Joy of Keeping Chickens

Index

alektorophobia, 22

Ameraucana Cross hen, 66

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC), 22

American Poultry Association, 22

American Standard of Excellence, 22

American Standard of Perfection, 42

amprolium, 101

anatomy, basics, 19–20

antibiotic residues, in meat, impacts, 101

Araucana Cross hen, 165

arsenic levels, in meat, 101

artificial hatching, dangers with, 58–59

Australorps, 45

availability in United States, 39

avian influenza, 220–221

Ayam Bekisar, 22

Bantam Belgian D’Uccle rooster, 202

“Barnyard Classic” chick, 47–48, 184

Barred Plymouth Rock hen, 165

Barred Plymouth Rock rooster, 9

Barred Rock pullets, 31, 98

Barred Silver Cross cockerel meat bird, 137

Beer Can Chicken, 196–197

Black Sex-Link hen, 34, 37, 126, 161

Black Star cross hen, 36, 94, 114, 160, 167

blastoderm, 49

bleaching, 125

Blue Bantam hen, 36, 44

Brahmas breed, 18, 45

breakfast egg dishes

cracked eggs, 173–174

poached eggs, 174

poached eggs with mango salsa, 174–175

breaking up, a broody hen, 127

breast blister, 216–217

breastbone, in mature birds, 19

breed chart, 38–41

breeder ration, 46

brining, of meat, 190

Broiled Chinese Black Fowl in Dark Soy Sauce, 197–198

brooder box, environment conditions, 72–73

broodiness, 39

brood patch, 43

broody hens, 43

in commercial laying strains, 126–127

considerations, 45

handling of, 43–44

number of eggs set under, 44–45

supervision of, 46

Buff Orpington/Barred Rock cross pullet, 82

Buff Orpington/Plymouth Rock cross pullet, 64–65

Buff Orpington pullet roost, 36

bumblefoot, 221–222

butchering steps, for processing birds at home

abdomen cleaning, 153–154

neck removal, 152

picking/plucking, 151–152

pithing, 151

removal of nub and oil sacs, 153

removing other organs, 154

slaughtering, 149–150

storing of processed bird, 154–155

tools, 150

wet-plucking, 149–150

Buttermilk Doughnuts, 182

candling of eggs, 54

canning, of meat, 188

catching, of timid hens, 123–124

catching hook, 123

Cheddar Corn Fritters, 180–181

Chicken Livers with Ramps, Raisins, and Rhubarb, 192

chicken meat consumption, in the United States, 18

chicken meat production, in the United

States, 17

chickens

benefits of keeping, 22

breed, 33–34, 38

class, 34, 38

egg color, 38

productivity, 38

recognized by, 38

strain, 34–35

type, 38

varieties, 34, 38

Chicken Sausage, 198–199

clipping, of wings, 124

cloaca, 46

cloacal kiss, 46

coccidiosis, 227

coccidiostats, 101

Cochins, 18, 30, 43, 45

comb, in mature birds, 19

types, 39

commercial poultry barnes, 136–137

conservation status, 39

Cornish Rock Cross meat birds, 37, 70–71, 74, 96, 187

cracked eggs, 48

Crazy Chick Disease, 223

Crêpes, 175

crop impaction, 217

cryo-vac machines, 186

Cuckoo Marans hen, 66

cutting, of whole chicken, 188–189

day-old chicks, raising of, 61

domestication, 18

Dorking breed, 35

dual-purpose breeds, 35

Eggnog, 176

eggs

Benedict, 175

beverages, 176–177

breakfast dishes, 173–175

color, 38

freezing, 168

hard-boiling, 169–170

laying of, 117–118

marketing of, 130–132

noodles and breads, 179–182

nutritional value, 159–164

oiling of, 165–166

pickling, 169

problems with abnormal shells, 118–119

abnormal yolks, 119

salting, 171–172

sauces, condiments, and dressings, 182–183

storage, 164–165

sweets, 177–179

thermostabilization, 167–168

water-glassing, 166

egg tooth, 57

evolution theory, 18

exhibition, of poultry

good showperson, 205–206

preparing the bird for cooping, 210

preparing the chicken for show, 208–209

raising a winning bird, 206–207

rationale, 203–204

eyes, in mature birds, 19

fancy poultry, 18

Fat Rooster Farm Pickled Eggs, 170–171

feeding, of chickens

additives in feed, 101

amount of feed, 111–113

carbohydrates and fats, 102

by commercial poultry growers, 101

commercial rations, 103–104

delayed, 109

of eggshells, 112

feeders, 108

with forage or garden surplus, 109

health problems due to additives, 101

laying chicks vs. meat chicks, 109–110

maximum feed conversion efficiency, 101

nutrient requirements, 102

proteins, 102

recipes for, 104–106

supplements, 106–108

trade-offs, 109

vitamins, 102–103

water, 102

fishing scoop net, 124

Flink’s Flan, 178–179

flock’s average production, 132

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies, 177–178

free-range chickens, 67, 136

Frizzles, 45

frostbite, 218–219

Gallus domesticus, 18

Gallus varius (Green Jungle Fowl), 22

Garlic Chicken Soup, 195–196

glossary, 235–239

Golden Comet, 36, 49

Ground Pork with Salted Egg, 172

Haam Daan. see Salty Eggs

Haam Daan Ju Yoke Beng. see Ground Pork with Salted Egg

hardiness, 39

heart rate, of chickens, 17

heritage-breed chickens, 126, 131

heritage breeds, 22

Hollandaise Sauce, 182–183

housing of chickens

designs, 86–88

doors, 90

environment conditions, 72–73

five or six to three weeks of age, 74–78

floors, 90

lining/litter, 96–97

location, 87–88

nesting areas, 91–94

one to five days old, 74

pastured poultry, 80

from predators

foxes and coyotes, 80–81

hawks and owls, 79–80

raccoons and skunks, 82–83

weasels, 83–84

space limits, 73

transitioning of chicks from a pen, 76–77

walls, 90–91

windows, 89–90

incubator hatching

artificial methods, ancient times, 51

modern methods, 51–52

problems with, 55, 62

settings of eggs, 54–55

stages, 57–59

temperature and humidity conditions, 52–53, 56

turning of eggs, 55

ventilation, 55

Itlog Na Maalat. see Salty Eggs

Java breed, 35

Jersey Giant, 35

Kai-kem. see Salty Eggs

killing cone, 149

Lasalucid, 101

laying hens, 116–117

broody hens in commercial laying strains, 126–127

caring of, 122–123

culling of, 128–129

identifying, 123–126

introduction of fresh birds, 129–130

and molting, 127–128

physiological characteristics of, 125

Leghorn breed, 35, 43, 126

legs, in mature birds, 19

light, importance to breeding, 47

Marek’s disease, 224

Mayonnaise, 183

Mean Rooster Stew (Coq au Vin), 193–195

meat

breed chart, 39

storing of

brining, 190

canning, 188

cutting of whole chicken, 188–189

freezing, 186–187

meat birds, growth rate, 28–29

meat chicks, raising of

basic butchering steps for processing

birds at home, 149–155

conventional breeds, 138–141

heritage or dual-purpose breeds, 142

preparing breeds for butchering, 142–148

meat dishes

appetizers

Chicken Livers with Ramps, Raisins, and Rhubarb, 192

Rumaki, 193

chicken stock

from cooked, 191

from uncooked, 191–192

sides and mains

Beer Can Chicken, 196–197

Broiled Chinese Black Fowl in Dark Soy Sauce, 197–198

Chicken Sausage, 198–199

Garlic Chicken Soup, 195–196

Mean Rooster Stew (Coq au Vin), 193–195

Meringue Clouds, 179

Minorca breed, 35

Minorcas, 43

Monensin sodium, 101

Mottled Japanese hen, 163

Mushy Chick Disease/ omphalitis, 225

mycotoxicosis, 223

National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), 42

Northeastern Organic Farming Association meeting, Randolph, Vermont (NOFA-VT), 9

nostrils, in mature birds, 19

Old English Game Bantams, 9

Old English Game Hens, 45

Omega-3s, 119

order of arrival, of chickens to the New World, 18–22

ornamental breed, 39

Orpington, 43

parasites, 226–227

infection check, 19

Partridge Rock pullet, 31

pickled eggs, 169–171

pipping, 57

pithing, 151

plumage, in mature birds, 19

Plymouth Rock, 35, 43

Plymouth Rock Cross cockerel meat bird, 78

Polish Cresteds, 9, 37

poultry business

artificial hatching, dangers with, 58–59

candling of eggs, 49–50, 54

checks while handling chicks, 57–59

choice on breed of chicken, 32

commercial production, 63

egg productivity, 31b

foundation vs. composite breeds, 35

getting started, 42

hatcheries and supplies, 257–258

hatching chicks with broody hens, 42–46

incubator hatching, 51–54

local and federal regulations, 29

need for roosters, 31b

problems, 62

problems with incubator, 55, 62

production of fertile eggs, 46–48

raising of day-old chicks, 61