George J. Mountney

Commercial Egg Production

Mass production of chicken eggs has become a highly efficient, competitive enterprise. Several farms in the United States now have over two million birds on a single farm. The following example illustrates the complexity of these operations. To set up and operate a 300,000 layer farm requires an investment of over two and one-half million dollars. The hens consume about 35 tons of feed a day and 16,000 gal of water. They produce 75,000 lb of manure and 600 cases of eggs daily. Equipment consists of 4–5 miles of watering troughs or cups, 14 miles of feeders, 14 miles of egg belts, and several hundred fans and electric motors. Only one person is required to handle 100,000 birds.

Genetics and Poultry Breeding

The science of genetics deals with the transmission of individual characteristics of both parents to the offspring through the mechanism of heredity. Poultry breeding utilizes genetic principles to accomplish the goals of poultry producers for meat or egg production.

Diseases and Parasites of Poultry

The art and science of poultry disease control is as complex, variable, and confounded with as many apparently unrelated events as is the practice of human medicine. As more birds are grown in more concentrated areas and in tighter confinement, new disease problems appear and old ones sometimes reoccur. Fortunately, for the average poultryman, good management, the ability to detect disease or parasite problems at an early stage, and the knowledge and judgment to know when and where to go for help when needed should make it possible for him or her to cope successfully with most disease and parasite problems. In this chapter an attempt will be made to present the causes of disease and the basic concepts of disease prevention and control along with examples of the most serious and prevalent poultry diseases.

Physiology and Reproduction in Poultry

Endocrine glands are ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream to bring about a number of important physiological functions. They include the ovary, testes, pineal, thyroid, para-thyroids, ultimobranchial gland, adrenal, pituitary, and islets of Langerhans of the pancreas. In addition, hormones are also secreted in the brain and gastrointestinal tract (Fig. 3.1).

Poultry Management Practices

A number of poultry management practices have been developed and adopted by the various segments of the poultry industry. Although a few have been adopted universally and become standard practice in the industry, most practices still depend on the producer’s situation and management of his flocks. Other management practices are covered in Chapters 11, 12, 14, and 15.