2. Chapter 2: Breeds and Life Cycles of Livestock and Poultry Unit 2f: Poultry Life Cycle - history and general production of chickens and turkeys

3. Poultry in the Americas: Turkeys were native to the Americas US chicken production diverged into “layer” and “broiler” types in the mid- twentieth century US poultry industry is highly integrated, both horizontally and vertically

4. Historical Perspectives: Poultry production world-wide includes chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, ostrich, emu, pheasant, and others Worldwide, chicken and duck eggs are popular market items Poultry meat consumption in the US increased dramatically in the last third of the twentieth century

5. Egg Production - 2000:

6. Broilers Numbers - 1999:

7. Turkey Numbers - 2001:

8. Domestic Poultry Genealogy: Genus and species: –Chickens -Gallus gallus or Gallus domesticus –Turkeys - Meleagris gallopavo –Ducks - Anas boschas

9. Poultry Life Cycle: Hatching Eggs are artificially incubated –Forced air containers or rooms –Eggs are mechanically rotated –Hatchlings are provided artificial heat for several weeks –Birds are not fed at the hatchery yolk material provides nutrients

10. Hatching Length, Days:

11. Poultry Life Cycle: Growing Sex determination is made to sort for layer females Beaks are trimmed Snoods and combs may be clipped Meat birds are fed high energy diets to market Layer birds will be placed on lower energy grower diets

12. Meat Bird Production Targets: Broiler market target – 4 lbs at 6 to 7 wks –“Capons” will be fed to more than 5 lbs Turkey poult targets –Females, 14 to16 lbs at 14 to 16 wks –Males, 25 to 30 lbs at 18 to 20 wks

13. Layer Hen Production Targets: Low-light, limit-feeding regimen –About 9 wks to 20 wks of age for lean growth Move to layer housing –About 20 wks of age Increase feed and day length for laying –Laying period about 12 to 14 months –Productivity peaks at about 90 percent laying per day