Poultry farming

People farm many kinds of birds.

They raise chickens, ducks, and geese. Some birds are for meat. These are called broilers.

Other birds are for eggs. These are called layers. Some birds live in small cages. Other birds roam in the fresh air.

This is called free-range farming. It lets them scratch and peck. Farming helps us have food to eat.

{ "text": "Poultry farming is how people raise birds for food.

Farmers raise chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese. Some chickens are raised for meat. We call these birds broilers.

Other chickens are raised for eggs. These are called layers. Some layers can lay over 300 eggs each year!\n\nThere are many ways to house these birds. In intensive farming, many birds live close together. Some live in battery cages. These are small metal cages. They help farmers collect eggs easily.

Other birds use free-range farming. This lets them roam outdoors. They can scratch, peck, and exercise in the fresh air.

Some farmers use yarding. This means birds stay in a small fenced area. They are let out of their coops every day.

Poultry farming is a way of raising domesticated birds for food.

Farmers breed birds like chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese. Most poultry farming focuses on chickens. There are more than 60 billion chickens killed for food every year.

Some chickens are raised specifically for meat, and we call them broilers. Other chickens are called layers because they are used for eggs. Even though layers are used for eggs, they are often killed for meat too. This work is very important for providing food to people everywhere.

Farmers use different ways to house their birds. One way is using a chicken coop or hen house. These structures keep birds safe and secure. Some farmers use the "fresh air school" idea. They build coops with wide openings and wire mesh to let in fresh air. Other farmers prefer closed houses with doors and windows. These closed houses help control the environment to keep birds from getting sick. Farmers must decide which way is best for their birds and the weather.

There are many styles of farming used around the world.

Intensive farming is very common today. In fact, it accounts for 74 percent of the world's poultry meat. Free-range farming is a different choice. This allows chickens to roam outdoors for part of the day.

In the UK, the government says free-range birds must have outdoor access for half their lives. Some small farms use a method called yarding. This involves a hutch and a fenced-off area outside. In yarding, birds are released from their coops every single day.

Many different rules and numbers guide how poultry is raised.

In the United States, the FDA oversees poultry production. In the UK, the DEFRA is the national organization in charge. Some egg-laying hens can produce over 300 eggs in one year. However, these hens usually stop being profitable after about 72 weeks of age.

In many places, farmers use battery cages. These are small metal cages that hold 3 to 8 hens. These cages help keep eggs clean and make them easy to collect. Some places, like the European Union, have even banned certain types of these cages.

Different housing systems change how the birds live and behave.

In battery cages, hens might not have enough space to flap their wings. This can lead to boredom or strange behaviors. Free-range birds can do natural things like scratching and foraging in the dirt.

However, free-range birds might face more danger from predators. Organic farming is another way people manage poultry. In the US, organic management must start by the second day of a bird's life. Each system has its own goals for how to care for the animals.

Poultry farming is a specialized form of animal husbandry. It involves breeding domesticated birds for food production. Common birds include chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese. Most global poultry production focuses on chickens.

Every year, more than 60 billion chickens are killed for consumption. Farmers categorize these birds by their primary purpose. Chickens raised specifically for meat are called broilers. Chickens raised to produce eggs are known as layers. While layers are used for eggs, they are also often slaughtered for meat.

Farmers use various methods to manage their flocks. One common structure is a chicken coop or hen house. This structure keeps the birds safe and secure. There is a debate regarding the best coop design. The "fresh air school" philosophy suggests chickens are hardy. This group prefers highly ventilated or open-sided coops. They believe poor air quality and darkness can harm birds. Conversely, other farmers prefer controlled-environment coops. These closed houses use doors, windows, and hatches. They protect birds from illness caused by outdoor weather.

Egg production follows specific biological and economic cycles. Hens typically begin laying eggs between 16 and 21 weeks of age. Production usually declines after they reach 25 weeks. In many countries, flocks are considered economically unviable by 72 weeks. This means they are often slaughtered after 12 months of egg production. Naturally, these chickens can live for six years or more. Some farmers use force moulting to restart egg production.

To encourage laying, farmers may control light cycles. Increasing the light phase can mimic summer day lengths. This helps hens continue laying eggs all year round.

Different farming systems define how birds interact with their environment. Intensive farming is very common globally. The World Watch Institute states it produces 74 percent of poultry meat. It also produces 68 percent of the world's eggs.

Free-range farming is a major alternative. This allows birds to roam outdoors for part of the day. In the UK, DEFRA requires free-range birds to have outdoor access for half their lives.

Free-run systems are slightly different. In free-run systems, hens roam freely inside an enclosed barn. This provides enrichment like nesting boxes and perches. However, increased activity can raise dust levels and lower air quality.

Small-scale farmers sometimes use a technique called yarding. This is often confused with free-range farming. In yarding, a hutch is combined with a fenced-off outdoor area.

Farmers release the birds from their coops daily. This method is common in the Northeastern United States. Organic farming is another distinct system. In the US, organic management must begin by the second day of life. This requires organic nutrition and specific preventative health care. In the UK, the Soil Association sets strict organic standards for these flocks.

Many commercial operations traditionally used battery cages. These are small metal cages housing 3 to 8 hens.

The floors are sloped wire mesh. This allows feces to drop through and eggs to roll onto conveyors. Battery cages are often arranged in long, multi-tiered rows. This system allows for high productivity and lower food costs. However, the space is very limited.

Some space estimates suggest less than the size of an A4 paper per hen. Because of welfare concerns, many regions have changed their laws. The European Union banned conventional battery cages in 2012. Canada also set a deadline to end conventional caging by 2036.

Modern farming is moving toward enriched or furnished cages. These are designed to allow natural behaviors while keeping economic advantages.

In the UK, furnished cages must provide at least 750 cm2 of area per hen. This system aims to address welfare concerns like boredom and frustration. Farmers must also manage risks like disease and predators. For example, poor disease control in free-range systems can lead to avian influenza. Throughout the industry, organizations like the FDA in the US and DEFRA in the UK oversee production standards to manage these complexities.