!
Incubator

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

19. “Buffy” The Buff-Laced Polish Hen

20. “Rita” The Rhode Island Red Hen

21. “Pepper” The Cuckoo Maran Hen

22. References
Wikipedia. Accessed December 31, “Chicken.”
Wikipedia. Accessed December 31, “Red Junglefowl.”
Wikipedia. Accessed December 31, “Grey Junglefowl.”
Wikipedia. Accessed December 31, “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,
Tractor Supply. Chick Care Quick Tips.
Rossier, J Living with Chickens, Everything you Need to Know to Raise Your Own Backyard Flock.
Incredible! Accessed December 31, “Egg Nutrients”, “Cracking the Cholesterol Myth”.

23. Thank You and Good Luck! Melissa Pfohl Harness Hill Farm
Cross Discipline Horsemanship