Category Archives: Types Of Poultry

Famous Turkey Meat delights – mouth watering dishes

Leave a reply

 

The bird Turkey, for many is only known as the festival bird. I would like to share a very interesting fact over here – National Turkey Federation (NTF) has mentioned in their publishing that 95% only prefer turkey meal on Thanksgiving occasion. It is also estimated that during this particular time, 46 million festival birds are consumed. This in other means indicates that about 675 million pounds of the bird are served on hundreds of dining tables. Also, a big, giant turkey means a good amount of bird’s leftover – this helps in cooking some of the mouthwatering dishes including both starters and main course.

This poultry meat is also low fat, it contains a good amount of proteins, so it’s healthy. Not only this, the turkey farming has also gained popularity over the years because it offers excellent nutritional value and tastes superb as well.

Many people fail to cook a good, tasty and appealing turkey meal for many reasons. Many complain that it looks burnt and tastes dry, when on the table, and it gets kind of embarrassing in front of the guests. This is why the culinarians get hundreds of calls from the housewives as well as other cooking experts. They inquire about how to sustain the natural liquidity of the meat and provide it better look. The world renowned chefs have the same comments, ‘it’s really simple and easy to cook a turkey; however, it’s just the game of concentration’.  This is a piece of advice for all the turkey lovers and also those who love cooking it.

Simple tips which can help you cook turkey meat products easily include;

  • Oven temperature must be accurate.
  • Many keep on checking the oven by opening it again and again; this spoils the meat due to the difference in the temperatures.
  • In order to obtain best taste, leave the turkey in marination for at least two days. Make sure you keep in the refrigerator.
  • In order to provide the aroma to the turkey, make sure you follow a good combination of wine, lemon, vinegar and other spices.

By bearing this in mind, now here you go with the most popular food that is made from the turkey meat; indeed, your mouth would get watery because they are a delight for the eye too.

1: Turkey Cordon Bleu Croquettes

You can serve them as starters – tempting turkey meatballs are indeed something to die for; here you go with a quick recipe;

  • Take a bowl, add turkey breast meat, 1 chopped onion, baked ham (chopped) half plate, half teaspoon thyme, black pepper, salt and paprika; also, add a cube of cheese (shredded); this would help in forming the meatballs.
  • Once done, in a separate bowl make bread crumbs and coat each meatball in that. Lastly, heat some oil in a pan and fry the meatballs in that for 7-9 minutes. Serve with ketchup or green sauce.

Turkey Cordon Bleu Croquettes

2: Papperdalle with Turkey Ragu

The yummy pasta indeed is one of the finest and tastiest turkey meals – it can be a main course for any good event as well. Here you go with a quick recipe;

  • Boil one packet of pasta as per instruction on the packet and keep it aside.
  • Mix 2 chopped carrots, one onion, 2 cloves of garlic, and 2 pounds of grounded turkey meat with all the necessary spices in a bowl. Also add 1 teaspoon of rosemary, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of white wine.
  • Now, in a pan pour one jar of marinade sauce and add the mixture of turkey – let it cook for 10 minutes so that everything gets sauté; now add the pasta in the pan and mix the entire dish for 3 minutes. You can serve it with grated Parmesan or any other thing you like.

Papperdalle with turkey ragu

3: Roast Turkey Cordon Bleu

It is the most adored recipes and thanksgiving days seem incomplete without a tempting roasted turkey on the table. It can easily serve 10 guests at a time.

Roast Turkey Cordon Bleu

4: Turkey Empanadas with Salad:

Golden brown Turkey filled empanadas are perfect starters for a fine high-tea. Also, you can serve it with salad to increase the dish’s appeal – this would please the guests too.

Turkey Empanadas with Salad

5: Turkey- Vegi soup:

With the basic vegetable soup recipe, you can make a delicious turkey soup easily.

Turkey- Vegi soup

Other than the mentioned ones, there are more than thousands of recipes and ways to cook and serve turkey. Usually the adored types are;

  • Turkey burgers
  • Turkey stuffed with vegetables
  • Turkey sandwiches
  • Turkey stews

Ostrich Physical Chracteristics And Marketing

1 Reply

Ostrich is the recently domesticated bird. Ostrich is the largest known bird and some scientists believe that the present bird developed from ancestors that were capable to flight. The ostrich of today cannot fly, but does run well and is capable of speeds of 50 miles per hour with strides of 15 feet (for very large bird the stride may be 20 feet or more). The feet of the ostrich have only two toes, the only bird the that does while emus, Rhea and Cassowary has three toes. Ostriches characteristically share with emu, Rhea and Cassowary. The ostrich is well-adoptable bird and that can thrive in different environments.

Physical Appearance

A male ostrich range between 6 and 9 feet, while females  between 5.5 and 6.5 feet tall at maturity. The  chicks of ostrich grow about 10 inches per month in the first year and weigh about 40 kg at a age of12 months.  The Adults ostrich usually  have weigh between 60 to 132 kg. Domesticated ostriches gain maturity at 2 to 3 years of age. Females are mature about 6 months earlier than males. Ostriches normally live for 30 to 70 years in captivity.

ostrich eggsostrich legs1

–Despite the fact that ostriches are flightless birds, their wings are very strong. Ostriches make use  of their wings for aggressive display and courtship rituals. Males have contrasting bright black and white plumage. Females plumage is drab and grey. Their lead-blue  colour of skin usually becomes scarlet over the beak, on the forehead and around the eyes during the mating season. The normal body temperatures between is 39.4°C to 40°C.

Nutrition

Nutrition practices recommended by some self-professed experts often are sound nutritional principles. Nutrition related mortality problems in chicks juveniles include malnutrition or starvation, intestinal obstruction. It is absolutely essential that ostriches have clean, potable water availability. The  feedstuffs of ostrich must  provide adequate level of protein and essential amino acids and meet vitamin, energy and mineral requirements If ostriches are allowed to forage on grain or natural grasses , try to balance intake with the amount of commercial feed that is fed. Ostriches should not become overweight. Excess body weight in the form of fat is detrimental to production or breeders and to meat quality of birds that are to be slaughtered.

Marketing

Market for ostriches is currently breeder market with value deter­mined as much by nostalgia as the value of products provided by the ostriches. In the long-term, if the ostrich industry is to thrive, the birds will have to generate sufficient revenue to cover their costs of production. The main products from ostrich are red meat which is lower in fat and cholesterol than turkey. Leather which is extremely durable with unique marketing. Decorative by-products namely, feathers and eggs.

ostrich meat

History of Emu

L

 Native of emu

:

 Australia
2. Life span

:

 25-35 years
3. Egg weight (Average)

:

 400-650 2-,m
4. Incubation period

:

 48-52 days
  1. During laying period (October-March) they can lay 30-50 eggs per annum.
  2. Prominent characteristics of emu is rudimentary wings.
  3. Male have phallus.

Turkeys Brooding And Raising Guide

Leave a reply 
Raising of Turkeys

Turkeys are not popular in ASIA. Its cause may be ignorance about their nutritive value or disliking for their eggs and meat. In Western countries mini (smaller size) turkeys which are finished around 12-13 weeks weighing 4.7 kg and midi (medium size) turkeys, finished around 15-16 weeks weighing 6-7 kg are becoming popular nowadays. Like broiler, smaller turkeys are reared in intensive system, that too not fully controlled environment, while larger birds can be raised in simple shelters of pole-barn type or even on range.

Brooding

Brooding can be done on wire floor or on concrete floor with litter. The house must be draft-free and litter should be managed properly to keep it in dry condition to reduce the risk of parasite infestations. The brooding temperature in first week may be kept at 35°C with proper insulation of house to maintain house temperature at 25- 26°C with supplementary heating during initial stage of brooding. At the same time adequate ventilation should also be provided. The temperature difference of 8-10°C between brooder area and house is maintained for efficient growth. The mortality in poults during early stage many a times, may be because of lack of feeding and drinking facilities. So these facilities should be provided under bright light.

Once heat requirement is over at 8-9 weeks of age, turkeys can be reared at cooler temperature of 16°C. Raising turkeys on deep- litter is easier method and becoming popular. The health care is offered by preventive vaccination and essential medication from time to time.

Growing

Turkeys can be very well grown on range. But it requires clean fields on which poultry or turkeys have not been raised for previous two years. The land can be best partitioned into paddocks for 500 turkeys by fencing it around 3-3.5 in high for protecting them from predators. Simple thatched shelter of straw bales and roosts are sufficent for turkeys because of their hardiness. Feeders and waterers should be kept under roof to provide protection from animals, wild birds, climate and predators.

Intensive Rearing

Adequate floor area and ample fresh air should be provided for growing birds in intensive rearing. Turkey yard with roosters, feeders and waterers under lean-to roof attached to farm building can be used for rearing. Alternatively a pole shelter in the form fully covered compound consttucted out of rough poles of timber posts or discarded railway sleeper can be installed. The roof can be made by use of wire netting overlaid with corrugated roofing material or building felt. Side etiaS and back walls are totally or partially blocked with straw bales, polythene or other sheet but front portion is fitted with large mesh netting like chain link. Waterers and feeders are approachable from front. A section of 12 x 12 in can house around 250 to 450 turkeys.

Cage system is also used to raise turkeys above ground level on small scale. Now, lot of modem units rearing turkeys on large scale are using houses like that of chicken having effective insulation,mechanised ventilation system, supplementary heating and light with other arrangement to provide controlled environment. Since turkey is a fast-growing bird, they should be provided adequate management facilities (Table 20.1) in respect of floor, feeding and watering space, as more space is always beneficial.

Because the poults grow faster they should be provided increased head room under brooder, floor space, feeding and watering space and ventilation depending on size and age. Around 7-8 weeks of age they are shifted to growing sheds to achieve still faster growth. If turkeys are to be reared in closed shelter, before shifting their bills should be trimmed to prevent cannibalism. They can be very well managed in groups of 240-270 with adequate management facility for next 12-24 weeks. When roosters are not used, some straw bales can prevent young turkeys from congregating, when groups have more strength.

Intensive rearing needs skilled management because incidence of vices and disease is on higher side in confinement. Hygiene. sanitation and cleanliness at feeding and watering places and supply of adequate clean litter are essential. Overcrowding and inadequate ventilation, many a times results in poor performance.

Feeding

Even though management of turkeys in respect of housing, lighting, sanitation and hygiene and health care is similar to chickens but feeding of them differs significantly from that of chickens (see Chapter 10 of this book).

Pouits are very slow in accepting their feed which is well-known fact. Therefore, they should be invoked to eat by providing easy access to feed with supply of ample feeders and bright light. The same thing holds good for drinking water also. All growers are supplied with ad libitum feeding pattern. Sometimes grains in measured quantity are offered in addition but at fixed timings. In case of range rearing feed should be given in measured amount with decided times, so as to be consumed by birds within short time to avoid feed consumption by wild birds or vermins.

In brooding stage upto 8 weeks, poults are provided mash containing 23-24 per cent protein, which can be reduced to 19-20 per cent by 10 weeks and 15 per cent by 17 weeks. The finishing diet is offered generally 3-4 week prior to disposal of birds. When grain ration is provided it should be necessarily supplemented with oyster shell.

Brooding And Rearing Of Ostrich Chicks,Poultry Management Guide

Leave a reply 
Brooding and Rearing

The brooding period is a very critical time and can be a time of high mortality, if proper management is not used. The brooding  arrangement must protect chicks from predators and  inclement weather  . The arrangement should be  sanitary, dry and well-ventilated. The floor  pen must be rough enough to provide firm  footing for the chicks. Not  to cover the litter with slick materia  or  newspaper , as chicks would develop “spraddle legs” which is fatal.

brooding ostrich

The temperature at chicks level should be 31.1 to 33°C in the 4- by 5-feet pen foe the first two weeks. Gradually reduce heat upto 23.5°C from the third  to the eight week. At 6-8 weeks of age, chicks can be left in range outside in good weather, but shelter at night. They can be managed in groups of 25 to 50 birds.

General Management Tips
  • Provide adequate shelter in pasture plots.
  • Pens should protect adults and older juveniles from extreme
    climate such as snow, ice, heavy winds, cold rain and sleet.
  •  temperaturer should be located inside shelter to condition birds to enter the shelters freely.
    • Feeder and waterers should be in open type and adjustable so that they can kept at chest height of the birds. Clean the waterers daily.
    • Caretakers should spend time with chicks and young tame- them.·      Move gently among the birds, taking care to avoid the possibility of  frightening and hand-feeding of tidbits o juveniles is recommended.
    • Never make overcrowding in the pen. First few days provide sanitised water along with anti-stress agents.
    • Ensure proper mineral and vitamins in the feed for healthy growth of chicks and to void leg deformities.
    • Do not handle the birds during hot hours,as Birds get immediately excited. Hence calm and quite environment in the pen is required.
    • Never keep the sharp objects, pebbles accessible to the birds. Birds are mischievous and grab anything that comes in their vicinity.
    • Spraddle condition of the legs that is  commonly seen can be managed by holding the legs together during the initial 72 hours of chicks. This can be done particularly in the incubator.
    • Commercial feed is absolutely essential.
    • Birds require at least 1 acre floor space with six feet high chain link fence.
    • Birds produce hide, leather or feather are sold at high price.

 

 

A Guide To Brooding Chicks ,Rearing Of Baby Chicks

Leave a reply

CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF CHICKS

This is also known as brooding management. In case of layer birds, rearing chicks from day-old age to 7-8 weeks are usually reared in brooder houses and then transferred to grower houses, whereas in case of broilers even after 3 weeks of brooding, they are reared in the same house by increasing space and other requirements and by removing brooders.

In case of single flock rearing, the best time to house the chicks for laying in future, is from January to March of year, so that pullets will be in high production during winter months, when egg prices are– generally better. But, this is difficult to adopt for multi-age rearing.

The managemental care of chicks can be studied step by step as under:

Adequate Ventilation

The brooder house must be properly ventilated at the same time it should be devoid from drafts. The drafts can adversely affect growth and liveability of chicks. The excessive dust in poultry house can cause irritation of respiratory tract of a day old chicks and can increase disease incidence. Similarly, high moisture levels also can lead more ammonia fumes causing again irritation of eyes and respiratory distress.

Maintenance of Sanitation and Hygiene

The brooder house must be carefully cleaned and disinfected well in advance before housing new batch of chicks in it. The usual and required practice is the house should be give rest of 3 to 4 weeks in layer operations and around 2.5 weeks in broiler operations after cleaning and disinfection of house. The appliances and equipments like feeders, waterers, brooders which can be removed, be taken out and cleaned, disinfected and allowed sundrying of them. The manure, should be removed and the floor may be scrapped to remove all dirt. The inside and outside of house also be cleaned under pressure water for proper removal of dirt and dust. Before doing this the cobwebs must be removed.

Sumithion or Malathion spray and flame-gun blowing of sheets and wire netting help in controlling insects, mites and ticks. Fresh litter be used for every new batch. The old litter should not be recycled to save expenditure. Adaptation of all in all out system is best to control diseases in poultry but it is difficult to follow for maintaining continuity of farm production. Therefore, at least chicks should be brooded away from layers or adult birds. Similarly, separate workers should be provided for chicks and adult birds to avoid cross-contamination due to direct contact. In the same way movement of workers and shifting of equipments from shed to shed should be restricted. The disinfectant foot bath necessarily be provided and used at entrance of each house. The outsiders (visitors) should be banned to enter houses of at least chicks and growers.

Bedding or Litter

It is important in case of deep-litter rearing. The convenient bedding material like rice husk, saw dust or ground-nut hulls called as litter be spread on floor with depth of about 4.5 cm. Further it can be increased to 8-10.5 cm depending on need as the age advances. The material like sugar-cane bagasse should not be used, as the sugar content in it facilitates growth of fungus on it, leading to respiratory diseases like aspergillosis. Daily raking or stirring of litter be practised to avoid caking, to keep it dry and loose to reduce ammonic al odour.

The appropriate moisture content of litter carries lot of importance because low moisture leads to dusty litter resulting in respiratory ailments while high moisture results in caking and increased heat. On an average litter should contain around 18 to 24 per cent moisture and a litter of desired condition should not form a ball when pressed in hand.

Space Under Brooder

Around 50 to 66 cm2 space under brooder per chick is recommen­ded. This mean a hover of 1 metre diameter can house 270 chicks. In case of small pens, length and width of pens should also be considered to accommodate number of chicks under brooder. Inadequate space leads to piling, increased disease incidence, studied growth, starvation and subsequently more percentage of culls.

Chick Guard

A barrier to avoid straying away of  new chicks from heat source in younger age placed at a distance around brooder in circular manner is known as chick guard. The brooder guard also protects baby chicks from drafts. Usually it is placed at a distance of 85-90 cm from edge of brooder initially and can be increased to 130 cm as the age advances. Generally it is used upto 7 to 8 days initially. The height is usually 40-45 cm.

Temperature Maintenance

Maintenance of appropriate temperature during brooding new chicks is necessary. The variation towards higher or lower side leads to more mortality or slower growth. The temperature is usually measured at level of 6 cm above floor and 6 to 8 cm inside the edge of warm zone of brooder. The temperature in first week should be around 33°C (95°F) which may be subsequently reduced by 2.6°C (5°F) each week till it reaches to room temperature around 20.5°C. But chicks are more comfortable in slightly lower temperature than recommended. The house temperature should be lower by 8 to 12°C than brooder temperature. The height of brooder depends on need of brooding temperature but at least 10 to 14 cm clear space above chicks should be available. The bulbs of different intensity like 200, 100 or 60 watts can be used to reduce or increase temperature. The infra-red lamps of 250 watts can also be used with an added advantage of germicidal effects on organisms. Pleasant movements with uniform scattering of chicks under brooder is correct guide for accuracy of temperature.

Floor Space

Appropriate floor space as per age, size and type of chicks is an important factor governing performance of chicks. If slightly more space than requirement is alloted it does not matter much, but less space than recommended, adversely affects overall performance than recommended, adversely affects overall performance of chicks. inadequate floor space leads to slower and uneven growth; more number of culls, increased mortality, poor feed, efficiency and in extreme cases pecking and cannibalism. Floor space of about 450 cm2 to start with is adequate which can be increased by about 500 cm after every 4 weeks till pullets reach to 21 weeks of age. Broiler can be alloted 450 cm2 space initially which may be increased to 850 cm2 after 4 weeks.

Feeder and Water Space

The requirement of feeding space varies from 2 to 7 cm (linear) per chick from 0 to 8 weeks. Similarly, water space required is from (15 to 1.5 cm (linear) per chick. For efficient, growth of chicks frequ.ent feedings (4-5 times in a day) with availability of fresh water all the times are beneficial.

Light

Chicks are provided continuous light, i.e. sunlight is adequate during day time while in the night it can be supplied by using electric bulbs or tubes upto 8 weeks of age. Light helps in faster development of feathers, increased feed intake and essential for vision.

Vaccination and Debeaking

Adopting an appropriate schedule of vaccination is prime requirement of providing proper health care to chicks. The schedule of vacci­nation varies according to disease prevalence in different areas. Debeaking either on 1st day or on 6-9th day or 3-4th weeks is carried out to prevent cannibalism and feed wastage.

Poultry Layer Management,A Guide To Optimal Egg Production

6 Replies

MANAGEMENT OF LAYERS

Maximum hen-housed egg production with fair egg size, feed efficiency and minimum mortality are the prime goals of layer farming. Beside good genetic make up of bird, management during laying plays an important role to achieve the above-mentioned targets in egg production. Following are the vital aspects of efficient layer management:

Segregation and Transfer of Pullets

Ready to lay pullets should be shifted from grower to layer sheds around 16 to 18 weeks to allow 1 to 2 weeks adaptation period before laying starts. During pullet rearing it is quite possible that inspite of providing highly suitable management facilities, some pullets may lack in size and development of body. In real sense, genetics itself allows one to two per cent culling. Such under­developed pullets should be segregated while transferring them to layer sheds and be housed in separate compartments of cages or sections of house in case of deep-litter, to allow them to avail extra nutrition to achieve normal standard of growth. These segregated pullets are fed 2 per cent extra protein along with the additional minerals and vitamins including liver tonics to gain normal growth within 3-4 weeks. The pullets which are blind, crippled, emaciated, injured, and infected are discarded at the time of shifting.

Floor, Feed and Water Space

Floor space of   1800  to 2200 cm2 per bird on deep-litter and 337 to 375 cm2 per bird in cages is recommended for layers. Breeders are provided with little higher space of 2300 to 2700 cm2 depending on size of birds. About 12 to 15 cm linear feeder space and 2.5 cm water space per bird is adequate during laying. On deep-litter system one laying nest for every 4 to 5 hens with perch at entrance is provided for comfortable laying and clean egg production. Inade­quate management facilities leads to reduced egg production and feed efficiency; increased disease incidence and mortality and sometimes cannibalism also.

Temperature in Layer House

The comfortable temperature for optimum laying ranges from 18.3 to 21.5°C (65°-70°F). Both higher and lower temperature affect the egg production and quality of eggs adversely. Egg production starts declining when temperature rises more than 27°C while egg size starts reducing from temperature of 24.5°C onwards only. The higher temperature in general is more harmful to birds than lower temperature. The effects of cold whether become more prominent when temperature drops below 12.8°C.

Supply of Artificial Light

From 21 weeks onwards, the layers should be provided with artificial light, starting with total 14 hours duration and gradually (1/2 hour/ week) be increased to reach to 16 hours and kept constant upto 42 weeks of age.

At the age of 43 weeks it is again gradually increased to 17 hours. The day length is considered to be 11 hours in winter and rainy season while 12 hours in summer season for providing total light. The total artificial light may be divided equally in morning and evening.

The appropriate lighting schedule stimulates egg production by 4 to 6 per cent, while irregularities in lighting can cause drop in egg production. The intensity of light at birds eye level is important to stimulate egg production, which is 0.9 to 1.2 foot candle. A bulb of 40 watts with reflector hanged at height of 2.2 m above floor level for 3.5 m2 floor space, provides correct intensity. But the bulbs must be cleaned for dirt periodically (once in 15 days) for bright illumi-nation. Layers should never be exposed to reduced light schedule which lowers down production considerably.

Breeder management is similar to layer management except their diet contains extra protein, Mn and Vitamin E to ensure desired fertility and hatchability. Breeder males and females should be reared separately from day-old age, which ensures uniformity in growth, reduces culls and gives better production during laying.

Reducing Stress

Factors such as vaccination, medication specially antibiotics, disease outbreaks, improper and restricted feeding, extreme weather changes, starvation, high production and shifting from one to another house induces stress in chickens. This results in drop in egg production, poor growth and increased susceptibility to diseases. Administration of electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, controlling effects of weather changes helps to reduce or combat the stress on birds.

Feeding and Watering

Not only the quality but quantity and methods of feeding adopted also play an important role in making profits from layers. The chickens like white leghorn layers should consume about 105-110 gm of feed/day/bird, while dual purpose breeds like RIR, New­hampshire, etc. will eat around 115-120 g/day/bird on an average. Higher or lower intake less than recommended requirement indicates impairment in quality of feed or stress/disease condition which should be corrected accordingly. Minimum two feedings should be followed to avoid staleness and wastage of feed. All mash or pallet feeding is good method of feeding to achieve optimum performance of layers.

Birds should be provided fresh, clean, cool and potable drinking water all the time. As a thumb rule bird drinks 2.5 to 3 times of water of feed consumed depending on season and size of birds.

Vaccination

From 42 weeks of age onwards, every 3 months, layers should be vaccinated lasota vaccine through drinking water to boost up immunity and to maintain proper titre levels of antibodies against Ranikhet disease. Automatic vaccinator is being used nowadays

Culling

It is one of the constant and important operation to be practiced at- least bimonthly to improve economy of farming and to remove focus of infection.

Record Keeping and Analysing

Relevant record keeping of feed intake, egg production, vaccination, medication, mortality, culls, receipts and expenditure and periodical analysis of them helps in correcting mistakes and improvement in management to increase profitability.

Housing

The layer houses should be well-ventilated, reasonably cool in summer and warm in winter but free from drafts. The open-sided poultry sheds which are popular in our country, fulfills above requirements with specific management in summer and winter. They are cheap for construction and easy for maintenance also.

BREEDING OF POULTRY

Leave a reply

Genetic composition is a major factor which governs the productive performance in variousaspects of livestock. About 80 per cent performance of poultry is dependent on genecomponents and 20 per cent on environment component in exploiting genetic potential to itsmaximum possible extent. Basically if birds are of poor genetic make-up, whatever may bethe highly scientific management conditions prevail, they may not be desired economical andprofitable producers. The combination and fixing of high quality genes in specific breeds,varieties and strains involve consistent scientific and skillful breeding practices. It ishighly technical skilled job which requires persistent continuous efforts for long-time.Gregor Mendel is supposed to be the father of genetics who has formulated some offundamental laws in genetics on his observations on which most of today’s genetic skills depend.

BASIS OF VARIABILITY

No two individuals are similar. Each individual differs from another due to the genetic variation. This is because each parent transmits one gene or pair of genes to its offsprings and variability depends on the heterozygosity of number of gene pairs ofparents. A sample half of inheritance of each parent and sample half of environment isreceived by each offspring. The chicken has total 39 pairs of chromosomes and each carries many genes, some probably 100 also. The number of gametes produced are abundant resulting into enormous hereditary combinations. The expression of character is due to one or moregenes. The basic unit of inheritance is gene and not the character.

INHERITANCE AND ENVIRONMENT
As already stated earlier variation in any flock is not only due to genetic component but environment component is also responsible for it. The exploitation of genetic variation is rather slow because several genes are involved in expression of each character in addition to which environment, hormones, and management conditions are also responsible for producing response. The hatchability, fertility, viability (liveability), resistance to disease, egg production, flesh production are the characters of economic and fundamental importance, where environment frequently plays its role for full exploitation of these characters. For example, inspite of high hatchability genes, poor hatching can be obtained due to faulty incubation conditions or low egg production can be noted in highly genetic potential birds because of imbalanced diet and poor housing conditions.

SEX RATIO AND FERTILITY
The fertility in poultry to large extent depends on genetics and selection of bird as an inherent character, but it is equally affected by better management than inheritance. The most important management point for it is sex ratio formating. On an average one male for 15 to 16 females for replacement pullets and one male for 10 to 12 females for broiler breeders is optimum for good fertility, depending on light or heavy breeds.

SELECTION
The choice of allowing individuals to become parents for next generation is selection. In other words differential rate of repro-duction is also called as selection. It is necessary to maintain or increase variation in population and one of the important force for geneticimprovement.

Kinds of Selection:
There are two kinds of selection, viz. natural or artificial.

 Natural Selection

In case of random mating nature itself selects individuals for mating in flocks or population by preferential mating.

Artificial Selection
The selection applied by man with records and by adopting different methods is artificial selection. This involves intrapopulation and interpopulation selection.

Basis of Selection (Systems of Selection)

Depending on the base used for selection it is divided into the following systems:
Individual Selection
It is also called as mass selection. Because the individual is selected from mass (flock or large number) on its own phenotypic value and put together in mass for mating, it is known as mass selection. The system is adopted for traits of high heritability and expressed in both sexes, where it results in faster genetic improvement.

Family Selection
The individuals are selected on the performance of their whole family. It is useful in case of low heritability characters like egg production and which is expressed in females only; similarly viability, where phenotype is not reliable indicator of genotype. The sire or dam family averages are compared to population mean and the whole family is either selected or rejected for higher or lower means, respectively. The system involves two types of selection, viz, progeny testing and sib selection:

Progeny testing

The individual isselected on the basis of performance of it’s progeny, i.e. sons and daughters. But thebiggest problem with this system is the time consumed to obtain performance values of progeny. The part year production values, e.g. egg production upto 40 weeks of age can be efficiently used to overcome the difficulty of time consumption as it is positively correlated with full year production to make use of this selection system.

Sib testing

Sisters and brothers of individual are called as sibs. To avoid time consuming problem in progeny testing, individuals are selected on the basis of performance and appearance of their brothers and sisters. Similarly, to select birds for traits which are expressed in one sex only, for example, egg production which is expressed in pullets or hens, cockerels or cocks are selected on performance of their sisters.

Pedigree Selection:

Pedigree is the record of an individual’s ancestors including parents. This selection is also important because sample half of genes from each parent is transmitted to each of it’s offsprings. It is of immense importance in selection at earlier age, when traits in question might have not expressed themselves, i.e. it’s greatest applicability is in initial selection of sex-limited traits.

Methods of Selection on Phenotypic Values

The net value of an individual depends on many traits having varying economic importance.
The heritability and magnitude of genetic variance of traits differ from traits. The various traits may have phenotypic and genetic inter-relationships among themselves. Therefore, if too many traits are to be selected at a time, it may result in less improvement in specific traits. In this connection, Hazel and Lush have examinedsuperiority of the following selection methods:
Tandem Method
This method involves selection of only one trait at a time for improvement till satisfactory level of improvement in it, selection efforts are then relaxed for this trait and concentrated on second trait, and so on. The improvement is simultaneous for traits which are positively correlated and vice versa for negatively correlated traits. But this is again time consuming method.
Independent Culling Levels
Selection for many traits can bedone at a time or simultaneously by setting up minimum standard level for each trait. Any
individual below of any one or more levels is culled irrespective of meritorious performance in other traits. Such method of selection will result in favouring of medium type of birds and may reject outstanding individuals in many economic important traits as they may not qualify themselves in traits of lesser economic importance.
Selection Index
Hazel and Lush (1943) have invented this method wherein selection for several traits at a time can be done by rectifying drawbacks in previous methods. It is also called as total score method as it includes estimation of the bird’s total breeding value (net merit) for two or more traits at a time. Each trait is given weightage depending on its economic importance, heritability and inter-relationships (genetic and phenotypic) among traits. The score of index of each trait is added to arrive at total score index. The method is more efficient in all circumstances, as it saves superior individuals in important economic traits even they are inferior in less important characters.

IDEAL BREEDING PROGRAMME
As seen earlier most of selection systems have some or the other limitations. Therefore, ideal breeding programme consists of combination of various selection systems, and method can be better used along with individual, family and pedigree selection systems. The traits like egg production, viability, fertility, etc. which have low heritability, can be
improved by adopting family selection. On the other hand successful improvement in characters like egg weight, shell quality, sexual maturity, growth rate, confirmation can be achieved by using individual selection. Therefore, a wise breeder fixes required characters in his bird by combining useful methods for his operation.
Selection of Birds for Breeding
Selection of Egg Type Lines
The suitable age for selecting egg type birds is 10 to 14 weeks where inferior birds are removed from the flocks. The body confirmation and development of structural body parts are given more weightage than body weight in selecting these breeders. Thebirds from each lines are selected separately and most of breeding procedures involve mating of males and females from various lines. The chicks from each line are sexed at day-old age and inaccuracies in sexing may lead to mixing of cockerels with pullets and vice versa. These birds of sexing error should be removed prior to mating. The unwanted males must be removed as early as possible to reduce the cost.

Basis for Selection of Individual Males and Females
1. The pedigree in past is assessed for several pedigree generations.
2. The appearance and performance of individual and its sibs in present is used for making final judgement.

3. The appearance and performance of individual in future is judged by appearance and performance of its progeny, generally of sons and daughters.

Selection of Meat Type Lines
As there is high correlation between weight of meat type parents and their broiler offsprings at eight weeks of age, their selection preferably is done at this age. The selection pressure required for males is more than that of for females. The correlation between weight of parents at sexual maturity and broiler offsprings is little due to which selection on weight basis of birds going into lay or after eight weeks is very difficult. Even though same percentage of birds are removed from each sex, more selection pressure

(culling) is applied for males than females. This does not result in any differences in the effects for next generation as males required are fewer than females.

Selection of males
First of all we should know percentage of males to be retained at eight weeks of age which is more than the requirement of sexual maturity. Usually 60 per cent males are retained at day-old age. Forty per cent at eight weeks and 12-15 per cent at sexual maturity. The percentage is more at initial and middle stages because of depletion due to mortality and culling in later period. For selection at least weigh 15 per cent birds individually in a flock or in pen as representative of all birds at eight weeks of age.Record these weights on a separate sheet starting from heaviest and ending with lightest.According to percentage required count the number of males to be kept out of these 15 per cent, starting from heaviest with counting towards lightest. The figure of weight at which percentage of retaining is reached becomes the minimum weight for selection. Now discard the males weighing below minimum standard weight fixed by individual weighing. The sample weight must be taken in every pen of house to nullify effect of variation.

Selection of females
The selection for females is done with lesser selection pressure than males. About 80 per cent females are retained at eight weeks of age. Body weight is not much exerted for selection of females. The selection some times may be done with same procedure adopted for males but usually it is done by following the normal method of culling, i.e. birds are selected on the basis of general appearance, body condition, confirmation, moulting pattern, etc.

Methods of Mating
The methods of mating play major role in obtaining fertility of eggs from breeder birds.There are five commonly used methods of mating, out of which pen mating and flock mating are of commercial importance. While stud mating, shift mating and artificial insemination (AI) are important from research point of view.

Pen Mating
Generally followed for pedigree hatching where parents of offsprings can be determined with trap nesting of females. More number of females are allowed to mate with single male in small flock in separate pens for each male. But fertility may not be as good as of flock mating due to likeness in mating, i.e. the male heading the pen may not like to mate with particular female and vice-versa.

Flock Mating
This is the common method of mating used in most of the breeding practises. About 20-30 males are run with 250-300 females in flocks in a section of house. This reduces the chances of likeness or social order in mating and very good fertility is obtained, but parentage of offspring cannot be known.

Stud Mating
The male is housed in a pen or coop and females are individually kept one by one with male for mating time only and removed. The method is excellent for increasing the utility of outstanding males to increase the offsprings mating, and therefore, it is more expensive.

Shift Mating
In this method males are shifted from one pen to another after certain period of time, which helps in thorough testing of females as they are exposed to several males for mating.But to maintain accuracy of parentage this method is little difficult because fertile eggs can be produced for one to two weeks even after removing male from that pen. The recommendation for overcoming this problem is to discard eggs for one week after shifting of old male and housing of new male in particular pen. By adopting shifting after short span of time, large number of males can be tested with adequate assessment of females also for breeding.

Artificial Insemination
The method is not commonly used in chicken but it is quite common in turkey breeding due to lower fertility problems. The reasons for not becoming it common may be the non- availability of trained personnel, more labour involved and handling stress to birds. But if practised, it is excellent method to increase the efficiency of breeding programme. Because it increases the utility of outstanding males, eliminates completely social order in mating, minimises risk of disease spread and increases accuracy in parentage determination, it is more advantageous.

Breeding  Season
In fact poultry birds are prolific breeders and they bred in all seasons. Therefore, there is no specific breeding season for poultry unlike that of other livestock but fertility percentage may vary in different seasons. For that also only season may not be the sole cause for reduced fertility. The season may act as minor contributing factor to lower down fertility. For example in summer season fertility is little bit reduced than mansoon and winter. That is excessive heat in summer may reduce breeding instinct of birds adding to causes of lowering down of fertility. Therefore, it may be said that rainy and winter seasons are comparatively better seasons for poultry breeding than summer.

BREEDING SYSTEMS IN POULTRY
The object of any breeding programme is to improve genetic make-up of progeny by maintaining genetic variance, for increasing the productive performance along with descent appearance. For keeping the variation, which is effect of heterozygosity, homozygosity is also essential to induce variation. At time of reaching of selection limit or selection plateau, status and condition is maintained to obtain highest production for some period and selection with breeding system in opposite direction can be adopted to avoid drastic deterioration of genetic composition which may result in sudden drop in productive performance. Therefore, the breeding systems used in any breeding programme should have the following objectives:

i. Increase in homozygosity which constitutes inbreeding,
ii. Increase in heterozygosity which involves outbreeding.
iii. Maintain the status quo position which is done by random mating. Ultimate result of breeding in term of genetic language is alteration of gene and genotype frequency, either in forward or backward direction as per desire and requirement.

Systems to Enhance Homozygosity
Any breeding system that increases homozygosity within breed or variety is known as inbreeding or rather to increase homozygosity inbreeding is adopted. Inbreeding is mating of closely related individuals wherein relationship is more close than the average of population. In inbreeding there will be one or more common ancestors from which part of gene samples (gametes) are drawn. Depending on closeness of relationship among the individuals, inbreeding can be grouped into three types, viz, close inbreeding, line breeding, and foi !nation of strain.

Close inbreeding
The mating of parent and progeny of mating between sibs is known as close inbreeding. This is followed for formation of inbreed lines and if relationship is less closer than that of cousins then inbreeding effect is very mild which cannot be counted also. As stated earlier with breeding of close relative the heterozygosity can be brought down to 10-12 per cent or even below it in 10-12 generations.

Line Breeding
It is inbreeding within the highly admired sire or dam ancestoral line to increase number of individuals of outstanding male or female in population. The daughters of different generations are mated back to outstanding sire or sons of various generations are mated back to outstanding sire or dam, so that resultant progeny has more and more percentage of genes of these outstanding parents. An inbred line should have at least 50 per cent inbreeding co-efficient. Mating of full sister-brother for three generations or of half, brother-sister for six generations can produce inbred line with 50 per cent inbreeding co-efficient.

Formation of Strain
This involves mating of double cousins, hence it is called as milder form of inbreeding.This is done to establish high productive traits in population to use it for production of commercials. It is adopted within the breed, so that selection can be carried out within and between strains to evolve better commercials. It also reduces heterozygosity but a slower rate than close or line breeding.

IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF BREEDING

Heritability:

the capacity of quantitative character to be transfered from parents to offspring is called as heritability.In terms of real genetic language the ratio of additive genetic variance to total phenotypic variance is heritability, i.e. h2 = va/vp. The improvement in progeny is fast, when heritability of that character is high and vice-versa. But inspite low heritability, a significant improvement in specific character can be achieved by using suitable selection procedures.

Hybrid-vigour:
As stated earlier any deviation from expected mean performance is called as heterosis, and positive heterosis is generally known as “hybrid-vigour” or “nicking”. Heterosis can arise from out-crossing in between various lines of same breed or strain crossing or cross-breeding.

Selection pressure:
The rigidity or intensity of selection is known as selection pressure. It is designated in terms of percentage of flock retained for breeding purpose. Higher the percentage of flock retension, lower will be the selection pressure and vice-versa. For example, selection pressure will be much more, when superior 15 per cent birds in flock are retained for breeding as compared to 50 per cent use of birds as parents.

Sexual maturity:
The age of laying first egg or the distance between day of hatch and first egg laid, is termed as sexual maturity. Earlier is the sexual maturity, more productive the bird is because it gets additional period to lay in its laying cycle of year. But some times in specific breeds pullets are presented from early sexual maturity to avoid production of smaller size eggs, egg bounds and prolapse before proper development of body.

Intensity of lay:
It is capacity of bird to lay in defined period of time. It can also be termed as rate of lay and what breeder is interested is high intensity of lay, which is the ability to lay at rapid rate. The better is intensity of lay, the more will be financial returns. In this connection the size of clutch is important. The number of eggs laid on consecutive days without gap, is known as clutch. The longer is the clutch size, the higher will be theintensity of lay. One way of measuring intensity of lay is to calculate simple percentage of production while other way is the size of clutch. It is important genetic trait but management also governs intensity of lay.

Precosity:
It can be defined as early sexual maturity.
Persistency:
The ability of hen to continue laying for longer period in her first laying cycle. In other words it is measure of length of Laying year of hen. The laying is generally terminated by moult in late summer. The longer is the length of laying cycle, more persistent the hen is. Once again it is important genetic trait associated with egg production. Persistency is highly (+ve, 0.75) correlated with annual egg production and hence important contributing factor to hen-housed egg production of bird

types-of-poultry

4 Basic Types Of Poultry

Leave a reply

4 Basic types of Poultry

Poultry is divided into a number of different categories and classes. In the olden days, there were a few kinds of poultry, but now with the advancements in technology a number of other classes have emerged ranging from squab to goose and many more. These types of poultry have their own role to play, especially when it comes to the large scale and commercial markets. All these classes can be brought under the 4 basic categories or types of poultry which include:

You may also like to check out types of chicken breeds:

1- Domestic Land fowl

This category consists of various domesticated birds each of which is used in various farm settings. The most common type is the chicken which is used at a number of commercial farms and at homesteads all around the world. The next in line is the turkey, which is used more often for the cuisine and other thanksgiving purposes. Most of the chickens and turkeys are used as a mode of nutrition, while the remaining fragments are used for other purposes.

2- Domestic Water fowl

As the name suggests, this category includes the waterborne birds. One of the most common is the duck which is found almost in all regions and areas of the world. Just like the turkeys, ducks are also used as cuisines and dishes. They are also mixed with a number of flavors and materials, especially when it comes to their use in the hotels and restaurants. Goose, which is also another type of water fowl, is also used for similar purposes. Furthermore, both of them are also being used for the making a number of commercial products and medicines. Not to forget the use of these domesticated animals as edibles.

3- Game Birds

Now here we have the birds which are undomesticated and are mostly used for the purpose of hunting and thrill. As the name suggests, they are mostly hunted down and then use in various foods. Wild turkey, wild duck, wild goose and the wild pheasant are the types of birds that fall under the category. The thing which differentiates them from all others birds in the list, is the intense flavor for which they are known. Some of these birds also happen to have a much bitter taste, which is primarily due to the wild life settings in which they grow.

4- Other Poultry

Doves and pigeons are the ones that do not fall into the other categories. They are also referred to as the squabs, primarily when they are used for the eating purposes. A number of other larger birds such as the ostrich and emu are also included in this type of poultry. The taste of the larger animals is in a number of ways closer to that of beef, which is one of the prime reasons for which the hunters love to track them down. In comparison to them, the pigeons have a smaller and short tailed body. The doves on the other hand have a thicker body and long beak. All these wild birds vary in their body type and their usage.

Housing of ducks-considerations for building duck pen

1 Reply

If you have ducks as pet, you will need to take proper care of them while examining their way of living. Ducks need to have a secure place where they can live and can be safe from any predators and it is easy to clean their housing area. Ducks do not prefer spending time inside their housing area as they prefer roaming outside for most of the time, regardless of the weather or the season.

There are many people who want to know how to build a duck pen? If you are looking forward to build a nice yet practical duck pen then you need to follow the guidelines that are discussed below.

First of all, you need to make sure that the structure of the duck pen offers proper protection to the ducks and is a defensive structure actually. It is important to keep your ducks safe from other animals and predators. You can allow them to roam about during the day time and lock them later during the night. Ducks love to spend their time in water and you can make a small pool near their pen and allow them to beat the heat of sunny days.

duck house

The design of duck house is just similar to chicken house design except some minor differences such as it doesn’t require roost, nest boxes and need some large door with some steps and it must not be so high from the ground.

There are two basic designs of duck coop plans. One is knows as the intensive pen design and the other one is called the semi-intensive design.

  • The intensive pen design

The intensive pen design is structured to keep the ducks safe during the day time and night they are locked totally. The shelter is made quite tough to shield the ducks from any pending danger or threat.

  • The semi-intensive design

In the semi-intensive design the ducks are allowed to roam freely within specified boundaries during the day time.

When we talk about chicken coop flooring and bedding material we’ve several options to explore. While constructing the duck pen it is important to give proper attention towards the flooring. To manage litter and to provide cushion (while they are laying and protecting eggs) a wooden flooring or hay is preferred in most of the cases. Choose a flat area for constructing the duck house but the system of drainage must be very good as you need to prevent the chances of any disease out break or any other health issue. The area of duck pen will depend on the number of ducks that you have actually as you need to provide proper ventilation and sunlight.

Just like your house, you need to consider the best material for construction. Wood is the preferable item as it is durable and long lasting. For the shape of the duck pen, you can opt for the rectangular one as it will allow more space to the ducks to roam freely.  Duck housing designs will help in giving a comfortable environment to the ducks and they will remain healthy and happy. The entrance and the outer limits of the duck pen need to be designed carefully as with the passage of time ducks will continue to grow and will require more area.

How to construct a proper duck pen

1- As told above the enclosure needs to be well protected and shaded and it must be dry.  If, you are planning to construct a pen on DIY basis you need to select the appropriate wood posts. It means that the dimensions of the plywood must be well suitable for a spacious pen. Other accessories that you will need are tarps, wheelbarrow, gravel, cement, straw bedding, cement blocks, well secured latch, vertical hinges, wire mesh, hardware cloth, staple gun and some heavy duty staples.

2- For a common or ideal measurement ground you must allow 11/4 square yards of space for three ducks. The location must be well ventilated and must have the features of a good drainage system. On the floor place a good quality hardware cloth and then place gravels on it and for the last touch you can include the straw bedding. It will provide comfort if you are raising ducklings in the pen.

3- While erecting the plywood for the pen, you need to bury them at least two feet deep in solid ground. When the posts have been erected properly you can staple the wire mesh to provide proper fencing. This will prevent invaders from entering the pen through any side once the protection and construction has been done properly. There are different duck house plans and you can choose one according to your requirements, area and the amount of ducks you have.

duck house

4- Backyard duck pens are very successful for Rearing ducks, that is, if you have ample space and can look after the ducks easily. If you’ve already chicken coop and thinking about Raising chickens and ducks together in the same coop than it is not a difficult task at all, you will need to plan the pens carefully keeping in view some difference in their housing requirements as discussed above and allow the chickens and ducks ample space. Do keep in mind that in rough environmental conditions chickens love to spend their time indoors.

Raising Chicken And Duck Together

Leave a reply

Ducks vs chicken and chicken vs ducks. Even though ducks and chickens are a lot a like in some ways, they are also very different in others, and it is this difference that does prompt the question of is it wise to be keeping ducks with chicken? Well, the answer to this question does vary in response, and it also tends to be a unique experience in raising for the backyard chicken and duck raiser who does their very best to raise both of these fine creatures side by side. Can a duck live with chicken? Both chickens and ducks do indeed have their very own special needs, and this means that each animal will be demanding in its own way, especially if these creatures are very young and require constant care. Raising ducks and chicken are something that is very possible, but it should only be attempted by someone who does know the ropes, and also has had the past experience to be very successful at raising these two types of species before.

 What are the differences that do make
 chicks and ducks different?

Sometimes, by knowing the differences that do make each of these two animals unique in their own ways, it is easier to understand them both and what makes them tick as individual species unto themselves in the bird world. Even though ducks and chickens are members of the genre called fowl, they are entirely two different types of bird species altogether. Also, ducks and chickens are very different in appearance, and they also behave differently from one another, in addition, as well. Ducklings tend to have very flat bills and broader bills than chickens do. Chickens possess a beak that is pointed and is pronounced in description. Ducklings also tend to waddle like other adults ducks do, and chickens don’t waddle, they just walk about jerking their heads in a funny motion and clucking up a storm. Ducks also tend to like water, and being in water, as much as possible. Chickens, on the other hand, don’t like water at all. A chicken also tends to be far more of a farmed animal than ducks are, and this is with good reason, because they do provide very delicious poultry, as well as tasty eggs to. Ducks can also fly and they have their wings. Chickens get their wings clipped and aren’t able to fly in the air, only able to clear fence or reaching to trees or roost. Ducks may not be creatures that are farmed like chickens are, but still people have partaken of duck eggs before, as well as duck meat which is delicious. A duck’s feathers are something that are waterproof by design, as well as nature, and chickens don’t have waterproof feathers. Chicken and duck meat have two different distinct tastes that are different and are their very own. Chickens and ducks also have very different bone structures, as well, which makes them very not so alike after all. Ducks also love to swim, and have the ability to swim, which is something chickens cannot do. Chickens prefer to sleep on a roost while ducks sleep on ground. Ducks are very sensitive to light and can’t sleep in light. Ducks are more vulnerable to attacks from predators like coons, skunks, possum, coyote.

flying duckchicken

 What are the similarities that do make
 ducks and chicks alike in some ways?

The very first thing, which does make ducks and chicks an awful lot alike is this, they are both members of the genre called fowl. Both species also lay eggs, in addition, as well. A duck uses its bill mainly to dig up mud, while the chicken on the other hand, does use its beak to catch prey with a good deal of the time. Ducks also build their nests on the ground, while chickens make them inside of chicken coops. Both of these species of very popular creatures are highly prized most for their skin and their eggs on the average. Despite the fact that chickens and ducks do have a lot in common, they are still very different, when it comes to nature and their particular defining characteristics and behavior.

 Can chickens and ducks be raised in a
 combined environment successfully or not?

Even though ducks and chickens are alike in some ways, and also are very different, the question that remains is this. Can chickens and ducks be raised in a combined environment successfully or not? It is through the understanding, as well as knowing that ducks and chickens are two different and very special kind of animals in their own rights. Duck and chicks can, and often have grown up together side by side. The only difference is that ducklings do tend to take to water, very early on, and baby chicks prefer dry bedding. Despite the facts that both are very different, when it comes to being babies, they are pretty much the same in a lot of ways. Ducklings and chicks cuddle together pretty much like newborn puppies or kittens in a litter. The only thing that is different about them is that ducklings like to get wet, and chickens not, so with this said. It is advisable to separate baby ducks and chicks in a separate brooder boxes until they are older, because little ducklings prefer to be damp and wet, and dam and wet is not very good for the health of small chicks. Nonetheless, once they are a bit older, chicks and ducklings can peacefully co-exist with each other, and they can both imprint one on the other. Can chickens and ducks be raised in the a combined environment successfully or not? The answer is yes, if the raising is done with a lot of excellent tips, knowledge, and most important experience on the subject. This can indeed prove to be a great hobby, but it still something, which must be handled with a lot of tremendous caring, determination, and patience to make the raising of these two individual creatures a real reality in every way that counts most.

duck in water

Raising chickens does indeed have its benefits and rewards, but so does the raising of ducks, in addition, as well. Both of these species are very excellent types of animals, and they each do matter a whole lot in their own ways, and this is something that must be realized whenever it is decided that they will be raised alongside of each other from start to finish.