Glossary: Poultry farming and production terms with meanings (2024)

Poultry farming and production is a complex and ever-evolving business. There are many various terms and concepts which are essential for anybody who wants to know this industry. This glossary is designed to provide a complete overview of the most important or vital poultry farming and production terms.

The terms in this glossary are organized into 5 sections:

1. Poultry Breeds and Terminology

This section provides an outline of various poultry breeds and key terminologies associated to their age, gender, and purpose. It helps readers and potential rearer’s understand the several types of chickens commonly encountered in poultry farming and production.

Poultry Anatomy and Physiology

In this part, you will find essential terms related to the physical traits and biological processes of chickens. It covers details about their body parts, feather types, and vital physiological functions.

Poultry Health and Diseases

The terms on this part focus on the health aspects of raising chickens, including common diseases and conditions that may affect them. Understanding these terms is essential for sustaining a healthy flock.

Poultry Behavior and Care

This section delves into the behavior and care practices necessary for raising chickens. It consists of terms related to incubation, chick care, feeding, and numerous behaviors that backyardpoultry keepers ought to pay attention to.

Poultry Housing and Equipment

Here, you will discover terms related to the housing, equipment, and other practical aspects of keeping poultry. From coops and nesting containers to feeds and supplements, this part covers the necessities for providing a suitable environment to your chickens.

Each term within the glossary is defined in clear and concise language.

The glossary is a invaluable resource for anybody who’s thinking about going into poultry farming or production. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned expert, this glossary will enable you to to understand the essential terms of this industry.

Poultry Breeds and Terminology

1. BANTAM: A small domestic chicken that is often a miniature version of a larger breed.
2. BIDDY: A small domestic chicken that is often a miniature version of a larger breed.
3. BROILER: A meat chicken processed at the age of 7-12 weeks when it reaches 2 ½ to 3 ½ pounds live weight. Historically Broilers were marketed as birds ranging 1 to 2 ½ lbs.
4. CAPON: Are male chickens that have been castrated at 4-8 months old, weighing 5-9 pounds that produce more white meat and have higher fat content than other chickens.
5. co*ck: A male chicken over one year of age.
6. co*ckEREL: A male chicken less than 1 year old.
7. HEN: A mature female chicken that is at least one year of age.
8. LAYERS: Mature female chickens kept for egg production. Also known as laying hens.
9. ORNAMENTAL BREED: A breed of chicken used for ornamental purposes and are primarily appreciated for their stunning appearance as opposed to egg or meat production.
10. PRODUCTION BREED: Are commercial strains of fowl that are used for high production of eggs or meat.
11. PULLET: A chicken less than 1 year old.
12. ROOSTER: A male chicken that is at least 1 year old.

Chicken Anatomy and Physiology

13. BROODER BOX: A temperature-controlled, heated box used for raising newly hatched poultry.
14. BROODY HEN: A hen that is intent on sitting on and hatching a clutch of eggs on a nest. Broody hens are often used to hatch eggs of other fowl.
15. CHICK: A newly hatched or very young chicken.
16. CHICK TOOTH: A hard tooth-like structure at the end of a chick’s beak. Also known as an egg tooth, it is used to assist hatching chicks in breaking through the eggshell.
17. CLOACA: The opening in the rear of chickens through which the intestinal, urinary and reproductive tracts empty.
18. COMB: The fleshy growth or crest on the top of a chicken’s head. Combs are usually larger on males than on females and are typically red.
19. CROP: Part of a chicken’s digestive located at the base of the neck that serves to store ingested food.
20. GIZZARD: Internal chicken organ that crushes food with the help of pebbles or grit.
21. HACKLES: The long feathers on a chicken’s neck.
22. MOLT: Time when the shedding and growth of new feathers takes place.
23. PRIMARIES: The big, stiff feathers on the chicken’s wings that aid in flying.
24. SPUR: The horny projection located on toward the rear of a chicken’s shank and is prominent in males. Spurs are used for defense and will grow throughout the birds’ life.
25. VENT: The opening in the backside of a chicken where both waste is eliminated and eggs are laid. It is also known as the cloaca.
26. WATTLE: Thin growths of flesh that are located on each side of the throat or beak. They are typically red in color and are larger in most males.

Chicken Health and Diseases

27. COCCIDIOSIS: An animal disease caused by infestation of the parasite Coccidia within the intestinal tract. Coccidiosis spreads from one chicken to another by contact with feces or ingestion of infected tissue.
28. CRD: Chronic Respiratory Disease, a common disease of chickens that is characterized by sneezing and difficulty breathing.

Commonly controlled with antibiotics usually administered in feed or drinking water.

29. MAREK’S DISEASE: A viral disease common in chickens. Commonly prevented by a vaccination administered immediately after chicks hatch.
30. NEWCASTLE DISEASE: A viral respiratory disease common in chickens. Newcastle disease can spread very quickly within a flock. Commonly prevented with a series of vaccinations.
31. UNTHRIFTY: Term often used when raising chickens to describe unhealthy birds that are failing to thrive or won’t put on weight.

Chicken Behavior and Care

32. BROODING PERIOD: The period in a young fowl’s life between hatching until they become fully feathered.
33. CANDLING: Procedure of shining light through an egg to determine if it is fertilized or not.
34. CLUTCH: A group of eggs that are laid together in one nest.
35. DUSTING OR DUST BATH: Common chicken behavior of bathing with dust in a shallow depression to help rid themselves of mites and parasites.
36. FEATHER PICKING: Detrimental activity of chickens picking or pulling at each other’s feathers that is often started from stress, aggression, or nutritional problems within a flock.
37. FLEDGE: To care for young birds while still in the nest.
38. INCUBATION: The process used to hatch eggs. Incubation can be accomplished naturally under female fowl or artificially with an mechanical incubator.
39. NEST BOX: A box designed for hens to lay their eggs within.
40. PHOTOPERIOD: The interval in a 24-hour period in which a plant or animal is exposed to light.
41. PIPPING: The process by which baby chicks break open a hole in the eggshell and hatch.
42. SEXING: When baby chicks are separated by gender.
43. TURN: The act of turning incubated eggs to prevent the embryos from sticking to the shell membranes.

Chicken Housing and Equipment

44. COOP: An enclosure or housing structure built for chickens.
45. DOWN: Soft, fine and fluffy feathers on fowl.
46. FOUNT: A water fountain or watering device for animals.
47. GRIT: Bits of rock, oyster shell or sand used by fowl to aid in breaking down ingested food.
48. GROWER FEED: Commercially available feed formulated for adolescent, growing chickens. Usually used from nine to 20 weeks.
49. LAYING FEED: Commercially available feed formulated with extra calcium for laying hens.
50. LITTER: The bedding material spread on the floor of a chicken house (i.e. wood shavings, straw).
51. ROOST: A perch typically inside a coop upon which fowl rest off of the ground.
52. RUN: An enclosed area outdoors that is connected to a coop and allows chickens to roam freely.
53. SCRATCH: A type of feed that can consist of cracked corn and different types of whole grains. It is often fed as a treat for backyard chickens and not used as a main food source.
54. SHANKS: Part of the chicken’s legs just above the foot.
55. STARTER FEED: Pre-mixed commercial food for chicks, commonly available at feed or farm stores. These feeds should be fed to chicks for the first six to eight weeks of life.

Typically available in medicated and non-medicated formulas.

55. STRAIGHT RUN: A term used to describe chicks for sale that have not been sexed. Groups of straight run chicks contain 50% of each gender on average.

However odds of receiving 50/50 decrease with the fewer chicks you buy.

56. STRAWBERRY COMB: Is a very low and compact comb extending no farther than the middle of the skull is named for it’s appearance similar to that of a strawberry.
57. V-SHAPED COMB: A comb consisting of two horn-like pieces that are joined at the comb base.

I hope you find this glossary to be useful. Please let me know if in case you have any questions or clarification through the comment box below.