Poultry Diversity Introduction
Poultry includes chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese. Each category boasts a variety of breeds with distinct characteristics such as plumage, size, and temperament, suited for meat, eggs, or ornamental purposes.
Chickens: Layer Breeds
Layer breeds like the Leghorn are prolific egg producers, often yielding over 300 eggs annually. They have a lightweight body and are known for their early maturity, making them a favorite in the egg industry.
Chickens: Meat Breeds
Broilers, such as the Cornish Cross, are bred for meat production. They grow rapidly, reaching market weight in just 6 to 8 weeks. This breed has a broad breast, large thighs, and a high feed conversion rate.
Ducks: Dual-Purpose Breeds
The Pekin duck is an all-star in the duck world, known for both meat and egg production. They're hardy, have a calm temperament, and can lay about 200 eggs per year while providing a substantial amount of meat.
Turkeys: Heritage vs. Broad-Breasted
Heritage turkeys, like the Bourbon Red, mature slowly and can reproduce naturally. Broad-breasted varieties grow faster and are larger, but they require artificial insemination due to their size.
Geese: Guard and Weeder
Geese such as the Toulouse are not only raised for meat, but they're also excellent 'weeders' and 'guard animals'. Their loud honks deter intruders, and they can help control weeds in gardens and fields.
Exotic Poultry Breeds
Breeds like the Ayam Cemani boast a unique all-black appearance, including feathers, flesh, and organs, due to fibromelanosis. They're a rare and ornamental breed with cultural significance in their native Indonesia.Chickens and T-Rex
Chickens are the closest living relatives to the Tyrannosaurus rex, sharing numerous skeletal similarities and even certain DNA sequences.
What does poultry include?
Chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese
Cows, pigs, sheep, goats
Salmon, trout, bass, carp
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