Poultry

We have a variety of resources, both in-person and online, available for backyard and commercial poultry producers. The topics range from chicken egg and meat production to breed selection and biosecurity to curing and smoking farm-raised chickens, turkeys and quail.

Related Departments: Poultry Science, Animal Science

4 chickens up close

Related Topics

Texas 4-H Poultry Project

What is poultry? Chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese are just a few examples of poultry. This project teaches members production and marketing by managing projects.
Teen showing a chicken at a livestock show

Learn About
Poultry

Publications

Publication

This manual aids in teaching beginners and experienced individuals how to properly evaluate live birds, ready-to-cook poultry, shell eggs, and processed poultry. It also includes information related to poultry production, management, and science and cooperating with others in solving poultry industry problems.

Publication

This discusses information to serve as an aid in teaching both beginning and experienced egg graders the correct interpretation and application of US standards, grades, and weight classes for shell eggs.

Publication

This publication helps families interested in maintaining a small laying flock to produce eggs for home consumption. It covers housing, feeding and management of pullets and laying hens.

All Poultry Publications

Programs

We offer numerous free and affordable programs on agriculture and natural resources, family and community health, economic health and youth development. We also offer many volunteer opportunities. Browse the list below.
Program

The Texas 4-H Agriculture & Livestock Program provides a variety of unbiased resources for 4-H/FFA families, leaders and volunteers interested in youth livestock projects and agricultural advocacy.

Program

The Pullorum-Typhoid (PT) Program seeks to control and eradicate the pullorum disease and fowl typhoid from poultry flocks in Texas.

All Poultry Programs

Courses

Course

Join Texas A&M poultry experts to learn what it takes to raise poultry for 4-H or FFA.

Course

This course provides accreditation for poultry producers in nuisance odor prevention. Topics include methods for reducing odors, tips for land application of litter, and state-mandated odor control plans.

All Poultry Courses

All Resources on Poultry

  • Publication

    Owning backyard chickens and other poultry can be a rewarding hobby, but it does come with risks, specifically from illnesses caused by a Salmonella infection. This publication contains FAQs about disease prevention while raising poultry at home. (3 pages)

  • Publication

    This publication details two recommended broiler feeding programs as well as one recommended turkey feeding program for successful show birds.

  • Publication

    This publication is a plan for creating a simple brooding unit for classroom use.

  • Publication

    This publication is a checklist for your egg-to-chick project.

  • Publication

    Temperature, humidity, and egg handling are important facets of a successful hatch. This one-page fact sheet also includes information on storing eggs, incubating them, and how to manage the actual hatching process. (1 page)

  • Publication

    Incubating and hatching chicken eggs can be made into projects that are as simple or as elaborate as you need them to be. This 5-page publication outlines experiments you can use to lay the foundation for understanding broad subjects such as nutrition and the circulatory system, or the basics of data measurement, collection, and analysis. […]

  • Publication

    This comprehensive guide provides detailed information on how to maintain the quality during incubation to ensure a maximum hatch.

  • Publication

    This publication aims to help poultry producers protect Texas waterways from contamination associated with livestock production and which may pose a health risk to Texas citizens. It includes best management practices for keeping bacteria, sediment, nutrients, and pesticide runoff out of waterways as well as preventing the loss of water and topsoil. (80 pages)

  • Publication

    The Teacher Toolkit for the Poultry Evaluation is a bundle designed to provide a Poultry Evaluation CDE team with the curriculum resources they need to be successful.

  • Publication

    This publication contains FAQs and steps for building your own egg candler.

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