Farm Help

Chicken, a species of foul domesticated early in man’s history. Its scientific name is Gallus domesticus, and it belongs to the Phasianidae family which includes Old World pheasants and partridges. Chickens are probably the most numerous birds in the world, largely, because of their importance as a source of human food. The chicken was known to the ancient civilization of the Indus Valley and was fully domesticated by 2000 BC. Chickens were prized for many reasons in the ancient world. The cock was admired for his courage and pride, and his traditional early morning crow made him valued as a timepiece and symbol of the waking day. The ability of the hen to lay eggs prolifically made her a symbol of fertility.

Whether it stems from a nostalgic idea of a living alarm clock, from fear of chemicals in food or from the simple desire for pets, many people desire their own flock of chickens. Raising poultry used to entail building a complicated coop and a permanent pen, but the widespread use of portable chicken houses has changed all that.

"Prevention is still one of the best cures,” explained Dr. Dustan Clark, extension poultry health veterinarian and interim associate center director of extension at the University of Arkansas. “Didn’t grandma say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – she’s right.”

The owner plays a vital role in the overall health of the horse. They are solely responsible for their diet and the nutrition of the animal. The wild horse roams the countryside to find what he needs, but domestic horses are confined to pastures or stalls. If the pastures aren’t adequate the horse suffers, so the owner needs to have a basic knowledge of what the horse needs.

In today’s world where the majority of chickens are raised commercially, marketed wholesale and distributed worldwide, an epidemic of any kind causing deaths of thousands of chicken in a sure downfall in the poultry economy.

With spring calving season in full swing, it’s important to note some specific tips for success from the experts. Compiled are the top five topics of concern from University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialists Eldon Cole, of Mt. Vernon, Mo.; Dona Goede, of Stockton, Mo.; and Lance Kirkpatrick, a University of Arkansas extension agent in Logan County, Ark.

A small-scale poultry operator could be alarmed by a barrage of feathers in the coop or around the hen lot. But, as Dr. Dustan Clark, University of Arkansas Extension poultry science vet noted, more often than not, feather loss is all just part of the natural process for chickens.

The USDA sets up specific guidelines by which any processor of poultry or other livestock should abide. The Food Safety and Inspection Service’s code of federal regulations – Part 302 – directly addresses all types of livestock processors, and explains not only what types of processing facilities are governed by federal rule, but also what those rules are.

Chicken, a species of foul domesticated early in man’s history. Its scientific name is Gallus domesticus, and it belongs to the Phasianidae family which includes Old World pheasants and partridges. Chickens are probably the most numerous birds in the world, largely, because of their importance as a source of human food. The chicken was known to the ancient civilization of the Indus Valley and was fully domesticated by 2000 BC. Chickens were prized for many reasons in the ancient world. The cock was admired for his courage and pride, and his traditional early morning crow made him valued as a timepiece and symbol of the waking day. The ability of the hen to lay eggs prolifically made her a symbol of fertility.

Whether it stems from a nostalgic idea of a living alarm clock, from fear of chemicals in food or from the simple desire for pets, many people desire their own flock of chickens. Raising poultry used to entail building a complicated coop and a permanent pen, but the widespread use of portable chicken houses has changed all that.