The Basic Poultry House

When you start to look at basic poultry house design you are going notice that they come in a tremendous variety of shapes and sizes. No two hen houses seem to look exactly alike, this is pretty normal especially when you stop to realize that the majority of them are home built by people with only a small amount of building experience if any. This is not really a problem as you do not need to be a master builder to put up your own poultry house.

One thing that you will notice with even the most basic poultry house design is that it is made with one thing in mind and that is to provide your flock of hens a secure home. Chickens are a relatively hardy species, but they do have certain requirements including needing a place to stay out of the weather. This means both the cold winter weather and the hot summer sun as they do not have sweat glands to help them stay cool.

What Your Poultry House Must Have

In your poultry house design there are certain elements that you must have and some that are considered non essential but can provide a much nicer environment for your chicken. If you have been looking at different plans you will find that most of them have the same main features no matter what shape they are.

The most important features that the inside of your poultry house should have if you want to have eggs are nesting boxes. These are small “rooms” that your hens will roost in to lay their eggs, chickens prefer to lay their eggs in small darker spaces that are lined with straw and it gives them the sense of being in a nest which is where they would lay their eggs in the wild.

You should also provide them with enough roosting perches so that there is enough space for all of your hens to roost up off the ground at night. Before they were domesticated chicken roosted in trees at night to stay safe from predators and the perches provide them with the same sense of security.

While including a window in your poultry house design is not an absolute necessity you will find that if you put a window in the side where the majority of your summer breezes blow from it will help to keep your poultry house well ventilated and cooled down during the hot summer months. All of this can easily be incorporated into any design and will go a long way toward keeping your hens healthy and happy.

For expert and detailed step by step instruction on how to construct your own Chicken Coop visit How To Build A Chicken Coop

Buying a Chicken Coop can be quite costly, and you can easily build one for a quarter of the cost of buying…plus you have the satisfaction of knowing that you did it yourself. Check out how to build it now at How To Build A Chicken Coop

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Patrick

There is also the image of dirt, sweat, heat, floods, pests, and varmints. Many people dream of someday owning their own land, livestock and crops, but this dream can soon become a nightmare if the dreamer does not have the resources or know-how to manage a full-scale farm.

Smallholding may be a solution for those who wish to work a farming operation but do not have the ability to manage a full scale farming operation. Smallholding is the practice of farming on a small scale. Crop farm smallholding is generally to inefficient to be practical but there are those who are livestock smallholders who enjoy tremendous success and derive enormous amounts of satisfaction from their chosen profession.

Poultry smallholding, in particular, has been a successful small farming operation for as long as the farming industry has been in existence. The small space, relatively little feed requirements, and minor startup costs have made poultry smallholding the most successful smallholding proposition in modern farming.

Chickens reproduce quickly and with a small number of initial broodstock, a substantial poultry population can be had. Poultry smallholding provides the smallholder with a variety of income possibilities.

Eggs are the most abundant “cash-crop” for poultry smallholders, but the poultry itself can be sold as food and baby poultry can be sold to others dreaming of owning their own poultry smallholding. It may not be for everyone, but if farming is in your blood yet your resources are low, poultry smallholding can be a fun and effective way to get your hands dirty.

Jack Corrigan
jack.corrigan@chickens-at-home.co.uk
Articles, products and advice for keeping your own chickens at home
http://www.chickens-at-home.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Corrigan

Sadly, many chicken farmers make a few critical errors in their attempt to build a poultry house and this winds up costing them hundreds of dollars in the repair process. In some situations, they have to completely rebuild the poultry house altogether; a very frustrating task to say the least.

The following are the most important tips you must know before you build.

Poultry House Tip #1: Consider Total Land Space

The most important thing you must get right as you get set to build a chicken house is to make sure you’re getting the right amount of total land space. Chickens are incredibly picky animals so if you don’t follow a building plan that takes into account the exact space specifications they need for optimal growth and movement, they will not thrive as they should.

Often this leads to problems where only one or two birds out of your entire flock will be laying eggs, which, as you can image, significantly reduces the number of fresh eggs you get on a daily basis.

Always consult a proper poultry house building guide to make sure that you’re building the right small, medium, or large sized chicken coop to meet your needs.

Poultry House Tip #2: Use Light Wisely

The second tip that you should think about is to use light wisely throughout the coop. Just as you would never want to live in darkness, neither do your chickens. By adjusting the amount of light so that you’re getting the right amount to the chickens you will increase the rate at which they grow, also increasing their capabilities to lay fresh eggs.

Poultry House Tip #3: Do Not Forget The Chicken Run

Finally, the third tip to follow in the chicken poultry house construction process is to make sure you do not overlook a chicken run.

This is what allows them to get outside and get some exercise, which is also vital to their overall growth and development. Farmers who build a proper chicken run are going to reduce the total amount of size they need to dedicate inside the chicken coop, so that’s a very effective way to also reduce overall costs.

Since the poultry coop building materials are typically what you’ll spend the most money on, anything that lowers this will help you out significantly.

So be sure you keep these three tips in mind. Be sure to get a good guide to follow because it could mean the difference between success or failure.

Here is more information on how you can build a poultry house on a budget.

Click here to read my review of Building A Chicken House

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shannon_Clark

• Light.
• The Feeding System.
• Ventilation.

A Poultry House Needs To Have Lots Of Light

Your poultry’s will need to have a lott of light. If you don’t build a poultry coop with lots of light then your poultry’s won’t lay tasty and healthy eggs for you. Remember, a happy poultry lays happy eggs!

You Need To Have A Good Feeding System

When building a house for your poultry’s it needs to have a good feeding system so you poultry’s can eat whenever then want.

Ventilation, The Most Important Thing To Watch To Keep Your Poultry’s Healthy

This is the most important thing to watch. If you don’t create a good ventilation system, then your poultry’s can get sick very easily. When you don’t have a good ventilation system in your poultry house then there will be happening 2 things.

• The heat or cold can’t go out which will make your poultry’s sick.
• Your poultry’s will smell like their own poo which isn’t healthy either.

How To Build The Poultry House

Now you know exactly where to look out for when building your poultry coop, now you only need to know how to build it.

You can basically let somebody else build your poultry coop for you or you will build it all by yourself while you use a poultry house building plan.

It’s highly recommended that if you want to start building a house for your poultry’s that you use a building plan because it will give you step by step instructions on what materials to get, how to build it and how to place it.

Why don’t you take a look at these building plans? Visit: Poultry House Building Plans

So, to start building a house for your poultry’s, you should keep an eye on 3 things. You need to keep an eye on the light, the feeding system and the ventilation from the coop.

When you are about to build a poultry house, it’s highly recommended to start using building plans because they will tell you with step by step instructions what materials to get, how to build the coop and how to place it.

Want to start building your poultry coop today? Right now? Visit: Building Plans For Poultry Houses

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Williamson

With the large number of fowl kept by serious breeders such as breeders of Gamefowl it has not been feasible for a breeder to register each individual bird with a pedigree service that charges a fee for each registration. International Poultry Breeders Association is the first pedigree service available for all poultry breeds and it is free to register and free to enter all your individual birds.

The International Poultry Breeders Association was established to give poultry breeders of all breeds of feathered fowl including our beloved Gamefowl, a way of organizing and maintaining a record of ancestral breeding.

We support the rights of the breeders to own, breed, and market their choice of poultry breeds internationally. The right to improve on breeds through selective breeding from a widely available and diverse gene pool from which to choose from as to bring the individual breeders vision of perfection within his chosen breed to fruition and would also help with the marketability of those breeds of poultry not only nationally but also internationally to increase the populations of those breeds which is the main method used to prevent the extinction of a breed or species. We feel that the IPBA will eventually increase in membership and help to bring ever increasingly rare breeds into the forefront in the hopes of keeping them out of the endangered breeds list which seems to be the ultimate goal of certain organized groups operating within the United States.

With the IPBA’s goal of having a large database of fowl that the breeders can use to increase the chances of finding a line of fowl that can enhance traits that the breeders are seeking to incorporate into their own lines.

Goals that have been set for the IPBA

To promote and protect all pure bred poultry breeds and breeders.
To work alongside all recognized poultry organizations with the promotion and protection of the many different breeds and varieties of all purebred fowl.
To promote and encourage poultry shows as being the preferred method of educating both, breeders, young and old and the general public, in taking up poultry as a hobby and industry.
To assist, encourage and help educate the junior poultry man to the sound and practical value of standard-bred poultry and pure breeding.

In pursuit of these goals, IPBA encourages sanctioned poultry shows internationally.

In our online system, your bird’s ancestors would be entered along with the siblings and offspring of all entered birds.
Each pedigree profile has a details page where you would enter particular information that you as the breeder feels is vital to retain for future reference when judging past matings and when considering future matings.

With proper breeding records you should be able to answer four (4) questions.
1) Who are its ancestors and what have been their breeding and productive performances?
2) Who are its brothers and sisters and what were their breeding and productive performances?
3) To which individual bird has it been mated to in the past?
4) What were the results of those matings?

The first question deals with the previous generations, the second and third deal with the individual birds own generation and lastly, the fourth is used to determine future generations,

The website is http://www.featheredfamilies.com and it is up and running right now, at this moment, we have been online for only one week and have 60 registered members from the United States, Germany and the Philippines, 25 total pedigrees entered and nearly 1,000 visitors to our site. We have the support of The American Gamefowl Breeders Association, The American Game Bantam Club, The Belgian d ‘Uccle and Booted Bantam clubs, to help get the word out to all of their members through newsletters and emails to the importance of having a record keeping program in place.

Anthony Troy Guillory, along with his wife Margaret have created the International Poultry Breeders Association located at http://www.featheredfamilies.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Troy_Guillory

Poultry loans are loans which are offered to people who want to go into the business area which is related to the poultry and if they find themselves a little short of money they can use the poultry loans.

Poultry business is a highly specialized business and requires attention to the core. The poultry loans therefore are offered considering everything in mind and include the loan for following reasons.

• The whole poultry business operation which will cover the costs of setting up of the business.

• Loans for construction that the producer might have to undertake to set up or increase the size of your business.

• Loans for feeding needs that are an integral part of the poultry business.

• Loans for the whole day to day operating expenses which are an absolute necessity to be paid.

A person who wants to apply for poultry loans can do so by logging online and submitting the personal and business details that are required to be submitted according to the lender. The other method is that you can apply to the local loan provider who is in operation in your area. The loan decision will be made in a few days.

Once the poultry loans are offered to you it will also include the other benefits as well.

• Poultry loans that would be offered would be offered in customized packages to meet your requirements as a poultry or egg producer.

• You will also be offered the expert advice of a team which can offer you valuable advice on various topics including the vulnerable areas of the poultry business.

• You will be offered convenient service facilities which will allow you to use the poultry loans effectively.

• You can choose to take the poultry loans on your conditions as well i.e. either a secured poultry loan or an unsecured poultry loan the difference is of a security offered or not offered to the lender. You can choose the option depending on your circumstances.

Poultry business is picking up and many people are trying their hands in that seeing the potential but not everyone has enough finances to start a new venture in this field. It is for them that these poultry loans are there to be used.

Mary Jones is an expert financial advisor. She has done Masters in Finance from London Business School. To find Personal Loans & Mortgages, Popularity Loans, Secured Loan Unsecured Loan visit [http://www.loansvalley.co.uk].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Jones

The end result of doing so is that you will then get fresh eggs every single morning on a regular basis. Most people really like the sound of that, so let’s quickly go over a few tips you must know to be successful with your poultry housing building project.

Build On Firm Soil

One of the first things you should focus on is making sure you’re building on firm soil. When you don’t build your chicken coop on firm soil you’ll find that over time the ground begins to loosen and this can impact the ability of the walls to remain in tact.

Some people will even choose to build their poultry house on cement for this reason, however the choice is entirely up to you. A good building guide will walk you through the process so you can figure out what will work best for your needs.

Check Around For Used Building Materials

You can save hundreds of dollars while building your chicken coop simply by using used building materials. Even if you don’t have any that you think you could use, chances are your neighbours will and this too will save you a great deal of money.

Ask around but make sure you understand what materials can be used successfully and which can’t. The last thing you want to do is mistakenly choose the wrong materials and have to rebuild because of that.

Don’t Forget to Ventilate Your Poultry House

Finally, be sure you’re taking the time to add ventilation to your poultry house. This is very important because without enough ventilation you’re going to find that the chickens become very uncomfortable and will eventually stop laying eggs altogether.

For maximum effectiveness, use the windows to help ventilate the chicken coop or build separate vents just for this purpose.

By making sure you follow some key building points as you go about the process, you guarantee you will have success. Don’t make the mistake of trying to build without a plan however, as 90% of chicken farmers not using a plan wind up spending more money than they have to.

Here is more information on how you can build poultry housing on a budget.

Click here to read my review of ‘Building A Chicken Coop’

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shannon_Clark

Chlorine and its various forms (chlorine gas, chloramine, chlorine dioxide, calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, etc.) have been utilized as disinfectants in public water supplies for about a century. In poultry, there is a growing focus on oxidation reduction potential (ORP) levels without consideration of the water’s pH. Growers are actually over chlorinating their water to reach target ORP levels. This is significant because recent studies have shown that chlorine may directly or indirectly be the principal cause of many forms of cancer.
The EPA adopted a trihalomethane regulation in 1979 to limit the allowable level of carcinogenic disinfection byproducts (DBP) in drinking water. Although chlorine is a good disinfectant, it also can form trace amounts of a DBP called trihalomethane (THM) (Swichtenberg , 2003). THMs are chemicals that are formed when organic materials (e.g., decaying trees and leaves as well as urban farm run-off) combine with free chlorine. This has caused great concerns about using chlorine in recent years and the EPA and water companies have searched for ways of reducing these byproducts.

Chloramines are actually used as DBP inhibitors in 30% of the nation’s surface water supplies and are expected to grow to 65% within 10 years (Long, 2005). Chloramines are formed by the mixture of chlorine and ammonia in water. Chloramines can also affect the palatability of water. Chlorine dioxide can also be utilized as a DBP inhibitor. When added to chlorine, a reduction in total trihalomethane (TTHM) has been observed (Rittman, et al., 2002). At the same time, chlorine dioxide is known for producing chlorites that are identified as causing hemolytic anemia (Condie, 1986). Currently, the maximum contaminant level for total THMs is 0.1mg/L in public drinking water.

Gasified chlorine is becoming more prevalent in poultry production. Chlorine gas (Cl2) and chlorine dioxide (ClO2 also referred to as anthium dioxide) can be generated onsite or delivered by specialty shops. This is by far the most dangerous disinfectant available on the market today. In fact, chlorine gas was utilized in chemical warfare on our troops during World War II. The greatest concern is that chlorine gas will create organochlorines. Organochlorines are formed when gasified chlorine comes into contact with organics. Organics can include tannins, algae, bacteria, and biofilms. Their chlorine-carbon bonds are very strong which means they do not break down easily and they resist metabolism. Organochlorines tend to be bioaccumulative and are stored in fatty tissues. As we move up the food chain, the problem becomes more severe. When a predator eats another organism, any fat-soluable substance in the prey that the predator does not digest will be retained in its fats (Thornton, 2000). It is comparable to mercury poisoning in the fact that organochlorines can be passed through the food chain and has been observed in breast meat of ducks (Tsuji et al., 2007, Braune et al., 1999, Braune and Malone, 2006,). This can potentially be a huge liability for the poultry industry.

Ozone has also received a lot of attention recently. It is highly effective for deactivating all groups of organisms (particularly viruses and bacteria) and it can treat high volumes of water. Ozone may be the strongest and most capable disinfectant against cryptosporidium. However, it does have its disadvantages as well. Ozone can produce excessive bromates (which is a potential carcinogen) if the water contains bromide (Siddiqui, et al., 1995). It also possesses a reduced efficacy in cold water. Ozone also does not provide a persistent residual disinfection capability, may require high capital investments, and has relatively high operating and maintenance costs (Funyak, 2003).

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is becoming more popular and economical than ever before. UV light is a point-of-contact disinfection system that is highly effective in the inactivation of protozoa (viruses remain most resistant) and does not require the addition of any chemicals, requires short contact times, and posses no known DBPs. It does this without altering the chemistry, taste, and quality of water. However, turbidity (defined as a decrease in the transparency of a solution due to the presence of suspended and some dissolved substances, which causes incident light to be scattered, reflected, and attenuated rather than transmitted in straight lines) however, does affect the quality of disinfection because of what is known as the shadowing effect. Also, as in the case of ozone, UV has no residual disinfection capacity.

Acidification of water using sodium bisulfamate or citric acid has shown promise in reducing bacteria levels in poultry water. However, acidification is not a disinfection process. Its affect provides a less habitable environment in which microorganisms can grow. It was widely accepted that acidification of water led to increased feed conversion. A recent study has reported the opposite (Watkins et al, 2005). Also, research on pathogen reduction has shown that chickens fed with acidified feed developed a relative growth retardation that increased during the first two weeks before it stabilized (Heres et al, 2004). It is then plausible that when broilers are provided acidified water combined with acidified feed, it could detrimentally affect feed conversion and possibly lead to a condition of acidosis. Water with too low of a pH could also corrode plumbing, nipples, foggers, and shorten the life of cool cells.

In the United States and abroad, transition metal ionization (TMI) has been used for years as an alternative to chlorine for disinfection in many applications. Copper-silver ionization has been proven to be very effective against some of the most resistant organisms, such as Legionella, in hot water systems and has proven long lasting residual disinfection capabilities. Copper ions, in the form of copper salts, have been utilized for years in livestock feed to kill and prohibit the growth of Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter. Research on copper surfaces in processing facilities has shown its ability to control Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni (Faundez, et al., 2004).

Even though the hazards associated with chlorine are known, it is still the most common disinfection method. There is sufficient evidence that TMI can offer superior disinfection capabilities over currently utilized methods without changing the water chemistry or producing harmful disinfection byproducts. It is further believed that the proposed disinfection method will provide required nutritional trace elements to broilers that can help build immunity against common avian pathogens. The USEPA is spending millions of dollars to research disinfection alternatives that do not produce DPBs. The industry focus does not need to be on the reduction of DBPs such as TTHM, but on eliminating them altogether.

Copper-silver ionization is becoming more widely accepted as a disinfection method, especially in hospital hot water systems. The biocidal effect of copper and silver stems from a combination of mechanisms. Positively charged metallic ions attach to the negatively charged bacteria cell membrane and cause cell lysis and death (Britton, et al., 1978; Freedman, et al., 1968; Slawson, et al., 1990). The copper ions disrupt the enzyme structures of the cell allowing the silver ions to penetrate inside where they rapidly kill the cell’s life support system. This is because the positively charged silver and copper ions have an affinity for electrons and when introduced into the interior of a bacterial cell, they interfere with electron transport in cellular respiration systems. Metal ions will bind to the sulfhydryl, amino and carboxyl groups of amino acids, thereby denaturing the proteins they compose. This renders enzymes and other proteins ineffective, compromising the biochemical processes they control. Cell surface proteins necessary for transport of materials across cell membranes also are inactivated as they are denatured.

When copper binds with the phosphate groups that are part of the structural backbone of DNA molecules, the result is the unraveling of the double helix and consequent destruction of the molecule (Meyer, 2001). Copper concentrations of 0.2 to 0.4 mg/liter and silver concentrations of 0.02 to 0.04 mg/liter are recommended for sufficient disinfection levels according to in vitro and field studies (Lin, et al., 1996; Liu, et al., 1994; Liu, et al., 1998).

Zinc ionization utilized in water treatment has not been researched but zinc is often added to feed and antibiotics. Significant growth-promoting effects were observed in broilers receiving zinc-bacitracin (Engberg, et al., 2000). This is probably attributable to the significant reduction in the number of coliform bacteria (C. perfringens and Lactobacillus salivarius) in the ileum of zinc-bacitracin fed birds. It should also be noted that zinc-bacitracin had no influence on enterobacteria counts in the ileum. Zinc, like copper, has excellent antimicrobial effects.

Unlike chlorine, transition metal ionization does not result in dangerous halogenated organic by-products such as trihalomethanes, chloramines and chloroform. Also, these ions are stable, making it easier to maintain an effective residual disinfection (Meyer, 2001). Furthermore, the ions will remain active until they are absorbed by a microorganism. However, using soluble metal salts as a source of these ions and monitoring their concentrations to maintain consistent effects is cumbersome at best. Consequently, most modern ionization systems use electrolytic ion generators to control the concentrations of the dissolved metals. The electrolytic ion generator is the most cost effective approach and is the approach that will be utilized in this study.

The efficacy of TMI disinfection is dependant upon several variables. The concentration of metal ions in the water has to be of sufficient levels and is determined by the water flow, the volume of water in the system, the conductivity of the water, and the present concentration of microorganisms. This is similar to chlorine in the fact that active disinfection levels decrease upon contact with microorganisms.

Copper-silver ionization is highly effective against Legionella, known to be resistant to most disinfectants and will even disinfect the bio film this bacteria produces. The copper ions remain within the bio film, causing a residual effect. When copper and silver ions are added to water constantly, the concentration of Legionella bacteria remains low. Copper-silver ionization also has a deactivation rate slower than that of ozone or UV. Another benefit of copper-silver ionization is that ions remain in the water for a long period of time causing long-term disinfection and protection from recontamination (Neither ozone nor UV has this capability). Copper and silver ions remain in the water until they precipitate and are absorbed by bacteria or algae, or removed from water by filtration.

The TMI systems have several advantages that include:

* Installation and maintenance is easy
* Efficacy is not effected by water temperatures
* Very good residual disinfection protection
* Recolonization is delayed because transition metals ions kill rather than suppress
* Effective on even on Legionella and Cryptosporidium.

Supplemental copper intake in poultry and swine diets has shown growth promotion abilities (Burnell et al., 1988; Cromwell et al., 1989; Dove, 1993) which are believed to be attributable to the biocidal affect of copper (Varel et al., 1987). Contradictory findings have been published on intake level where increased dietary copper levels (above 120 ppm) have shown adverse growth responses and toxicity (Kashani et al., 1986; Harms, et al., 1987). These discrepancies may be attributable to the difference in breed, age, length of treatment, type of diet, and growing conditions among the various experiments. It should also be noted that only 1.3 ppm is the EPA standard of copper in drinking water for human consumption (Amount tested in the aforementioned research was 100 times above this amount) and even the EPA regulations are substantially higher than what is being proposed as the disinfection level (< 0.5 ppm) for this research effort.

Copper levels in the diet have been shown to affect the resistance of sheep to bacterial infections (Woolliams et al., 1986). The Scottish Blackface hill breed, which is naturally susceptible to copper deficiency, is highly vulnerable to microbial infections. Copper supplementation has increased their resistance and survival rate. In one study with 65 lambs, death losses varied from 2 to 10 percent in lambs with less than 3.0 micromoles of copper per liter of blood, while there were no losses in lambs with greater than 4.0 micromoles of copper per liter of blood. In these studies, copper deficiency did not decrease the prevalence of microbial infection, but it did decrease mortality. Infections, found mainly in the gastro-intestinal tract and lungs, apparently were more damaging because of enhanced inflammatory reactions when the lambs were copper deficient.

Zinc is essential for protein synthesis as well as for the immune status of the host (Goyer, 1996). Substantial evidence has been reported that adding zinc above the supposed requirement enhances disease resistance in chickens. Southern (1983) reported that adding 50 ppm zinc to broiler diets containing 40 ppm zinc increased (P <.05) gain and feed efficiency when the animal were infected with E. acervulina. Stahl reported that the immunocompetence of progeny chicks from hens was affected by dietary zinc. White Leghorn breeding hens were fed a corn-soy diet supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 40 or 150 ppm zinc. Progeny from unsupplemented hens had reduced titers compared to sheep red blood cells (those receiving the 10 and 20 ppm zinc treatments). However, excessive zinc (150 ppm) also depressed the immunocompetence of the progeny (Stahl, et al., 1984). It should be noted that less than 0.5 ppm of zinc is adequate for disinfection of water lines. Zinc is also credited for helping the immune systems, assist in skin and wound healing, and for hormone production in poultry. Zinc deficiency symptoms include a suppressed the immune system, poor feathering and dermatitis, infertility, and poor shell quality (Scheider, 2006).

Research in copper/silver metal disinfection has been very limited and has primarily applied to clean water systems (swimming pools, spas, cooling towers, greenhouses, nurseries and orchards). The antimicrobial properties of small amounts of these metals and their ability to react with cellular proteins in microorganisms have been known and well documented for some time. The use of other transition metals or testing of one specific metal has not been evaluated and especially for use in livestock production. It is hypothesized that these metal ions have the ability of passing entirely through the digestive tract which would leave a disinfection residual in fecal matter. If so, this could reduce some pathogens that pass though horizontal transmission.

Steve McCune, Vice President
Intec America Coproration
800-896-1759
http://www.Intec-America.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_McCune

In the past, the availability of exotic poultry was limited and found only on bill of fares in fine-dining establishments. Since most Americans were not raised on such delicacies, high-priced menu items like Pheasant, Duck and Partridge appealed only to the upper class. While this flock of birds has been around for years, today exotic poultry is going through a bit of a revolution. As the population becomes more health-conscious and adventurous; it is fast becoming a tasty, nutritious and most importantly, affordable alternative to chicken and turkey. Gobbling up exotic poultry provides a major source of protein; it’s low in cholesterol and easier to digest in comparison to beef.

I spoke with a few chefs around Las Vegas to get their opinions on this latest trend. Chuck Becker, the in-house Corporate Chef for Outwest Meats; the largest meat company in Las Vegas said, “Requests for exotic poultry come from chefs who want to see it on his or her menu, or it’s a special request from one of their guests and then run as a special. Chefs are looking to offer their guests something different on the menu; another form of poultry besides chicken, and foods like Ostrich, Quail and Squab are perfect especially for the health-conscious since these types of meats are low in fat and calories”.

According to Executive Chef Carols Guia, “I often run exotic poultry entrees such as Quail and Squab as seasonal specials, and I get many requests for Ostrich. During the Christmas season, I offer a rich and delicious pot pie of Ostrich with Fois Gras and Black Truffles. I also offer these specials as appetizers so my guests don’t have to commit to an entrée.” Chef Carlos attributes the popularity of exotic poultry as “breaking the norm” from chicken and turkey, and he said it’s not difficult to get his patrons to try this type of cuisine. “Our servers are very good at introducing these dishes, especially to our vacation and convention clients who want to try something new, and when they return, they want to have these entrees available”.

Exotic poultry adds a diverse dimension and an enigmatic flair to a dish. According to Executive Chef, Paul Elliott, from Dragon Ridge Country Club, exotic poultry has “more savory flavor than chicken and turkey and the flavor is certainly worth the experience and the extra expense.” With exposure to a culinary resource such as televised cooking shows with world-famous chefs, and new and unique restaurants on the rise, the dining public has learned that they no longer have to settle for a simple chicken entrée or traditional turkey. Exotic poultry can turn an ordinary meal into a mouth-watering feast. Chef Paul suggests Duck Confit “because it’s moist, and you can use the fat from the Confit on other dishes to add flavor.” Chef Paul believes that exotic poultry is not difficult to work with compared to chicken and turkey. “The only difference is that some fowl is smaller. Exotic poultry lends itself to a variety of preparations from appetizers and soups to the main course; and it pairs well with almost any accompaniment, and has a unique ability to absorb a variety of spices and seasonings”.

From the conservative to the curious, diners have become more demanding and sophisticated, and willing to tempt their taste buds for that ultimate dining experience of exotic food they might not make at home. Exotic poultry is not just for the holidays and special occasions. “Most of the poultry found in restaurants today are farmed-raised in the US and available all year long”, said Chef Becker. This is good news for chefs and restaurateurs who want to increase their bottom line with unique menu items, and their calorie-conscious clientele looking for new, healthy choices.

We live in a world of cultural diversity with a growing demand for cultivated foods. The future of the food industry lies in large part with chefs who must attract customers and keep them coming back by staying up to date with the latest trends. The versatility, adaptability and healthful appeal of exotic poultry make it a popular choice for chefs who like to experiment with the unusual, dazzle their audience with the unexpected, and challenge their culinary creativity by finding innovative ways to turn this emerging trend of chicken “look-a-likes” into affordable crowd pleasers while maintaining a sense of the familiar.

EXOTIC POULTRY

Duck is more mainstream than most of its exotic counterparts. The dark-red meat is rich, sweet and juicy and best prepared medium-rare. Cornish Game Hens have a light savory flavor; slightly stronger than the flavor of chicken. Partridge is best roasted. This plump-breasted bird has a tender white meat with a slightly gamy flavor.

Quail, a member of the Partridge family, is the smallest of game birds (weighing approximately 5-8 ounces). A sturdy meat with a delicate taste. Squab is a young pigeon. The meat is exceptionally tender with a juicy delicate flavor.

Poussin is a young chicken that weighs about 8-16 ounces. The meat is tender and sweet. Goose, with its rich dark fatty meat, is traditional holiday fare in many European countries.

Ostrich is a blood-red meat that is tender, lean, rich and moist.

Grouse is similar to quail, with lean red meat and a gamy flavor.

Pheasant, weighs approximately 2-3 pounds, and is similar to grouse, but its meat is light, juicy and tender in comparison.

Guinea Fowl, often called an African pheasant or Guinea hen, has a rich succulent favor and half the fat of chicken.

Silkie (Bantam Chicken) black-boned with lean dark meat and is ideal for soups and stews. Petit Poulet, a baby chicken with slightly sweet meat.

Pigeon; dark and tender meat, and should be eaten when young.

Emu is a juicy, low fat meat.

Kate Mazzarella-Minshall
Director of Events
Harley-Davidson Cafe / Thunderbolt Associates, LLC (NYC)
3725 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89113
katemazzarellaminshall@gmail.com
kateminshall@aol.com
http://www.harley-davidsoncafe.com

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Poultry house plans come in many shapes and sizes depending on the number of birds you plan to have in your flock. The type of poultry you plan on raising will also make a big difference in the type of house that you build. If you are planning on raising hens mainly for their eggs then you will need to have nesting boxes for them to lay their eggs in. For every 4 to 5 laying hens you have you will need to provide one nesting box that is layered with wood shavings or other nesting material.

Your poultry house plans should ensure that your birds have plenty of places to perch. Experts recommend that your birds have 6 to 10 inches of perch space each and that none of the perches are more than 4 feet off the ground. A feeding tray should be included that is no higher than the top of your hens’ backs and can be removed for ease of cleaning.

Your poultry house plans should walk you through the selection of materials from the floor to the roof. A good solid wood or cement floor is recommended to make it easier to keep clean and to keep predators out. The walls and roof can be made of wood or metal as long as they are strong enough to keep your chickens in and vermin out. If you live in a cold climate you should insulate the walls and roof to help keep your poultry warm in the winter.

A well built poultry house will keep your poultry safe and warm all year round. This will keep you and your family well provided with fresh meat and eggs for years to come.

For expert and detailed step by step instruction on how to construct your own Chicken Coop visit Poultry House Plans

Buying a Chicken Coop can be quite costly, and you can easily build one for a quarter of the cost of buying…plus you have the satisfaction of knowing that you did it yourself. Check out how to build it now at Poultry House Plans

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