Poultry and Eggs Lecture Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to poultry and egg production, their biology, and management.

Cock/Rooster

A male chicken.

Hen

A female chicken, particularly one that is mature and capable of laying eggs.

Broody hen

A hen that is inclined to sit on eggs to hatch them.

Pullet

A young female chicken, usually under one year of age.

Oviposition

The act of laying eggs.

Broilers

Chickens raised specifically for meat production.

Layers

Chickens raised specifically for egg production.

Leghorn

A breed of chicken known for being excellent layers and for its white plumage.

New Hampshire Red

A dual-purpose breed developed in the US, known for good egg production and meat quality.

Rhode Island Red

A breed known for its dual purpose capability, providing meat and eggs.

Bantam

A small variety of chicken that is often kept for ornamental purposes or as pets.

Silkie

A breed recognized for its fluffy plumage and docility, often used for ornamental purposes.

Wyandotte

A breed of chicken that is dual-purpose and known for its rose comb.

Australorp

A breed from Australia known for its excellent egg production and black plumage.

Cornish

A breed of chicken known primarily for meat production with a broad, muscular body.

Broad Breasted White Turkey

The most widely used turkey breed in the US, known for its rapid growth and meat quality.

Albumen

The egg white, which provides nutrition to the developing embryo.

Chalaza

Twisted strands of albumin that anchor the yolk in place inside the egg.

Cloaca

The terminal part of the digestive tract in birds, serving multiple functions including excretion and reproduction.

Gizzard

An organ in birds that grinds food, necessary because birds do not have teeth.

Proventriculus

The glandular stomach of birds, where digestion begins with enzymes.

Egg Tooth

A small, triangular piece on the tip of a chick's beak that aids in breaking through the egg shell.

Pipping

The process by which chicks break through the eggshell to hatch.

Candling

A method used to examine the contents of an egg by shining a bright light through it.

Incubator

A device used to provide a controlled environment for the hatching of eggs.

Photo-period

The length of daylight that affects the reproductive cycle of hens.