BroilerBroilerss

An Overview of An Overview of Broiler Broiler

Production in Production in GeorgiaGeorgia

Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office

Dr. Frank Flanders and Taylor GinnApril 2006

ObjectivesObjectives

Students will be able to:Students will be able to: Describe the life cycle of broilers.Describe the life cycle of broilers. Explain the importance of broiler production in Explain the importance of broiler production in

Georgia.Georgia. Rank Georgia with other states in broiler Rank Georgia with other states in broiler

production.production.

ChickensChickens

Layers: for egg production Layers: for egg production Broilers: meat productionBroilers: meat production Turkeys must be artificially Turkeys must be artificially

inseminatedinseminated

Chicken TermsChicken Terms

What do you call a mature male?What do you call a mature male?

RoosterRooster What do you call a mature female?What do you call a mature female?

HenHen What do you call a young female?What do you call a young female?

PulletPullet

Chicken TermsChicken Terms

What do you call a castrated male?What do you call a castrated male?

CaponCapon What is the incubation period?What is the incubation period?

21 days21 days

ManagementManagement

Debeaking: remove 1/3 of the top Debeaking: remove 1/3 of the top beak and a small part of the bottom beak and a small part of the bottom (prevent cannibolism)(prevent cannibolism) at 6-8 days oldat 6-8 days old

VaccinateVaccinate Lighting: birds naturally reproduce in Lighting: birds naturally reproduce in

spring, simulate spring, chickens spring, simulate spring, chickens molt (shed feathers) production molt (shed feathers) production increasesincreases

Life CycleLife Cycle Fertile eggs take 21 days to Fertile eggs take 21 days to

hatchhatch Chicks hatch, are Chicks hatch, are

vaccinated, and incubatedvaccinated, and incubated Taken to chicken houses Taken to chicken houses

where the flocks live where the flocks live togethertogether Flock is a large group of birdsFlock is a large group of birds Over 20,000 chicks may live Over 20,000 chicks may live

together in the housestogether in the houses Chickens are kept until they Chickens are kept until they

are 6 weeks oldare 6 weeks old Chickens are picked up and Chickens are picked up and

taken to the processor to be taken to the processor to be prepared for sale in storesprepared for sale in stores

Chicken HousesChicken Houses

Feed and water are Feed and water are available for the chicks available for the chicks to enjoyto enjoy

Houses are heated Houses are heated because the chicks do because the chicks do not have enough not have enough feathers to stay warm, feathers to stay warm, when they get older the when they get older the temperature is loweredtemperature is lowered

Houses have fans to Houses have fans to circulate the air and to circulate the air and to bring in fresh airbring in fresh air

Poultry Products in GAPoultry Products in GA

Poultry earns more than Poultry earns more than any other Georgia any other Georgia Agriculture commodityAgriculture commodity

$13.5 billion annually to $13.5 billion annually to Georgia’s economyGeorgia’s economy

Georgia is Georgia is 1st1st in the in the nation in broiler nation in broiler productionproduction

¾ of Georgia counties ¾ of Georgia counties commercially produce commercially produce chickenchicken

Quick FactsQuick Facts

On an average day, Georgia produces 24.6 million pounds of chicken.

Currently, chicken is the most frequently eaten meat in the United States.

More than 47,000 Georgians are directly employed by the poultry industry.

More than 77,000 Georgians are indirectly employed in the poultry industry.

AssessmentAssessment1.1. True or False: Broilers are chickens grown for their meat.True or False: Broilers are chickens grown for their meat.

2.2. How many days does it take for a fertile egg to hatch?How many days does it take for a fertile egg to hatch?a. 11 b. 16 c. 21 d. 26a. 11 b. 16 c. 21 d. 26

3.3. What is a flock?What is a flock?4.4. How many weeks are broilers kept by growers?How many weeks are broilers kept by growers?

a. 3 b. 6 c. 12 d. 24a. 3 b. 6 c. 12 d. 245.5. True or False: Georgia ranks fifth in the nation in broiler production.True or False: Georgia ranks fifth in the nation in broiler production.

AnswersAnswers

1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. C. 21C. 213.3. A large group of chickens.A large group of chickens.4.4. B. 6B. 65.5. False. Georgia ranks first.False. Georgia ranks first.

ReferencesReferences

http://www.georgiastats.uga.edu/http://www.georgiastats.uga.edu/

http://www.gfb.org/agfacts/facts.htmhttp://www.gfb.org/agfacts/facts.htm

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1811http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1811

http://www.uga.edu/lam/kids/poultry/plifecycle.htmlhttp://www.uga.edu/lam/kids/poultry/plifecycle.html

http://www.uga.edu/lam/kids/poultry/pindustry.htmlhttp://www.uga.edu/lam/kids/poultry/pindustry.html

http://department.caes.uga.edu/poultry/faculty/compton/http://department.caes.uga.edu/poultry/faculty/compton/ps2020/housingequip/housingequip.htmps2020/housingequip/housingequip.htm