Navigation & Definitions

Subcategories

Subcategory 1: Poultry

  • Barbecue Broiler Chickens
  • Banty Hens
  • Banty Roosters
  • Chicks
  • Laying Hens
  • Roosters
  • Soup or Curry Hens
  • Silky Chickens

Subcategory 2: Waterfowl

  • Ducklings
  • Ducks
  • Geese
  • Goslings

Subcategory 3: Game Birds

  • Dove
  • Guinea Fowl
  • Partridge
  • Peacock
  • Pheasant
  • Pigeon
  • Quail
  • Turkey

Subcategory 4: Rabbits

  • Breeding Rabbits
  • Meat Rabbits
  • Show Rabbits

Subcategory 5: Pet Stock

  • Gerbils
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Hamsters
  • Mice
  • Rabbits (Pet)
  • Rats
  • Small Caged Birds (e.g., Canaries, Finches)
  • Other Small Pet Stock Animals (excluding cats and dogs)

Subcategory 6: Other

  • Animal Accessories
  • Animal Supplies
  • Cages
  • Farm Equipment
  • Feed
  • Feeders
  • Pet Toys
  • Other Value-Added Items for Animal and Farm Use

 

Definitions

General Terms for Gender and Age

  • Cock: Refers to a male bird (e.g., rooster, male game bird).
  • Hen: Refers to a female bird (e.g., laying hen, female game bird).
  • Chick: Refers to a young bird (e.g., baby chicken, duckling, gosling).

Poultry Standards

  • Banty: A colloquial term often used interchangeably with “bantam.” It refers to small or miniature chickens, commonly kept for ornamental purposes or as pets. Average mature weight: 1.0-2.0 lbs (0.45-0.91 kg).
  • Bantam: A recognized classification for miniature poultry breeds. Bantams are smaller than standard chickens, often one-fourth to one-half their size, and are valued for their ornamental appearance and efficient feed conversion. Average mature weight: 1.0-2.0 lbs (0.45-0.91 kg).
  • Standard: Refers to full-sized or large fowl chickens as classified by poultry industry standards. These birds are typically bred for meat or egg production. Average mature weight: 6.0-8.0 lbs (2.72-3.63 kg) for hens and 8.0-10.0 lbs (3.63-4.54 kg) for roosters.

Chickens and Poultry

  • Rooster: An adult male chicken, typically used for breeding or as a flock protector. Average mature weight: 6.0 lbs (2.72 kg).
  • Cockerel: A juvenile male chicken that has not reached full maturity. Average mature weight: 4.0 lbs (1.81 kg).
  • Pullet: A young female chicken, generally under one year old, that has not started laying eggs. Average mature weight: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg).
  • Hen: A mature female chicken that has reached the laying stage of development. Average mature weight: 4.5 lbs (2.04 kg).
  • Spent Hen / Soup Hen / Curry Hen: A mature hen that has passed its productive egg-laying stage, often used for stewing or soups due to its tougher meat. Average mature weight: 4.0 lbs (1.81 kg).
  • Chick: A young chicken, usually from hatching to a few months old. Average weight: 0.1 lbs (0.05 kg).
  • Barbecue Broiler Chicken: A chicken bred specifically for meat production, such as the White Rock, often harvested at 6-8 weeks of age. Average mature weight: 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg).
  • Silky Chicken: A breed of chicken known for its unique silky feathers, blue-black skin, and blue bones, often prized for its ornamental value and culinary uses in certain cuisines. Average mature weight: 2.0-4.0 lbs (0.91-1.81 kg).

Waterfowl

  • Drake: An adult male duck, known for its distinctive plumage in many species. Average mature weight: 6.0 lbs (2.72 kg).
  • Duck (Female): A female duck, often responsible for egg-laying and brooding. Average mature weight: 5.0 lbs (2.27 kg).
  • Duckling: A young duck, typically from hatching to a few weeks old. Average weight: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg).
  • Gander: An adult male goose, often larger and more vocal than females. Average mature weight: 12.0 lbs (5.44 kg).
  • Goose (Female): A mature female goose, commonly responsible for nesting. Average mature weight: 10.0 lbs (4.54 kg).
  • Gosling: A young goose, usually from hatching to a few months old. Average weight: 2.0 lbs (0.91 kg).

Game Birds

  • Dove: A small bird known for its gentle cooing, often kept for ornamental purposes or hunting. Average mature weight: 0.3 lbs (0.14 kg).
  • Guinea Fowl: A domesticated bird native to Africa, known for its meat and pest control capabilities.
  • Cock: A male guinea fowl. Average mature weight: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg).
  • Hen: A female guinea fowl. Average mature weight: 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg).
  • Keats: Young guinea fowl, typically from hatching to a few weeks old. Average weight: 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg).
  • Partridge: A medium-sized game bird, often associated with agricultural landscapes and valued for its meat. Average mature weight: 1.0 lbs (0.45 kg).
  • Peafowl: A term referring to both male and female of the species.
  • Peacock: The male peafowl, distinguished by its vibrant, colorful tail feathers. Average mature weight: 13.0 lbs (5.9 kg).
  • Peahen: The female peafowl, less colorful and known for its role in brooding. Average mature weight: 9.0 lbs (4.08 kg).
  • Pigeon: A bird commonly found in urban and rural areas, raised for sport, meat, or ornamental purposes.
  • Squab: A young pigeon, harvested for its tender meat. Average weight: 1.0 lbs (0.45 kg).
  • Quail: A small game bird raised for its eggs and meat, known for its distinctive call. Average mature weight: 0.3 lbs (0.14 kg).
  • Turkey: A large bird domesticated for its meat, especially popular during holidays.
  • Poults: Young turkeys, typically up to a few months old.
  • Tom: A mature male turkey, recognizable by its size and beard-like feather growth. Average mature weight: 25.0 lbs (11.34 kg).
  • Hen: A mature female turkey. Average mature weight: 15.0 lbs (6.8 kg).

Rabbits

  • Buck: A male rabbit, often used for breeding. Average mature weight: 10.0 lbs (4.54 kg).
  • Doe: A female rabbit, typically used for breeding and nurturing young. Average mature weight: 9.0 lbs (4.08 kg).

Pet Stock

  • Gerbils: Small rodents commonly kept as pets. Average mature weight: 2.5 oz (0.07 kg).
  • Guinea Pigs: Medium-sized rodents known for their docile nature. Average mature weight: 2.0 lbs (0.91 kg).
  • Hamsters: Small rodents often kept as beginner pets. Average mature weight: 4.0 oz (0.11 kg).
  • Mice: Small rodents often kept as pets or feeder animals. Average mature weight: 1.0 oz (0.03 kg).
  • Rats: Larger rodents, known for their intelligence and sociable nature. Average mature weight: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg).
  • Small Caged Birds (e.g., Canaries, Finches): Popular birds kept as pets for their song and beauty. Average mature weight: 0.5 oz (0.01 kg).
  • Rabbits (Pet): Smaller breeds of rabbits kept as pets. Average mature weight: 5.0 lbs (2.27 kg).
  • Other Small Pet Stock Animals: Includes various small pets like ferrets or exotic rodents (excluding cats and dogs).

Physical and Medical Attributes

  • Angel Wing: A condition in birds, typically waterfowl, where the wing feathers grow outward instead of lying flat against the body. This deformity can be caused by a high-protein diet or genetic predisposition and may affect the bird’s ability to fly.
  • Beak (Trimmed Beak): The beak of a bird may be trimmed to prevent overgrowth or to minimize harm caused by pecking in commercial flocks. Trimming is typically done in chicks and requires careful handling to avoid nerve damage.
  • Molting: A natural process where birds shed and regenerate their feathers. Molting typically occurs annually or seasonally and may temporarily reduce egg production in laying birds.
  • Pinned Wings: A term referring to the process of restraining or clipping the wings of a bird, often for identification or management purposes.
  • Trimmed or Cut Feathers: Refers to feathers that have been shortened to prevent birds from achieving full flight. This is a common practice for managing domesticated birds or pets in confined spaces.
  • Rooster Combs: The fleshy crest on the top of a rooster’s head, varying in shape depending on the breed:
  • Pea Comb: Small, rounded, and divided into three ridges.
  • Single Comb: A straight and upright comb with evenly spaced serrations.
  • Rose Comb: Broad and flat, often with a rounded, spiked end.
  • Carnacles: The fleshy, red, wart-like growths found on the face of Muscovy ducks, primarily around the eyes and beak. These are a characteristic feature of the breed and may serve as a display trait in mating.
  • Spurs: Sharp, bony outgrowths located on the legs of some birds, especially roosters. Spurs are used for defense or dominance displays and can indicate age or breed quality.
  • Wattles: The fleshy, often red, flaps of skin that hang beneath a bird’s beak, such as in chickens and turkeys. Wattles are used in thermoregulation and as a display feature for mating.