feathers

Question 1

are feathers a product or by product

Answer 1

by product

Question 2

broilers produce how many lbs of down

Answer 2

2.3 billion

Question 3

what is the most readily available down

Answer 3

duck down

Question 4

what’s the more expensive down

Answer 4

goose, because of availability

Question 5

how to harvest down feathers

Answer 5

-can be harvested at slaughter
-can be plucked near molting-some companies refuse to purchase down harvested this way

Question 6

rachis

Answer 6

(shaft)-primary stalk

Question 7

barbs

Answer 7

-individual strands emerging from rachis in v like pattern
-vary in length

Question 8

barbules

Answer 8

velcro like hooks and loops on the edges of barbs
-allows feathers to join together

Question 9

feathers are similar to wool and hair

Answer 9

Inner medulla, outer cortex, 80% keratin, air filled cells allow flexibility and heat trapping qualities

Question 10

feather types

Answer 10

Wing, down, tail, contour, semiplume, bristle, filoplume

Question 11

Pennaceous feather

Answer 11

-stiff, flat
-wind and water proofing come from the barbules
-wing and tail feathers

Question 12

plumulaceous feathers

Answer 12

-loosely arranged barbs, no rachis
-long barbules
-trap heat close to the body
-Down, semi-plume feathers

Question 13

genetic selection can change what

Answer 13

feather structure, function and appearance

Question 14

frizzle chickens and frill back pigeons

Answer 14

-curled feathers caused by rachis mutation
-decreases ability to maintain body temperature

Question 15

silkie chickens

Answer 15

-thin rachis
-long barbules
-appear and feel; more like hair than feathers
-almost like down over the whole body

Question 16

the molting process

Answer 16

-like hair feathers cannot be repaired if damaged
-molting-process of shedding and regrowing all feathers
-slow process, they do not become completely bald overnight
-can be a partial molt in that not all feathers are lost

Question 17

feathers cannot repair themselves so they ______

Answer 17

molt

Question 18

what is molting

Answer 18

slow process of shedding and regrowing all feathers (can be a partial molt)

Question 19

what happens to egg production while molting

Answer 19

slows down or stops

Question 20

how to delay molt

Answer 20

keep chickens under light (15hrs/day) and increase protien intake

Question 21

how to force a molt

Answer 21

by restricting energy intake and create a 30% weight loss