Poultry and Egg Science Project
Description:
The following are a series of suggestions for activities which 4-H students can undertake to
learn about some aspect of the biology of chickens or about commercial egg and broiler
production.
List of Possible Demonstration Projects:
* Outline the history of domestication of the chicken from its wild progenitors to the
appearance of specialized breeds and then to the establishment of selected lines and
specific types for commercial production of meat and eggs. Discuss future directions for
development of the domestic chicken.
* Monitor embryonic development in the egg from the initiation of incubation to the point of
hatching. A small incubator can be used to incubate fertile eggs for this purpose. Review
the factors required to achieve a good hatching percentage in an artificial incubation system
and discuss problems that commonly occur. Describe procedures which help achieve a
concentrated hatch time in a commercial hatchery and explain why this is important.
Explain how posthatch management can affect the quality of chicks before they leave the
hatchery.
* Make observations of imprinting in chicks' Test various objects for their effectiveness as
imprinting stimuli. Investigate the sensitive periods for this kind of learning. Discuss
imprinting as a learning phenomenon and compare it to other forms of learning. Discuss
the significance of imprinting in commercial production environments.
Outline the major diseases which affect poultry in Georgia and indicate their relative impact
on commercial flocks 'in the state. Describe the symptoms of birds infected by the
pathogen
causing these diseases. Discuss control measures for the different poultry di and
suggest suitable programs for biosecurity which could protect farms from important
pathogens.
Describe the major ectoparasites which affect poultry in Georgia and indicate their impact
on commercial flocks in the state. Outline the life histories of these parasites. Suggest
control measures and programs for biosecurity which can protect flocks from each type of
ectoparasite.
Describe the major insects and spiders which can be found living in poultry houses.
Discuss their direct and indirect influences on commercial flocks in the state. Outline the
life histories of these arthropods. If control measure are necessary, suggest actions which
can be taken to keep each species of arthropod at an optimum population in a conunerdal
poultry house.
Discuss the poultry house as an integration of systems designed to provide for the biological
requirements of a poultry flock while sustaining commercial production objectives. Focus
on a meat bird operation or an egg-laying operation or a breeder bird operation for your
discussion. Consider alternative systems used for the management of flocks and discuss
low different alternatives may require compensatory adaptations of other systems so that
the house functions properly.
Discuss the issue of animal welfare in relation to intensive poultry husbandry. Review the
philosophical views which have been put forth in regard to animal welfare and consider their
implications for commercial poultry production. Identify existing welfare problems in the
poultry industry and point out obstacles to the alleviation of these problems. Discuss the
probable future of the animal welfare issue in the United States.
* Discuss how social hierarchy and sexual behavior affect the productivity of a breeder flock.
Review the physiological changes and behavioral changes which occur during sexual
maturation. Indicate the physical and environmental factors which affect the timing of
maturation. Describe the development of the social hierarchy and the factors involved in
the acquisition of. social status. Indicate how flock uniformity within sexes and proper
synchronization of sexual maturation of males and females is critical to the successful
management of breeder flocks.
* Discuss the modern day challenges of dealing with the manure output of a commercial
poultry operation. Estimate the amount of manure produced by a typical poultry operation
of a specified size. Estimate the quantity of nutrients in such a volume of manure.
Describe the problems that have arisen from excessive land application of manure and
poultry litter. Review the purpose and basic elements of nutrient management plans.
Evaluate the effects that a requirement for these plans would have on the poultry production
industry. Discuss alternative uses for poultry manure.
* Review the basics of managing a flock of laying hens. Discuss the biological effects of
photostimulation on sexual maturation and the importance of the timing of photostimulation
in relation to age and body weight. Discuss how production characteristics change with
age. Outline how feeding programs, house temperature and lighting programs affect such
things as egg production, egg size, shell quality, feed consumption, feed conversion
efficiency, bone mass, and body weight. Discuss the reasons for induced molting of a
commercial layer flock. Describe the biological changes which occur during a molting
program involving feed withdrawal. Indicate the management objectives during each stage
of a typical induced molt procedure.
* Discuss the physiology and physical processes. of egg production. Evaluate the biological
demands of egg production on a commercial egg-type laying hen over the course of a laying
cycle. Relate these demands to requirements for feeding and management to keep the
birds in good condition.
* Explain the requirements associated with the ventilation of broiler houses during cold
weather. Determine air exchange rates. Discuss moisture removal as it relates to
ventilation. Include rationale for using air inlets and static pressure.
* Discuss special problems associated with growing broilers in hot climates. Explain the
importance of air movement and evaporative cooling.
Ideas to Build Portfolios:
Visit a local hatchery and discuss artificial incubation requirements with the hatchery manager.
Visit a local poultry farmer and learn about poultry lndustry.
Visit a library and learn about the history of man's use of poultry
Visit a local poultry company and learn about the nutritional needs of poultry.
Attend the International Poultry Exhibition and report on the logical aspects of poultry
production.
Attend a poultry show and list the breeds
Visit a producer of fancy fowl and learn about the particular breed he/she raises.
Visit a local grocery store and observe the different forms in which poultry products are
marketed.
Ideas for Teen-Led Project Clubs:
Prepare a pictorial display which is both attractive and informative which will portray the
development of the domestic chicken from its wild progenitors. Include the major
traditional and fancy breeds. Show how present day commercial stocks of chicken
have been established.
Grow a flock of broilers or layer pullets. Establish management objectives and monitor
the achievement of these objectives. Prepare an economic assessment based on
the performance of the flock.
Research similarities and differences regarding the physiology of birds and mammals.
Prepare posters or charts illustrating these comparisons.
Diagram the respiratory system of the chicken. Include air sacs, lungs and trachea.
Explain air flow and oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Outline advantages and
disadvantages of the avian respiratory system.
Using three incubators, incubate at three different temperatures (96'F, 99F, 1020F).
Compare differences in hatchability, hatch time, egg moisture weight loss, and chick
quality. Using the same three incubators, incubate all three at 990F, but use one,
two, or @ pans of water. Compare the three treatments influences on the above
mentioned variables and decide which manipulations (temperature or humidity) had
the most affect.
Resource List:
American Poultry History, 1823-1973. J. L. Skinner, ed.
American Poultry Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin, 1974.
Animal Behaviour: Psycho@iology, Ethology and Evolution. D.
McFarland. Pitman Publishing Ltd., 1985.
Animal Rights and Human Morality. B. F. Rollins.
Prometheus Books, 1981.
Animal Suffering-. The Science of Animal Welfare. M. S. Dawkins.
Chapman and Hall, 1980.
Animal Welfare Legislation and Regulations. QB 94-23, Quick Bibliography Series.
United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library,
Beltsville, Maryland 20705.
Biology of Animal Behavior. J. W. Grier. Times @rror/Mosby College Publishing,
1984.
Chickens, Chickens, Chickens. P R. Limburg.
Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc., New York, 1975.
Comniercial Managmmt Guides.
Published by poultry breeding companies to provide information specific to the varieties
of birds
they sell.
Diseases of Poultry. 9th edition. B. W. Calnek, Iii ij.
H. W. Yoder, Jr.
Iowa State University Press, 1991.
W Beard, W. M. Reid and
Domestic Animal Behavior. Causes and Implications for Animal Care and
Management
J. V. Craig.
Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1981.
Commercial Chicken Production Manual. 4th edition. M. 0. North and D. D. Bell.
Chapman & Hall, 1990.
Housing & Husbandry, and Welfare of Poultry. January 1991-January 1994. QB
94-15,
Quick Bibliography Series.
United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library,
Beltsville, Maryland 20705.
Poultry Production Systems: Behavior, Management and Welfare. M. C. Appleby, B.
0. Hughes and H. A. Elson.
C.A.B. International, 1992.
Poultry Waste: Georgia's 50 Million. Dollar Forgotten Crop. L. R. Vest, W. C. Merka,
Service Leaflet #206, 1994.
Poultry Water Quality Handbook. Poultry Water Quality Consortium. BE-2C, 1101
Market Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801.
The Chicken Book. P Smith and C. Daniel.
Little, Brown and Company, New York 1975.
Transport and Handling of Livestock and Poultry. January 1984-January 1994. QB
94-32, Quir-k Bibliography Series.
United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville,
Maryland 20705.
Prepared by.-
A. Bruce Webster, Michael P Lacy and Joseph M. Mauldin
Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
30602-4356