I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Backyard Poultry: Biology and Management
2. Course Prefix & Number:
ANSI 1120
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
4. Course Description:
Backyard Poultry: Biology and Management is a course designed for students interested in learning about the biology of poultry and for those who currently engaged in or are considering engaging in a small-scale poultry farming operation. Poultry species included in this course are chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, pea fowl and game birds. Topics covered include: evolutionary history; anatomy and physiology of the digestive, reproductive and respiratory systems; category, species and breed selection; housing; nutrition; behavior; general healthcare; laying hen and egg biology and management; incubation and after hatch management; managing and processing meat birds; raising waterfowl, pea fowl and game birds and exhibiting poultry.
5. Placement Tests Required:
| Accuplacer (specify test): |
No placement tests required |
Score: |
|
6. Prerequisite Courses:
ANSI 1120 - Backyard Poultry: Biology and Management
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
ANSI 1120 - Backyard Poultry: Biology and Management
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
University of Minnesota - Backyard Chickens: Science and Practice, 3 credits
Note: For credit college courses are difficult to find and most Backyard Poultry courses are for chickens only and are webinar type courses lasting 2 to 10 hours.
III. Course Purpose
1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course fulfills a requirement for the following program(s):
None
3. Other - If this course does NOT meet criteria for #1 or #2 above, it may be used for the purpose(s) selected below:
Technical Elective
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Demonstrate oral communication skills |
Create a formal presentation related to an important aspect of raising poultry and present their information in a recorded webinar format to be shared with classmates in a discussion post. |
| Demonstrate reading and listening skills |
Read and interpret articles and watch/listen to recorded presentations pertaining to poultry biology or management. Use that information to answer quiz questions and create a formal presentation. |
| Utilize appropriate technology |
Choose equipment that is appropriate for the species and category of poultry being raised and operate the equipment correctly. |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
- Explain and give examples of the vertical integration structure of the poultry industry;
- Visually identify common breeds of layers, broilers and dual-purpose chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, pea fowl and major game birds;
- List the current local ordinances in their area regulating owning/housing poultry;
- List and explain the purpose of available hatchery vaccinations;
- Choose feeds that are appropriate for different poultry ages, species and production categories;
- Draw/design a poultry housing structure using the size and space specifications provided;
- Identify and explain the function of structures of the poultry reproductive and digestive system;
- Explain how eggs are graded and judged for quality;
- Define biosecurity and explain specific steps to take to keep their birds safe;
- Make a diagram of how to set up a brooding area and how to determine if the temperature is correct;
- Explain the anatomy of white & dark meat, where it is anatomically located on different bird species and why it is associated with particular muscles;
- List and describe the steps and methods used in processing a bird for meat.
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
Introduction to Poultry and the Poultry Industry
- History of Poultry
- The Poultry Industry: hatchery, laying barn, growing barn, processing
- Vertical Integration & the Poultry Industry
Getting Started with Backyard Poultry
- Local Ordinances & Restrictions
- Housing the Flock: land requirements, housing structure
- Time & Manpower Commitments
- Disposing of Normal Mortality Bird Carcasses
- Predators
- Purpose of the Flock: Pets, Eggs, Meat, Sales of Products or Live Birds
Choosing a Category & Breed
- Category Selection: Layers, Broilers, Dual-Purpose, Show
- Breed Selection
- Eggs vs Chicks vs Adults
- Purchasing: Vaccinations
- Selecting Bird Species
Shelter
- Space Requirements
- Free Range & Fenced Range
- Portable & Permanent
- Cages & Fences
- Nest Boxes & Roosts
- Bedding/Litter
- Lighting
- Heat
Feed & Water
- Avian Digestive System
- Feeders
- Feed Storage
- Waterers
- Feed Choices: Organic, Natural, Pasture
- Feeding Routines
General Management
- Bringing the First Birds Home
- Behavior: Pecking Order, Cannibalism
- Handling Birds
- Trimming Procedures
- Facility Cleanup – Manure Handling
Healthcare
- Avian Respiratory System & Air Sacs
- Parasites – Internal & External
- Pullorum Testing
- Common Health Problems
- Approved Products & Withholding Times
- First Aid
- Biosecurity
- Zoonoses
Laying Hen Biology & Management
- Chicken Genetics & Reproductive System
- Layer Nutrition
- Controlled Lighting
- Introducing New Chickens
Eggs for Consumption
- Egg Collection
- Egg Quality & Grading
- Egg Safety & Associated Pathogens
- Egg Sales
Hatching Eggs
- Natural Incubation
- Incubating Eggs Artificially
- Chick Development
- Candling the Eggs
- Hatching
- Chicken ID
Chick Management
- Natural Brooding
- Mechanical Brooders & Features
- Feed & Water
- Common Chick Problems
Managing & Processing Meat Birds
- Anatomy of White & Dark Meat
- Broiler Nutrition
- Broiler Management: Time to Market
- Broiler Health Issues
- Processing Broilers for Meat
Turkey Management
- Breeds
- Turkey Reproduction
- Turkey Nutrition
- Common Health Problems
- Time to Market
Waterfowl Management
- Duck & Geese Breeds
- Reproduction
- Waterfowl Nutrition
- Common Health Problems
- Eggs & Meat
Pea Fowl & Game Bird Management
- Breeds
- Nutrition
- Reproduction
- Common Health Problems
Exhibiting
- Why Show
- Selecting Birds to Show
- Testing & Regulations
- Conditioning
- At the Show
- After the Show
2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions
No Lab