Poultry Dictionary-Glossary Of Poultry Terms

Hen

Mature female chicken usually more than 11 to 12 months, with meat comparatively less tender than roaster having non-flexible chest bone.

Hatching

The act of coming forth (out) young one from egg is known as hatching.

Incubation

Warming of eggs at certain temperature with specified humidity, ventilation and turning is called as incubation.

Incubation Period

The duration between setting of egg for incubation and hatching. Layer

The adult female chicken reared for producing eggs for domestic consumption.

Management

The human factor in the production process which delimits pro­duction, accumulates information on their solution, analyses infor­mation, takes decisions, acts on them and bears responsibilities for action.

Milking

Collection of semen in poultry by applying external massage to testes. Moulting

The natural and normal physiological process of shedding of old feathers and growing new ones annually in poultry.

Offal

Literally means waste, and usually means, the non-edible parts of gut not sold as giblets plus the head and feet.

Ornithology

The study_ of science of birds other than poultry is known as ornithology.

Poultry

The domesticated species of birds reared for eggs, meat, feathers, etc. includes chicken, ducks, turkey, quail, geese, guinea fowl, etc.

Primary Feathers

Feathers of wings used for flying but not visible when bird is at rest or wings are closed.

Poult

Young one of turkey is known as poult. Pure Lines

A line the individual members of which are genetically pure as a result of continued inbreeding for long time (10-12 generations and more) or with self-fertilisation as the same type as itself.

Random Samples Tests

An independent guide for testing performance of poultry birds under identical conditions by collecting eggs randomly from breeder flocks and testing the progeny.

Roaster

A young chicken usually 3 to 5 months of age of either sex that is tender meated with soft, pliable, smooth textured skin with breast bone may be somewhat less flexible than broiler.

Roost (Perch)

A resting place of fowl at a height usually wooden slats or GI pipes, 5 cm², round at the top and flat at the bottom, placed horizontally at length-wise sides of house to satisfy bird’s natural instinct to sit at higher place. The perch space recommended per bird is 20-25 cm and perches should be placed at a distance of 35-40 cm apart.

Rooster

See cock.

Sexing

Separation of males and females from group of individuals.

Sexed Chicks

Chicks among which males and females have been separated. Straight Run Chicks

Chicks among which sexing is not carried out. Usually broiler chicks are straight run chicks.

Sexing Error

Number of males designated as females during sexing due to faulty sexing.

Spent Hen

A hen who have completed her production life. Usually 1st laying cycle is completed at 72 weeks in layers.

Secondary Feathers

Large (quill) feathers of wing which are not used for flying but visible when wings are closed.

Terminology of Ducks

Bill                   Beak

Web                 The flat skin between three front toes in all water fowls

Duck                Specifically female

Drake               Specifically male

Duckling – Young one of duck

Drakelet –         A current season male duck.

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