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Transcript of 1 © 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. 11 Getting Started With...
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
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Getting Started With ChickensAN INTRODUCTION TO BASIC CARE OF BROILERS
AND LAYERS
Speakers NameSpeakers TitleSpeaker’s Organization
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Determine Goals Poultry Terms Selecting Birds Getting Started Nutrition Housing Pests More Resources
AGENDA
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
WHY RAISE CHICKENS? Produce more of your own meat
and/or eggs? Great project for kids – 4H projects Learn life’s lessons
– Natural cycles, birth to death– Meat comes from animals– Fertilizer for the garden
Develop a Business Enterprise?
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
TERMS Chick – Baby chicken Poult – Baby turkey Tom- Adult male turkey Keet – Baby guinea fowl Cockerel - A male chicken under one year of age. Rooster – Adult male Hackles - A rooster's cape feathers. Straight run – mixture of males/female chicks
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
TERMS Pullet – Young female Hen – Adult female (ready to lay eggs) Brooder - Heat source for starting young
birds. Broody - The maternal instinct causing a
female to set or want to hatch eggs.
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Breeds
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BREEDS Basic groups
– Egg production Brown egg layers (heavies) White egg layers
– Meat production Cornish Cross
– Dual purpose Bantams
– Small versions of others
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
LAYING BREEDS
Breed dictates egg shell color White – primarily Leghorns Brown – “heavies” “Easter Eggs” -- Araucanas The egg is the same inside…
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
LAYING BREEDS Brown egg layers were traditionally more
practical, especially for outdoor production.– Meatier bird (future soup)– Brown eggs harder to candle (not an issue in the
past)– More docile, easy care– Did not fit the industrial model– Slightly less production– A brown-egg layer has been developed to produce at
the commercial level.
“There’s “trade-off’s” with each breed– Ex. Egg production for hardiness
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Laying Breeds- Leghorns Excellent egg layers White egg shell High strung Small, noisy bird with
great style, Leghorns like to move
about. Good foragers Most numerous breed
today. Rarely go broody Not a good choice for first
experience
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Laying Breeds- Buff Orpington
Heavy dual purpose Lost popularity partly
because of its white skin. Loosely feathered,
appearing massive. Endure cold temperatures Good foragers Docile, brown eggs Will go broody, good
mothers. Various colors
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Layers- Plymouth Rock
Good general farm chicken
Docile Many color combos Normally show
broodiness Some strains are good
brown egg layers while others are bred for meat.
Good mothers. Not aggressive and tame
quite easily
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Layers- Rhode Island Red
A good choice for the small flock owner
Probably the best brown egg layers of the dual purpose breeds.
Handle marginal diets and poor housing conditions better than other breeds
Some males may be aggressive
Most show broodiness, but may not be present in the best egg production strains.
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Layers- Polish An ornamental bird White eggs Polish are an unusual
and beautiful breed. They have a crest Some also have a beard
and muffs Sometimes their crests
restrict vision and cause them to be easily frightened.
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Layers- Araucanas
The "Easter Egg Chicken",
Named from the Indian tribe of Chile
Beautiful colored eggs of blue-green shades from turquoise to deep olive.
Extremely hardy Good egg production
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Layers- Australorp Developed in Australia A very good brown egg
producer Fairly meaty body Have intense beetle-
green sheen on the black birds, dark eyes, deep bodies and are very active.
One of the best dual-purpose birds
Will go broody Australorps hold the
world's record for egg production
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New Hampshire Red
Brown Eggs A dual purpose chicken,
selected more for meat production than egg production.
it dresses a nice, plump carcass as either a broiler or a roaster.
Used in crosses for “Production Reds”
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Sex link Hybrids
High egg production Crosses between
common breeds “Golden Comet” “Golden Sexlink” “Black Star” Males/females
different color at birth
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Meat Breeds
Bred for meat production Can lay eggs, but not their
talent Most meat breeds are
“crosses”– Hybrid vigor
Some are very fast growing – to a fault…– Can have leg and heart
problems, but can be managed with feeding
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Cornish-Cross Meat Birds Developed as the ultimate meat
bird
The backbone of vast broiler industry
Produces a lot of breast meat. (Preferred by consumers.)
Crossed with White Rocks for fast growing broilers.
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HYBRID MEAT BREEDS
Cornish-Cross tend to be non-foraging
– Just want to eat and grow!
– Not good for bug patrol
Can produce a 4-6 lb carcass in as little as
6-8 weeks
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HYBRID MEAT BREEDS Red Rangers- American version of Label
Rouge bird.
Slower-growing, 10-14 weeks to reach 4-5 lbs carcass weight.
Great foragers for bugs and pasture.
Excellent meat quality! Leaner carcass.
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
GETTING STARTED When Ordering Chicks: Hatcheries can be found online and by searching Poultry
U. http://www.poultryu.umn.edu/
Plan their arrival around their departure. For broilers, have processing and a market lined up in advance. For layers, know where they will go as they mature and begin to lay eggs.
Broilers can be ordered in a group of cockerels (males), pullets (females), or a straight run (a batch of both cockerels and pullets). Layer chicks are all females.
Vaccinate against Coccidiosis. Layers against Mareks.
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
GETTING STARTED Chicks $1 to $3 each Feeders can be purchased or made
– A few dollars/feeder– Make your own – rain gutter or pvc pipe– Waterers more expensive
Can use buckets, pans, old pots/pans
Feed most expensive variable cost.
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
GETTING STARTEDPreparing for their Arrival
Clean space, warm, draft-free.
Wood shavings, sawdust, straw.
90-95 degrees for the first week of life. Lower 5 degrees per week.
Infrared vs incandescent.
Feed and water set up. Different feed for broilers vs layers. More on this later.
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
MANAGEMENT STEPS TO HELP THEM THRIVE
Clean water twice daily
Limit feed after the first week, for the next 3-4 weeks, to avoid Flip Disease.
Clean bedding around the waterers frequently to avoid ammonia buildup.
Keep area bio-secure.
In hot weather, 85+ degrees, pull feed during the hottest part of the day. You’ll save birds.
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FEEDS AND FEEDING Single greatest variable cost is feed
Nutrient needs varies with age and stage– Chicks need higher protein than adults– Meat birds need protein and energy– Layers need more calcium (oyster shells)– Grit needed to digest whole grains given to
adult birds.
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
FEEDS AND FEEDING Conventional, transitional, organic feeds. Organic has organic standards to follow.
No chicken feed has added hormones. Commercial feeds can be purchased with
or without medication. Be sure to look at the label.
Purchasing blended feed from local grain elevator may be the most economical.
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FEEDS AND FEEDING
Chickens are omnivores. They eat meat, bugs, snakes, frogs, mice, table scraps, as well as grains and forage.
Pastured birds will still need a balanced feed ration available.
Insects and forage will only supply a small portion of the nutrients needed.
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
FEEDS AND FEEDING Two-phase Feeding for Broilers. High
protein diet for rapid growth.
Starter Feed- 20-24% protein. Feed for the first 1-4 weeks.
Grower Feed- 18-20% protein. Feed to finish weight.
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
FEEDS AND FEEDING Broilers will consume 2 lbs (average) feed/lb gain.
National average is 1.9 lbs feed/lb gain.
Cornish cross will be the most efficient at growth/feed conversion. A 5-6 lb carcass at 8 weeks of age.
Red Rangers will take 10-12 weeks to produce a 4.5 lb carcass.
Dressing weight is 70-75%.
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
FEEDS AND FEEDING3-4-phase feeding program for layers.
Designed for slower growth, less protein, a program designed for egg production
Pullet Starter- 0-6 weeks, 18-20% p Pullet Grower- 7-14 weeks, 16-18% p Pullet Developer- 14-20 weeks-14-16% p Layer- 20+ Weeks, 16-18% p
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Egg Production
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EGG PRODUCTION
Pullets begin laying 5-6 months (20-24 weeks)
Production actually peaks at 30-34 weeks of age. Declines thereafter.
Takes 25 hours to produce an egg- 2 eggs/3 days.
Don’t need a rooster, unless you want fertilized eggs for hatching - or alarm clock
Will molt at 60-72 weeks of age.
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EGG PRODUCTION
Pick eggs daily (or more often). They will be cleaner.
Don’t clean if not dirty.
If you sell eggs, follow state and federal egg rules. https://www.mda.state.mn.us/food/safety/shell-eggs-sale.aspx
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
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© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this PowerPoint is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to the Extension Store at 800-876-8636.
Thank You!Questions?
This product was developed with support from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed within do not necessarily reflect the view of the SARE program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.