For successful poultry farming, learning about classification of poultry is a must. In ancient time all poultry birds lived in forest. India and middle area of east Asia is considered as the original homeland of chicken.
Jungle chicken of prehistoric era first raised as domestic bird in some area like Malay and Java of south east Asia. Then people used to hunt bird form jungle for meat and raise them at home for chicken fight as a source of entertainment.
It is thought that, modern chicken originated from red jungle chicken of that time. About class, breed, variety and strain of chicken are described below.
Classification of Poultry
Scientific classification of poultry is shown in the table below.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-Class | Neornithes |
| Order | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae |
| Subfamily | Phasianinae |
| Genus | Gallus |
| Species | G. gallus |
| Subspecies | G. g. domesticus |
| Scientific Name | Gallus gallus domesticus |
Class
Chicken originated from a certain place with same or similar characteristics are of same class. For example, Asiatic class, European class, American class etc.
Breeds
Under class, chicken with same size, shape and characteristic similarity with each other are of same breed. Like, Leghorn, Minorca etc.
Variety
Variety is detected by feather color, heat crest or other physical characteristics within a breed. For example, white leghorn, black minorca etc.
Strain
Strain are made for a certain purpose by internal insemination of at least five generation. For example, star cross white, star cross brown, star brow etc.
Hybrid
Hybrid chicken are produced for increasing quality and production by inseminating with same or other breed strain. Hybrid chicken become more productive than their parents.
Layer Hybrid
Layer hybrid are made for producing more eggs by inseminating with same or other selected breeds.
Broiler
Broilers are 6-8 weeks of aged chicken weights between 2-2.5 kg which are used for only meat production.
Growing Chicken
Chicken aged between 9-20 weeks of age are called growing chickens.
Classification According to Origin
According to origin the chicken are of four types.
- Asiatic: Brahma, longson, cochin, asil etc.
- English: Austrolorp, cornish, dorking, orpington etc.
- Mediterranian: Leghorn, minorca, ancona, fayoumi etc.
- American: Road island red, new hampshire, plymouth rock etc.
Classification On the Basis of Production
On the basis of production chicken are of three types.
Layer
Layer is for egg production. Some popular layer breeds are Leghorn, Minorca, Ancona, Fayoumi, Isa Brown, Babycock, Star Cross, Lohman etc.
Broiler
Broiler chicken are only for meat production. Plymouth rock, Cornish, Sussex, Dorking, Cochin, Brahma, Asil, Star Brow, Hi-line etc. are popular broiler breeds.
Dual-purpose
This types of breed are used for the purpose of both egg and meat production. Rhode island red, New Hampshire, Plymouth Rock etc. are popular breeds for both meat and egg production.
Fascinating Facts about the Classification of Poultry
There are many fascinating facts about the classification of poultry. Poultry can be classified based on their age, sex, breed, purpose, and production system. Chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese are all important sources of meat and eggs, and each species has its own unique characteristics.
Whether you are interested in raising poultry for meat or eggs, or just want to learn more about these fascinating birds, there is always more to discover about the classification of poultry. Here we will explore some fascinating facts about the classification of poultry.
1. Age Classification of Poultry
One of the most common ways to classify poultry is based on their age. Chickens, for example, can be categorized into three age groups: chicks, pullets/hens, and mature birds. Chicks are birds that are less than six weeks old and are typically sold for meat.
Pullet refers to a young hen that is between six weeks and six months old and has not yet started laying eggs. A hen is a female chicken that is older than six months and has started laying eggs. Mature birds are typically over a year old and are used for breeding or as meat birds.
Turkeys can also be classified based on age. They are classified as poults, young birds that are less than 12 weeks old, and adult birds, which are over 12 weeks old. Poults are usually sold as pets or for meat, while adult birds are used for breeding or as meat birds.
Ducks and geese can also be classified based on age. Ducklings are young ducks that are less than six weeks old, while mature ducks are over six weeks old. Geese can be classified as goslings, which are less than six weeks old, and mature birds, which are over six weeks old.
2. Sex Classification of Poultry
Another common way to classify poultry is based on their sex. In chickens, the male is called a rooster, while the female is called a hen. Roosters are larger and more colorful than hens, and they have a distinctive crowing sound. Hens are smaller and are used primarily for egg production.
In turkeys, the male is called a tom or gobbler, while the female is called a hen. Toms are larger than hens and have a distinctive beard of feathers on their chest. They are typically used for meat production. Hens are used primarily for egg production.
In ducks, the male is called a drake, while the female is called a duck. Drakes are larger than ducks and have a distinctive curled tail feather. They are used primarily for meat production. Ducks are used for both meat and egg production.
3. Breed Classification of Poultry
Poultry can also be classified based on their breed. There are many different breeds of chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese, each with their own unique characteristics. Some common chicken breeds include Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, and Cornish Cross.
Leghorns are a popular breed for egg production, while Cornish Cross is a popular breed for meat production. Rhode Island Reds are a dual-purpose breed that is used for both meat and egg production. Plymouth Rocks are known for their calm temperament and are a good choice for backyard flocks.
Turkeys also come in many different breeds, including the Bronze, Narragansett, and White Holland. The Bronze turkey is a popular breed for meat production, while the White Holland is a popular breed for exhibition.
Ducks and geese also have many different breeds. Some common duck breeds include the Pekin, Muscovy, and Mallard. Pekin ducks are a popular breed for meat production, while Muscovy ducks are used for both meat and egg production.
Some common goose breeds include the Embden, Toulouse, and African. The Embden is a popular breed for meat production, while the Toulouse is used for both meat and egg production.
4. Purpose Classification of Poultry
Poultry can also be classified based on their purpose. The two most common purposes are meat production and egg production. Broiler chickens are raised for meat production, while layer hens are raised for egg production. Broilers are typically slaughtered between six and eight weeks of age, while layer hens can produce eggs for up to two years.
Turkeys are also used for meat production, with the most common breed being the Broad Breasted White. Ducks are used for both meat and egg production, with Pekin ducks being a popular breed for meat production and Khaki Campbells being a popular breed for egg production.
Geese are primarily used for meat production, although some breeds such as the Chinese and African are also used for egg production. Geese are typically slaughtered at around 20 weeks of age.
5. Wild vs. Domestic Poultry
Another way to classify poultry is based on whether they are wild or domestic. Wild poultry such as pheasants, quails, and wild turkeys are hunted for sport or for their meat. Domestic poultry such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys are raised for their meat and eggs.
Wild poultry can also be classified based on their habitat. Some wild birds such as waterfowl live near water, while others such as upland game birds live in dry, upland habitats.
6. Production Systems
Poultry can also be classified based on their production system. There are three main production systems: conventional, free-range, and organic.
Conventional production involves raising birds in large numbers in confinement facilities, while free-range production involves allowing birds to roam freely outdoors. Organic production involves raising birds without the use of antibiotics or hormones and feeding them organic feed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many people ask questions about classification of poultry. Here we are trying to list the most common questions about poultry classification, and trying to answer them. Hope you will find your answer. Don’t hesitate to ask us if you have more questions.
What are the two classification of poultry?
Broiler and layers are the main two types of poultry.
What are the 5 classification of poultry?
5 common types of poultry are chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowl.
What are the 6 major classes of poultry?
6 major classes of poultry are Asiatic, American, English, Continental, Mediterranean and all other Standard breeds.
What are the classification of poultry house?
Generally, the poultry house is classified into three systems. They are free range, intensive and semi-intensive.
What are the 4 types of poultry?
4 types of poultry are Asiatic, American, English and Mediterranean.
What are 5 poultry products?
Most common and top 5 poultry products are chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowl.
Why is it important to learn the different classification of poultry?
When cooking poultry, chefs know choosing the right bird will affect the outcome of a final dish. That’s why most recipes call for a fryer, roaster, or other class—terms based on the age and sex of the bird and printed on poultry labels.[1]
What is variety in poultry?
A variety is a subdivision of a poultry breed.
How many types of poultry birds are there?
There are numerous poultry birds available. Most common poultry birds are chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowl.
What are examples of poultry products?
Meat, eggs and feathers.
What is the most popular poultry?
Chicken is the most common and most popular poultry.
What is the main product of poultry?
Meat and eggs are the main products of poultry.
What are the five importance of poultry farming?
The main five importance of poultry farming business are;
- Poultry farming is a great way to enhance food security.
- A great way of employment for the unemployed people.
- Great way for making good profits.
- Poultry products (especially meat and eggs) play a very important role to keep you healthy.
- You can start with little investment and make good profits.
What are layers in poultry?
Layers are those poultry birds which are kept and used for eggs production purpose.
What are broilers in poultry?
Broilers are poultry birds which are used for meat production purpose.
Excellent details
Thanks for your honest opinion! Good luck!
What is the scientific name for grower?
Gallus gallus domesticus for all chickens. No different scientific name for grower. Thank you!