What are ducks ?

Ducks are birds. They are also called "waterfowls" because they are normally found in places with
water, like ponds, streams and rivers. They are related to geese and swans. The duck is the
smallest of them all. Ducks also have shorter necks and wings and a stout body. They can live
from 2-12 years, depending on breed.

The wild turkey was first discovered in America. The turkey is native to Northern Mexico and
Eastern United States. They were domesticated by the Aztecs in Mexico about 500 years ago.
They were taken to Europe in the early 16th Century. The most common breeds in the United
States are the Bronze, "White Holland, Narragansett, and the Bourbon Red.

The turkey is the largest bird on the farm. The male turkey is called Tom or cock.
The female is called a hen and the baby is called a poult. A young male is called Jake
while a young female is called Jenny. The male turkey has a long wattle at the base
of the bill and additional wattles on the neck. Turkeys are omnivores. They feed on
insects, plants, corn, wheat and seeds. It also has a prominent tuft of bristles
projecting downwards from its chest. The male will raise its tail feathers to form a
vertical fan shape when it is courting the female. It also does this when as a show of
aggressive display towards its enemies. As it grows older, it also gets more aggressive. The males
get into fights among themselves for access to the hens or females. Male turkeys are also more
colorful than the females, like most birds. Their plumage comes in a variety of bronze, green or
reddish colors. The chest feather on the males are coarse. Wild turkeys can fly. They fly and roost
(sleep) in trees.

SOME COW FACTS

COW SENSES

 Cows are able to see color.

 Cows can see almost 360-degree panoramic vision
 Cows have a keen sense of smell up to 5 miles away
HOW LONG DOES A COW LIVE?

 Cows can live up to 25 years.

 The number of rings on the horns = approximate age

COW ANATOMY

 A cow has 4 stomachs.

 No two cows have the same pattern or spots.
 A cow can weigh up to

COW FAMILY

 An adult male cow is called a bull.

 An adult female is called a cow.
 The young is called a calf.

WHAT DO COWS EAT?

Cows eat corn, hay, barley, beet pulp, grass and wheat.

WHAT DO COWS GIVE US?

 Cows give us milk, leather and meat.

 Milk can be made into other dairy products :
butter, cheese, yogurt
Chicken Facts

Chickens are domestic or farm birds. The live span of a chicken is about 10 to 15 years. The male
is larger and more brightly colored than the female. This is common feature in birds. The males
show off their colorful feathers to attract the females.

A chicken has a comb on the head and two wattles under the neck. The male has a larger comb
compared to the female. The male is called a rooster. The female is called a hen while the young
are called chicks. The female is usually ready to lay her first eggs when she is around six months
old.

The morning call your hear on the farm every morning is actually the rooster crowing "cock-a-
doodle-doo". The female is called a hen and she goes "cluck-cluck". The young are called chicks
and they go "chick-chick".

What do chickens eat?

Chickens eat worms, insects, seeds, grains, snails, slugs, fruits, vegetables and many other foods.
The gizzard which is a part of the stomach contains tiny stones to help grind up the food.

Who are the chicken's enemies?

Animals like the hawks, bobcats, snakes, skunks, owls, raccoons, foxes and opposums prey on
chickens.

Breeds of chickens

There are approximatelty 175 varieties of chickens. They are grouped into 12 classes and
approximately 60 breeds based on geographical areas :
- Asiatic, American, Continental, English, Mediterranean
See below for some of the different breeds :

 Bantams. These are miniature chicken breeds.

 Plymouth Rock. Originated in the United States.
 Marans. They are small breeds preferred for their eggs rather than meat.
 Leghorns. Most popular commercial breed. Usually white in color.
 Rhode Island Red Chicken. This is a very popular breed of chicken. Usually raised for their
meat and eggs and sometimes as show birds.

Life-Cycle of a chicken

The hen does not need a rooster to lay eggs. However, the eggs will not hatch because they are not
fertilized. Chicken eggs come in different colors like white, brown, blue or bluish green and pink.
The unique blue eggs come from the Araucana breed, from South America. Most chickens will
stop laying eggs when the weather is cold. They will start laying when it gets warmer again.

How long does it take for a chicken egg to hatch?

A hen lays an average of 300 eggs per year. The hen will sit on her eggs to keep them warm so
that they will hatch into chicks. A fertilized egg starts developing into a chicken when its
temperature reaches 86 degrees farenheight. A chicken takes 21 days to hatch.

Have you ever seen a chicken laying an egg? Well, this video clips shows a chicken laying an egg
very clearly.