Incubation periods of different species

Incubation: It is the technique by which chicks come out from hatching eggs without help of male.

Four environmental conditions are necessary for successful incubation:

1.    Proper temperature.

2.    Adequate ventilation for respiration

3.    Sufficient humidity and

4.    Correct position of the egg

Incubation periods of different species.

Duck: The incubation period for duck eggs from most of the breeds is 28 days. Muscovy duck eggs require a (33-35) day incubation period. Duck eggs are generally hatched in incubators and under the same conditions used for hatching chicken eggs. More moisture is required at hatching time than in generally used for chicken eggs.

Goose: The period of incubation of goose eggs varies from 28 days in the small breeds to (34-35) days in the large breeds.

Pigeon: The incubation period for pigeon eggs is about (16-17) days.

Guinea fowl:  Incubation period 28 days. Eggs may be hatched in incubators and brooded under brooders, using it procedures as used for chickens.

Turkey: Incubation period 28 days. The poultry are normally removed on the 29 days.

Japanese Quail: Incubation period varies between (17-18) days depending on the strain and procedures adopted. Eggs should be placed large end up in the setting trays.

Bob White Quail: Incubation period 23-24 days

Chicken: Incubation period 21 days.

Pheasants: Incubation period 23-28 days.

Swan: Incubation period 29-36 days

Ostrich: Incubation period 40-42 days

Scientific name of poultry species

a.     Chicken – Gallus domesticus.

b.    Duck – Anas platyrhynchos.

c.     Turkey – Meleagris gallapavo.

d.    Pigeon – Columba livia.

e.     Quail – Coturnix japonica.

f.      Swan – Cygnus atratus.

g.     Guinea fowl – Numida meleagris.  

h.    Pea fowl – Pavo cristatus.

i.       Pheasant – Phasianus colchicus.

j.       Goose – Anser anser.

k.    Ostrich – Ostrathio camelus.

Environmental & Social behavior of Guinea fowl

Guinea fowl are native to the grasslands and woodlands of most of Africa, south of the Sahara where they occupy all habitats except dense forest and treeless deserts. How even, in cool climates, regardless of the day length, they will not begin egg production until temperature exceeds 15ºc.

These birds never become “tame” but nether do they leave the premises. Although they stray further then chickens do, they always return. They like to hide their eggs in a bushy corner, Often in hollows scratched in the ground. They can fly, although even in the wild they do not fly far. They prefer to roost on high branches and can be hard to catch during the day.

Although wild guinea fowl live in groups, they are monogamous by nature and tend to bond in pairs. However, in domestication a single male may serve 4 or more females.

Environmental & Social behavior of Pigeon

The domestic pigeon can be raised equally well in temperate and tropical zone. Indeed, these adaptable species can be kept anywhere that wild pigeons exist, including arid and humid regions. Cold climate do not favor for squab production and hot climate promote vermin and disease.

Wild pigeon often nest on cliff sides. Domestic pigeon prefer to nest around buildings, in nooks and shelves and under the eaves that is in “ Pigeon hole”.

In domestic varieties, the pair bond often lasts until severe illness or, death. Both sexes take nearly equal part in nest building, incubations, and caring for the young. Typically there are 2 eggs in a clutch. Each clutches a year is not uncommon for the breeding pair.

Unlike most birds, pigeon drink by inserting their beaks into water and sucking of a continuous draft.

Environmental & Social behavior of Quail

Quails are hardy birds that, within reasonable limit, can adapt to many different environments. However, they prefer temperate climates; the northern limit of their winter habitat is around 38 ºN.

Only females hatch the eggs and raised the chicks. Male go off and court other females when their partners being the nesting process

Environmental & Social behavior of duck

Ducks are well adapted to rivers, lakes, canals, ponds, and other aquatic location. More over they can be raised successfully in estuarine areas. Most oceans bays and inlets teem with plants and animal life that ducks relish, but (unlike wild sea duck), domestic breeds have a low of physiological tolerance for salt and must be supplied with fresh drinking water.

It is generally well known that ducks are shy, nervous and seldom aggressive towards each other or, human. They spend many hours each day bathing and frolicking in any available water. However, most breeds can be raised successfully without swimming in water.

Although wild ducks normally pair off, domestic ducks will mate indiscriminately with any female in a flock. In intensively raised flocks, one male to six females, and in village flocks, 1 male for up to 25 females, resulting in good fertility.

Most domestic ducks, particularly the egg laying strains, have a little instinct to brood. If not confined they will lay eggs wherever they happened to be occasionally even while swimming. To facilitate egg collections, some keepers confined ducks until noon.

Environmental & Social behavior of chicken

These passive gregarious birds have a pronounced social order. If acclimated they remain on the premises and are unlikely to go feral. If given a little evening meal of “scratch” they are learning to come back to rooster at night.                                       

     Although chicken derived from tropical area. The adapt to a wide variety of environment. The modern Leghorn for example is found in the hot planes of the country such as Saudi Arabia, which has a vest poultry industry and open export broilers.

Adult’s social behavior of chicken:

     Peck order among sexually mature male is express in social arrangement the dominant controls the behaviors of the next sub-ordinate male which tends to remain rarest to him.                          

     Chickens never moves randomly with regards to their neighbor dominant individual about facing & dominant individual. Male express status while standing & walking. All chickens must constantly maintain their rank in to peck order by an appropriate behavior. If a male submits in the presence of dominate male. The feathers are compressed & its tail is lower and closed. Walking the appropriate distance.                          

     The normal distance between the dominant male & its sub-ordinate to in which status and thrust behavior are avoided is between 5-6m. Although it is reduced at night in roosting area. Changes in dominant behavior when territory is limited to a small yard as compared with a larger territory indicate modification that become extreme in large matted flock.