MODULE 1
POULTRY TERMINOLOGIES
POULTRY TERMINOLOGIES
POULTRY
The collective term for all domestic birds rendering economic service to man.
Domesticated animals are those that can live and multiply freely under the care of
men
- any domestic feathered fowl
AVERAGE LIVEWEIGHT
The average weight (in live form) of chicken during harvest/market age.
AXIAL FEATHERS
Feathers that separate the primary and the secondary feather.
BEAK VS. BILL
Beak - the projecting mouth parts of Bill - the projecting mouth of water
the chicken and turkey, consisting of fowls consisting of upper and lower
the upper and lower mandibles; organ mandibles.
of prehension.
BREED
The trace of domestic fowls, which maintain distinctive characteristic shape, growth,
temperament, and shell colors of egg produced. Breed is broader term than variety.
Breed includes varieties, example: Barred, White and Buff varieties of Playmouth Rock
breed.
BREEDER
The general term that designate the poultry raiser who produces fowl for any special
purpose with the object of improving their value or in conformity with an agreed
standard of excellence. The same term can be used to mean the animals used for
breeding.
BROILER
The meat type chicken commonly grown up to 35-42 days and weighing 1.5-2.0 kgs
liveweight.
BROODER
A place where young chicks / ducklings are cared for after hatching until they have
grown to a point where they no longer need additional heat.
CAPON
Caponized cockerels
Usually grown up to 4 months and weigh up to 3 kgs with improved quality of meat.
CAPONIZATION
The process wherein testicles are removed.
CHICK
Young domestic chicken while in the downy stage.
CHICKEN
The most popular poultry species; different from turkeys, ducks, quails, geese, etc.
CLUTCHES
A group of eggs layed for successive days.
COB
A young swan.
COCK OR ROOSTER
Male chicken,1 year or above in age, for breeding purposes.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO
The sound of hen.
COCKEREL
A young male chicken below 1 year of age.
COMB
Made of vascularized tissue growing on top of fowl’s head. This serves as an
ornamental function, signs of status and condition of the male and for heat dissipation.
The standard varieties of comb are: single, rose, pea, V-shaped, strawberry, cushion
and the buttercup; all others being modifications of these.
CROW
The sound of rooster.
CYGNET
The male parent of swan
DOWN FEATHERS
The feathers of newly hatched chicks, small fine feathers, which are the first covering
of the chicks.
DRAKE
Male parent of duck
DUCKHEN
Female parent of duck
DUCKLINGS
Young ducks
EARLOBES
Ears of chicken
FLUFF
The body feathers
GANDER
Male parent of goose
GOOBLER/ TOM
Male parent of turkey
GOOSEHEN
Female parent of goose
GOOSELING
Young goose
HACKLE
Neck feather
HEN
Female matured chicken
Above 1 year
PEN
Female parent of swan
PIN FEATHERS
Smallest feathers in the body
PLUMAGE
Complete term for the feathers of chicken
POULARD
Female chicken after the ovaries are removed
POULARDIZATION
Removal of ovaries.
POULTRY MEAT
Meat of poultry.
POULTS
Young turkey.
PRIMARY FEATHERS
Long feathers of the wings.
PREEN GLAND OR OIL GLAND
Oil gland at the dorsal part of tail of poultry.
PULLET
Immature young female chicken.
SADDLE FEATHERS
Feathers at the back of the bird.
SCALES
Covering of shank in poultry.
SECONDARY FEATHERS
Feathers which are smaller within the wings, near the body.
SEXED CHICKS
Favoured or layer production
All female chicks.
SHANK
Other term for legs of chicken
SICKLE FEATHERS
Longest feathers at the tail
SLIP
A male chicken after the incomplete removal of the testicles.
SNOOD
Fleshy, pendulous, red structures which comes up and down attached on the upper
part of the beak of the turkey.
SPUR
A rudimentary toes situated at the shank of rooster
STRAIGHT RUN CHICKS
Unsexed chicks
A mixture of male and female.
SQUAB
Young pigeon or quails.
TAIL COVERTS
Feathers at the origin of the tail.
TURKEYHEN
The female parent of turkey.
WATTLE
Fleshy, pendulous, elongated, red structures at the lateral part of the face of chicken.
WEB
Connecting structures in between toes of ducks.