We destroyed the chicken tractor using hammers, drills, crowbars and elbow grease. Some parts were more challenging than others for example the chicken wire was far easier to remove than the boards that supported the structure. The entire class had fun destroying something the previous class had worked hard in building. It was a great team building exercise and we used Rory to herd the animals away. This is how we proved we are the best animal science class.

Cleaning the coop

On January 19, 2018, we went to the chicken coops to clean one of the stalls. The stalls were getting ready for five valuable chickens to mate with a hen.We cleaned the coop because a build-up of droppings will cause a build-up of ammonia. The ammonia can damage the hen's respiratory system and his eyes.  We had to rake and take out all of the old wood shavings and put in new wood shavings to provide the chickens with a clean mating area. We filled the coop with wood shavings because it keeps the coop smelling fresh.  Once the chickens and hen get situated they may begin to mate immediately.

Selection of Chickens for Breeding

Friday, January 19, 2018

On Friday, we selected hens for breeding with the rooster. While selecting the hens, we looked for specific characteristics that would complement the rooster's traits. One trait we desired was fast molting, shown by the wing feathers being the same length. We wanted this so that their feathers would grow in time for the winter. We also wanted them to have the same number of digits on their feet because it's more desirable. In addition, we looked for a hen with a small comb and wattle because the rooster has a large comb. The disadvantage of having a large comb is an increased risk of frostbite. Lastly, we wanted the hens to have a wide, moist cloaca, to make sure they were already laying eggs and to enable a safe and easy passage of the egg. To make sure the selected hens were in good health, we made sure their feathers were even and had a smooth sheen over them. We also wanted them to be plump, but not overweight.

Cold Weather Requirements for Animals

It is important to manage farm animals' water, feed, and body condition during the winter. Water should be more available because snow does not count as a water replenishment. Goats should consume around three gallons of water a day and cattle should consume around fourteen gallons. Snow and ice can lower body temperatures for farm animals so it is important that water is available at all times. Tank heaters may be needed if water will freeze because of the temperature. Nutritional requirements also increase during the cold weather. Energy from hay can be used to develop a thick coat for the winter. If hay is not available, grains are acceptable. It is important to do multiple body assessments during the winter because the heavy winter coat can hide any sort of skin abnormalities. It is also important to check the hooves in case of any thrush or white line disease. The mud and wetness increases the likelihood of animals obtaining a hoof fungus. Also, it is important to get the animals' hooves trimmed regularly. Lastly, it is essential that animals remain active even though it is cold outside.

Measuring the Weight of Cows 1/18

         On January 18th, we weighed the cows at home winds. Most people would use a scale for measuring weight for humans, but in our case we used a tape measure for the cattle. Using a tape measure is both less expensive and as accurate as a scale. It's also less of a hassle because you would have to physically move the animal and make sure it stayed in place in order to weight the huge animal. When measuring a cow you have to wrap the tape around right behind the two front legs. The only major issue using a measuring tape is human error. This is why we have to average out multiple measurements (usually we measure it twice). The main weight in a cow is in the torso, But when measuring a animal theres always a possibility of getting hurt usually the animal will kick behind them as a instinctive reaction, so make sure they see you and pet them before you measure.