08/06/2020
Good afternoon everyone. thanks for being with Joe poultry consultancy.
Today I will be lecturing us on biology of poultry.
Zoologically, poultry belongs to the classes of aves. The chicken, turkey, guinea fowl, phesant and quail belongs to the order of galliformes and are generally referred to as Galli birds. The waterfowls including the goose and duck are in the order Anseriformes while the pigeon is in the order Columbiformes.
Now, to talk about parts of the birds, i am going to start with;
1.SURFACE OF THE BIRDS
Most of the birds is covered with feathers. The unfeathered parts are covered with bare skin or scales. Feathers are composed chiefly of protein keratin and act as protein for bird, aid in keeping the body warm and also used for flight. the part of a feather includes the root (calamus), a long shaft or quill (
rachis), barbs, barbules and barbicels, with all parts except the quill tending to mesh together.
The newly hatched chick is covered with "downs" except for the hairs on the wings and tail. therefore, there is need for supplementary heat during the first few days post hatch. feathers develop, a few days after the hatch and by fourth or fifth week of age, the bird is fully feathered. the first set of the feather is replaced by the eighth week of age, and by the time the bird reaches sexual maturity, the second set of feathers is replaced by a mature plumage.
Feathers in matured birds are arrange in definite areas called feather tracts or pterylae. some of these feather tracts maybe paired.
There are well known differences between the sexes in the appearance of feathers in the neck, back, saddle and tail sections. Male feathers are pointed and lacy as opposed the broad and dull color of the female feathers.
Most of the bird is covered with a thin skin that is devoid of glands, making it impossible for the chicken to loose heat by sweating. On the head, the skin is modified to form the comb and wattle.
That will be all abou the suface of the bird today. tommorow, we shall be discussing on the othe part of the bird. For more information, contact Joe poultry consultancy on 08160998223 or email us at [email protected]