Backyard Poultry Forum

Terminology and Abbreviations

General
Bantam the small version of any domesticated fowl
Broiler fowl bred for rapid growth , specifically raised for meat
Broody a female chook that is ready to nest
Bar: suffix to denote auto - sexing breed
Clucky same as broody
Clutch a setting of eggs
dubbing surgical removal of comb, ears and wattles
Fowl the domesticated hen or cock, as distinct from ducks, geese, turkeys etc.
Hybrid offspring produced by crossing different breeds of purebred fowl
POL point of lay, normally about 20 – 24 weeks old
True Bantam or natural bantam a bantam with no large counterpart (e.g. Belgians, Pekin)
Sex Linked Poultry that are different colours when hatched
Utility breed A group of fowl that was use by the pioneers

Sex of Poultry
Fowl
Chicken a unsexed baby fowl
Cock a male fowl that is greater than 12 months old
Cockerel a male fowl that is less than 12 months old
Hen a female fowl that is greater than 12 months old
Pullet a female fowl that is less than 12 months old
Rooster same as cock

Duck
Drake male duck
Drakeling a male duck that is less than 12 months old for showing
Duck Female duck
Duckling a unsexed baby duck or a female duck that is less than 12 months old for showing

Turkey
Gobbler a male turkey that is greater than 12 months old
Hen a female turkey that is greater than 12 months old
Poult a unsexed baby turkey
Pullet a female turkey that is less than 12 months old
Tom a male turkey that is less than 12 months old
Gobler - Male Turkey

Goose
Gander male goose
Goose female goose
Gosling a unsexed baby goose

Guinea Fowl
Keet baby guinea fowl

Breeds
D/L Dark Leg
L/L Light Leg
OEG Old English Game
RIR Rhode Island Red
RIW Rhode Island White
H/B Heavy breed
L/B Light Breed
H/F Hard Feather
S/F Soft Feather

Different Breed names
Turken Transylvanian Naked Neck
Transylvanian Naked Neck Turken

Pinion:
To pinion involves clipping the primary and secondary feathers of one wing, removing the bony part of the wing as well
dubbing-surgical removal of comb and wattles


Many thanks to all those who contributed to the compilation of this list.
have deleted old topic, so we dont double up
Heidi

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*Breeder of Bantam Orpingtons

'Let us be judged not by how we fall, but by how we rise after falling'

just a thought heidi
would it be possable to put on a diagram with parts of the bird, I have it in books but a lot of people use this forum for info,might be useful cheers pam

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JAPS ARE REAL CHOOKS (DON'T BELIEVE THE KNOCKERS)

Pam I read this then got down to yr post
Was going to ask the exact same thing and for those reasons
Great minds think alike

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not always right not always wrong but always prepared to meet on middle ground - Courtesy costs nothing yet buys things that are priceless
Breeder/Exhibitor = large Orpingtons in Cuckoo, Black, Chocolate, Splash and Cuckoo Silkie and Phoenix
http://www.thecuckoopoultrystudofaustralia.com

hi Guys
will see how it can be done...good thought

Heidi

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*Breeder of Bantam Orpingtons

'Let us be judged not by how we fall, but by how we rise after falling'

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Allison
www.rarepoultry.net

I have edited my post above and added two more illustrations

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here is where I store my links and articles:
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi

Thanks, dlunicorn, those are very handy illustrations.

Okay, I think this actually confused me more... I've always known young male turkeys as "Jakes", whereas a "Tom" (listed here as under 12 months) would be the adult male and "gobbler" is more slang and refers to a male of any age (vs a female). Does anyone know if this is a difference between countries or a difference between domestic and wild turkey or something else entirely?

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Amanda Orbitani
Indian Runners, a few crazy chooks and Australian Shepherds

very helpful

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Final year studying a BAgrSc. Animal Nutrition focus

i would love to see more terminology described like the gamebird terminology which is fascinating, worthy of i book if someone could collect it together.

maybe it is more slang.

k

Maybe someone more experienced in colours could describe a few "fancier names" that all mean the same thing?

Like...

Ermine, Columbian and Light, all mean an overall white chook with black neck hackles, tail and flights. But are called different names according to Belgian, Wyandotte and Sussex breeds.

Nick

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A backyard farmer

very descriptive good job

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breeder of show quality silkies and now Polish in wc blue and wc black

Excellent Idea Nick - I would love to see that too...

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4 Australorps
Former servant to a lovely flock of D'Uccles

Can I please ask a question that may seem silly to some of the more experienced chook people?

Why would someone be dubbing a chook?

Me again.

I have read a bit about the "crop" filling and emptying. Can you please explaine how one goes about feeling the crop and where exactly to feel? I am presuming from what I have read that you feel somewhere just below the neck and between that and the breast bone am I correct?

Yeah, I know, I am a silly newbie!