Flock Health, Breeding, and Handling

This capstone unit integrates reproduction, health, welfare, and product-handling practices for small-scale chicken operations. Students will apply breeding and hatching techniques, disease prevention and reporting, egg and poultry handling/packaging, and routine husbandry to prepare for advanced livestock and poultry studies or entry-level responsibilities.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze breed selection and breeding-readiness criteria to develop a breeding plan that aligns with production goals (pet, egg, meat, or heritage preservation)
• Apply biosecurity, vaccination, parasite-control, quarantine, and disease-reporting procedures consistent with Texas guidelines to prevent and respond to flock health threats
• Demonstrate proper incubation, staging, egg handling, storage, and packaging of eggs and home-butchered poultry, including identification of fertilized vs. unfertilized eggs and appropriate labeling for safety and quality
• Evaluate flock management practices—nutrition, hydration, grooming, behavior management, and euthanasia/handling of death—to optimize welfare, production performance, and safe integration with households and gardens