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ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY MODE

TLE GRADE 10
AGRI-FISHERY ARTS – ANIMAL PRODUCTION
POULTRY PRODUCTION NCII

WEEK 3/4
Module Title: SELECTING AND PROCURING STOCKS

PRE –TEST
Directions Let us find out how much you know about selecting and procuring stock for egg/meat
production. Answer the questions below. Write the letter of the correct answer in your activity notebook.
1. Among the breeds/strains of broiler to select, which does not belong to the group?
a. Dekalb b. Starbro
c. Peterson d. Pilch-de-kalb
2. From the choices below, which is the breed/strain of chicken known to be a good layer?
a. Lohman b. Leghorn
c. Arbor acre d. Minerva
3. In selecting breed/strain of poultry, what factor is not considered?
a. climatic conditions b. method of management
c. availability of the breed/strain d. care and management
4. How can you distinguish a leghorn from other breeds of layers?
a. It is a good layer of large pinkish-white shelled eggs.
b Its meat is excellent.
c. the heaviest of the egg breed
d .It is a small, stylish, active, and alert breed.
5. It refers to a group of feathered animals such as chickens, ducks, geese and turkey
a. flock b. fowl
c. stock d. strain
6. If you are going to select a meat type breed as breeder, which factor do you consider most important?
a .rapid growth rate b. quick feathering
c. good breast development d. show no defects or deformities
7. In selecting stock to raise, which should be assessed first, physically?
a. eyes b. legs
c. color d. weight
8. Good, healthy, and quality chicks are indicated by _______.
a. large, bright prominent eyes b. dull and sunken eyes
c. pale thin legs d. thin, white or pale shanks 3
9. It is a group of chicks composed of male and female.
a. sexed chicks b. laying chicks
c. straight run chicks d. culled chicks
10.Layers usually start laying at about _______.
a. 5 months of age or even earlier
b. 4 months of age or even earlier
c. 6 months of age
d. the latter part of the seventh month
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LESSON 1: SELECT AND PROCURE BREED/STRAIN OF STOCK TO RAISE FOR EGG OR MEAT

TERMS DEFINITION
Strain
Inferior
Persistent
Comb
Earlobes
Shank
Fowl
Stock
Flock
Non-Sitters

Things to Ponder
1. There is no such thing as the best breed of fowl to raise.
2. All of the good breeds require some methods of care and management even if they serve the
same purpose. There are a number of factors that will help in choosing the breed to raise.
3. In selecting a breed, take into account your as well as purpose the local conditions that may
affect fowls and their production.
4. Climatic conditions and the method of management are the most important factors that affect
5 production.
5. The availability of the breed in the locality is another factor that must also be considered. The
best breed is one which is available, cheap, and adapted to the locality
EGG BREEDS ARE THE FOLLOWING:

Bobcock Dekalb H & N Cross

Kimber Leg Horn Mikawa

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Minorca Starcross
White Leghorns.
 These are persistent layers.
 They are small, stylish, active, alert, and excellent layers of large white-shelled eggs,
 but their meat is considered inferior to that of most breeds of chickens.
 Leghorns are good layers but non-sitters.
 The Leghorn’s skin, back, and shanks are yellowish, and the earlobes are white or creamy white.
 The most common strain is the single-comb Leghorn.
Minorca.
 one of the heaviest of the egg breeds.
 The bird has a full, closely feathered body, and a large comb and wattle.
 It lays very big white-shelled eggs.
 Its skin is white. The shank and toes of birds that belong to the black strain are black, and those that
belong to the white-buff strain are slate-white.
Mikawa.
 The Mikawa is a breed is developed in Japan.
 It has a fairly large body similar in form to the Leghorn. Its color is buff, while the beak, skin, shanks,
and toes are yellow.
 The earlobes are white.
 The hen is a good layer of large pinkish –white-shelled eggs,
 its meat is excellent for the table.
 The bird matures fairly early and the hens do not become broody
Babcock Brown
 produces a high number of large sized eggs and maintains strong livability.
 This balanced hen is specially bred for excellent productivity in a number of climates or
management systems.
 Eggs from the Babcock Brown are strong shelled and large sized.
Stars Cross
 they're bred specifically so that males and females are different colors when they hatch.
 Females are egg-laying machines that continue to lay well in the heat and cold, when many others
slow down.
 The males are said to be good "fryers".
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BROILER BREEDS/STRAINS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ARE:

Anak  Pilch-de-kalb  Lohman  Starbro  Arbor acre  Peterson  Cobb  Minerva  Magnolia  Swift

LOHMAN PILCH DE KALB

STARBRO ARBOR ACRE

PETERSON COBB
Poultry from these breeds and their strains are fast-growers and have tender meat. They are also
good egg producers, but should be raised to produce hatching eggs only for the production of broiler
chicks.
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LESSON 2: SOURCES OF STOCK FOR EGG/MEAT PRODUCTION

TERMS DEFINITON
Poultry men
Pullet
Livability
Hatchery
Culling

Nice to know!!!
 A practical guide to follow in the selection of the breed to raise is to observe the type of chicken
kept by successful poultry men in the area.
 Find out which will be cheaper in the long run by buying growing pullets or chicks of the different
breeds. This can be done by estimating or computing the cost of the growing pullets and the
amount of feed they will consume compared with the cost of the chicks and the feed that they will
eat for 1 ½ years when the breeds will be replaced.
 Study also the market prospect for hens after the productive period. Screen or evaluate the status
of the hatchery before buying chicks if you decide to start out with chicks. The breeder flock must
be disease-free.
 Certified disease-free flock must have a government veterinarian’s certification to the effect that
the flock is free from diseases. Examine the chicks very well especially when they are bought at a
bargained.
SELECT A STRAIN FROM A HIGH EGG-PRODUCING STOCK
 Buy chicks or growing pullets only from a reliable hatchery.
 Inquire about the performance of stock from previously customers. Since chicks will be similar to
their parents in their ability to grow, to lay eggs and to resist diseases, one should buy chicks from
stock that has been bred for high egg production or broiler-meat production.
 The difference in egg production between good and poor quality stocks may be from 3 to 5 dozen
eggs per hen, or 0.5 or more kilos of meat per broiler. This could spell the success or failure of the
project.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF CHICKEN

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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD QUALITY CHICKS

EYES.
 Good quality chicks must have large, prominent eyes, indicating health and vigor. These are two
essential requirements for quality chicks. If one looks into a box containing day-old chicks, the first
impression that he should get should be the condition of the in eyes
LEGS.
 Good quality chicks have strong well filled legs of good bright color, and creamy white down (the
fluffy fine feathers just below the anus). Chicks that have pale thin legs and with chalk-white coat
should be rejected. Chicks with thin, white, or pale shank do not possess the vigor and health
needed for efficient growth.
WEIGHT AND COLOR.
 Good quality chicks should have uniform size and color, (the color characteristic of the breed or
strain,) and must weigh about 2 lbs.per 25 chicks.
DOWN FEATHERS
 The down should be well fluffed out and should have the proper color of the breed or strain. Chicks
with sticky off-colored down denote faulty incubation that produces weak chicks.
DEFORMITIES.
 Deformed chicks with crooked legs and toes, crooked beaks, small eyes, or chicks with blindness,
paralysis of the legs or neck and imperfectly healed navels should be discarded or rejected

SELECTING CHICKS FOR BROILER-MEAT PRODUCTION

 Male and female chicks intended as breeders for broiler production should be selected at one-day
old, and should be observed at regular intervals.
 They should show indication of fast feathering as day-old chicks, and at 10 days, and at 8 to 12
weeks.
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 They should indicate rapid growth at 4 to 6 weeks. Before the birds are placed in breeding pens,
they must have good breast development at 6-12 weeks of age.
 They should show no defects.

SELECTING REPLACEMENT PULLETS

 Egg Type. Select pullets which are offspring of hens with high production record (220 or more eggs
per year).
 They must belong to a batch of chicks of good livability – meaning a group of chicks with low death
rate.
 Broiler type. Select pullets which are progeny of fast grower tender-meat- producing hens.
 A stock offered at a “bargain” or other form of inducement to get one to buy should be carefully
examined because the chicks being sold may be of poor quality

LESSON 3 : EVALUATE THE QUALITY OF THE BREED/STRAIN OF STOCK TO RAISE

The difference between success and failure in an egg/meat production project is measured by the
kind and quality of stock with which it is started. Therefore, careful selection of stock is important, for this
can be used as the source of many generations of future egg/meat producers.
Terms Definition
Demand
Purchase
Day old Chicks
Full Grown Pullets

GUIDELINES/RULES FOR SELECTING STOCK

 It must be pointed out that sometimes more variations exist within a breed than between
different breeds with regard to production.
 It would be of help to inspect and compare the production records of different sources of
chicks.
 It would likewise be practical to inquire about, analyze, and compare experiences of other
broiler or egg producers in one’s locality to serve as guide in the selection of the source for one’s
stock

HOW TO ESTIMATE THE NUMBER OF CHICKS TO ORDER

In making an order you need to the breed to be raised. One must consider one’s experience in the
venture, the capital he has, and the time to be spent on the project.
Beginners should start with a small brood, not more than 50 chicks, and for one with experience,
500 or more chicks. That would also depend on whether one will devote only part-time or full-time work
on the project. Of course, the number of chicks to order depends on the capital one plans to invest.
For estimating the number of chick needed to replace the laying hens in a given flock, the following
serves as guide:
A. For Straight-Run (mixed sexes), buy 3 chicks for every hen to be replaced, because most likely
50% of them will be cockerels. One third of the remaining pullets should be culled to
ensure, strong, healthy, and quality layers.
B. For Sexed Pullets, (pullets of the same sex), the replacement rate should be 1 ½ chicks for every
hen. One-third of the total number of pullets should be culled before they are placed in the
laying house to ensure best quality layers.
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WHEN TO BUY OR PURCHASE CHICKS

o The purchase of chicks whether for egg or meat production is governed by market demand. In
centers of population, particularly big cities and towns where educational institutions are
concentrated, the demand for poultry products is continuous especially during school days.
o Broiler raisers may produce more in a year since it takes only 8 weeks for the broiler to be ready for
the market. The demand for poultry products in April, May, and June and from the 3rd to 4th week
of December is comparatively low because many students are in the provinces for the vacation.
o the demand for eggs is high during the rainy season when egg production is low. The purchase and
raising of chicks should coincide with the period when the price of eggs is high.
o The order for chicks should be placed well in advance to ensure receiving them on time. The
important thing to remember is to replace the entire flock with chicks of the same age to ensure
that pullets will start laying at the same time; and (2) the broiler will be ready for the market at the
same time.
o It must also be borne in mind that the housing facilities must be emptied and cleaned properly
before putting in the next lot of broilers or replacement pullets.
o The difference between success and failure in an egg/meat production project is measured by the
kind and quality of stock with which it is started .
o careful selection of stock is important, for this can be used as the source of many generations of
future egg/meat producers.

POST –TEST
Directions: Let us find out how much you know about selecting and procuring stocks for egg/meat
production. Answer the questions below. Write the letter of the correct answer in your activity notebook.
1. Among these breeds/strains of broiler, which does not belong to the group?
a. Dekalb b. Starbro
c. Peterson d. Pilch-de-kalb
2. Which of these breeds/strains of chicken is known for being a good layer?
a. Lohman b. Leghorn
c. Arbor acre d. Minerva
3. In selecting breed/strain of poultry, which of these factors is not considered?
a. climatic conditions c. availability of the breed/strain
b. methods of management d. care and management
4. How can you distinguish a leghorn from other breeds of layers?
a. It is a good layer of large pinkish-white-shelled eggs.
b. It’s meat is excellent.
c. it is the heaviest of the egg breeds.
d .It is a small, stylish, active, and alert breed.
5. It refers to a group of feathered animals, such as chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys.
a. flock b. fowl
c. stocks d. strain
6. If you are going to select a meat-type breed for breeder, which factor do you consider most important?
a. rapid growth rate c. good breast development
b. quick feathering d. shows no defects or deformities
7. In selecting stock to raise, which should be physically assessed first?
a. eyes b. legs
c. color d. weight
8. Good, healthy, and quality chicks are indicated by _______.
a. large, bright prominent eyes c pale thin legs
b. dull and sunken eyes d. thin, white or pale shanks
9. It is a group composed of male and female chicks.
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a. sexed chicks b .laying chicks

c. straight-run chicks d. culled chicks
10. Layers usually start laying at about _______.
a. 5 months of age or even earlier b. 4 months of age or even earlier
c. 6 months of age d. the latter part of the seventh month