A list of common poultry terms for reference:
- Bantam - a miniature chicken, about a quarter the size of a standard-sized chicken. Bantams weigh no more than 2 pounds.
- Beak - strong and hard bill of poultry.
- Biosecurity - policies and procedures put in place to help protect humans and animals from the spread of diseases or other harmful biological agents.
- Broiler--a type of poultry specifically raised for the production of meat.
- Brooder - a man-made environment in which to raise baby chicks. It has a specific temperature depending on age, type of birds and quantity.
- Broody - the tendency for a chicken to sit and hatch out baby chicks and care for them after hatch.
- Chick - a baby chicken, typically less than 8 weeks of age.
- Chicken tractor - a mobile pen designed to temporarily house poultry that will help protect them from predators and yet still provide daily access to fresh pasture grass.
- Clean legged - the absence of feathering on the legs and feet
- Cockerel - a male chicken under a year of age.
- Comb - the fleshy growth on top of a chicken’s head. Males typically have larger combs than females.
- Cob - a male adult swan.
- Coop - a permanent house designed to accommodate chickens, typically used for laying hens
- Cygnet - a young swan, also referred to as a swanling.
- Drake - a male adult duck.
- Duck - a female adult duck.
- Duckling - a baby duck, typically less than 8 weeks of age.
- Earlobes - slightly raised, colored patches of flesh located below the eardrum of chickens. The color of earlobe generally corresponds to the color of egg the hen will lay.
- Feather legged - the presence of feathering on the legs and feet
- Feed - nutritionally specific feed based on poultry type and age. It is important to feed the right mix of nutrients to your birds.
- Flock - a group of chickens housed together
- Gander - a male adult goose.
- Goose - a female adult goose.
- Gosling - a baby goose, typically less than 8 weeks of age.
- Hackle feathers - the feathers around the neck of a chicken. For males, they are typically long and thin, while females are shorter and wider.
- Hen - a female chicken or turkey, typically 1 year or older.
- Keet - a baby guinea, typically less than 8 weeks of age.
- Landrace - a variety of a breed of animal that has developed over time through natural adaptation to its environment and by isolation from other varieties of the same species.
- Layer - a type of poultry specifically raised for the production of eggs.
- Marek’s Disease - A viral infection of chickens that can affect the nervous system, causing paralysis of legs, wings and neck, weight loss, and vision impairment. It is spread by the respiratory tract and is therefore highly contagious. There is no treatment or cure but Meyer Hatchery does offer the vaccination.
- Molt - the rapid shedding of old feathers and regrowth of new feathers
- NPIP - stands for the National Poultry Improvement Plan This is a voluntary program certifying the health of your chicks. Meyer Hatchery is Pullorum-Typhoid Clean, H5/H7 Avian Influenza Clean, and Salmonella Monitored.
- Organic - food products that have been grown without the use of chemically formulated fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, hormones or growth stimulants.
- Pathogens - a virus or bacteria that can cause disease or infection
- Peachick - a baby peafowl.
- Peacock - a male adult peafowl.
- Peahen - a female adult peafowl.
- Pen - a female adult swan.
- Picking - harmful activity chickens may participate in; often caused by stress, boredom, and/or nutritional problems. The act of pecking on or pulling out the feathers of other chickens.
- Plumage - feathering of a chicken.
- Poult - a baby turkey, typically less than 8 weeks of age.
- Pullet - a female chicken under a year of age.
- Rooster - a male chicken, typically 1 year or older.
- Saddle feathers - the feathers located in front of the tail of male chickens. Saddle feathers are typically pointy. On a female, those feathers are called the cushion and are rounded.
- Scratch - a supplement or treat for your birds made up of cracked corn and grains. Not to be used as the main food source.
- Sickle feathers - tail feathers present on male chickens, they curve and are shaped like a sickle.
- Started Pullet - a female chicken between 8 weeks and one year old.
- Spraddle or Splayed legs - deformity of the legs in new chicks caused by weakness due to injury or genetics. Using improper brooder flooring is the most common cause.
- Spur - sharp, horn-like protrusion that can grow out of a chicken’s leg. Primarily found on roosters and used for self-defense.
- Standard Size - Full-size chicken breed as defined by each breed's characteristics.
- Straight Run - an order or “run” of chicks, with no attempt made to identify gender; also known as unsexed.
- Tom - a male adult turkey.
- Wattles - red fleshy oblong growth that hangs from a chicken’s chin. They are typically more pronounced on males.
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