The American Bantam Association is national poultry organization that creates poultry standards and focuses strictly upon bantam breeds of chickens and ducks.

Clustering of organisms attracted to some environmental resource (e.g., feed, water, temperature, etc.) Aggregation is distinguished from grouping, in that grouping is induced by social factors.

Refers to any activity performed in the context of an aggressive interaction. It encompasses the actions of both the instigator and the victim.

Any behavior indicative of social conflict, such as threat, attack, and fight; or escape, avoidance, appeasement, and subordination.

Pecking movements made by poultry toward no obvious target.

Any behavioral response indicative of fear or awareness of danger.

A signal emitted by an organism to alert neighboring individuals of the presence of danger. The signal has a high arousal potential for conspecifics, and often for other animals as well.

A state characterized by high attentiveness, poised to respond to stimuli.

Behavioral activities that have strong components of social facilitation and group coordination. Often accomplished through imitation. Synonym: Allomimetic Behavior.

A form of cooperation between adult and sub-adult males in a multi-male band of Galliform birds.

The animal that holds the highest social rank in its group. Benefits may include , but maintaining the alpha position also comes at a cost: (Animals in an established linear social hierarchy are often designated with letters of the Greek alphabet according to their rank).

1. A phenomenon in which one organism behaves to the benefit of another organism(s), usually at some cost to itself. In the context of human conduct, altruistic moral philosophy asserts that morality cannot be performed exclusively to satisfy self-interest.  
2. Behavior by which an organism manifests altruism.

A form of compromise behavior in which an animal adopts a posture having separate elements suggestive of the influence of different motivations.

1. To improve something or make it better.  
2. A Resolve Sustainable Solutions suet product designed to improve animal nutrition. The ingredients have been found to benefit birds by elevating reproductive fitness, promoting integument repair, enhancing plumage condition, and increasing energy.

A response to a stimulus before its actual occurrence.

Any action which reduces attacks by predators or diminishes their harm to an individual or group. Antipredator behavior includes cryptic behavior, vigilance, avoidance or escape, grouping, temporary group dispersion, defensive formation, selection of protective nest sites, distraction of the predator from the nest site or offspring, threat display. Discharge of noxious substances, and attack.

American Poultry Association is a national poultry organization. They publish standards and evaluate licensing organizations. Domestic chicken, duck, goose, and turkey breeds of all size and weight classes are the focus of this integral association of Poultiers.

Conspicuous display of colored structures that increase the effect of threats, and improve the self-defense capacity of animals.

Subjective and illusionary visual perception of movement in the absence of real movement. Apparent movement can be generated by rapid succession of motionless stimuli that mimic the changes that occur in true movement. A familiar example of this in the human world is an LED sign board which creates the illusion of words moving across the strip of stationary lights. A squid creates the same effect by alternately illuminating spots on its skin.

Any behavioral display indicative of conciliatory intent. Appeasement signals are often manifested toward threatening conspecifics, and escape is either difficult or impossible.

Any vocal, visual, olfactory, or other sign, or combination of such signs, broadcast by an organism to attract other organisms into its spatial proximity.

The portion of the external ear that surrounds the meatus and extends out from the side of the head. The structure of the auricle is specialized to channel sound waves into the meatus.

The care and rearing of birds in cages, aviaries, or enclosures; A discipline stemming from Zooculture.

American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

A group of breeds of chickens and ducks categorized by their small size. Many are miniature versions of large breeds.

An environment in which resources are relatively scarce, in comparison to more fecund environments.

Removal of the distal portion of the beak to curtail injuries inflicted from pecking among birds housed in groups. Since the beak is innervated, the ethical validity of beak trimming has been questioned.

A population within a species with distinct characteristics that differentiate it from other populations in that species. Characteristics must breed true when reproduced.

A postcopulatory action pattern of male ducks characterized by periodic pulling of the head and neck towards the hack interspersed with occasional vocalizations.

A signal that is emitted to convey information to any appropriate individual(s) that may be within range (e.g., crowing by roosters).

Breeds of chickens developed for quick growth and heavy muscles, specifically developed for the table, some broiler strains are butchered at five-seven weeks of age. There are many problems associated with this rapid growth including nutritional and developmental maladies.

The practice of consuming the tissue of conspecifics. This term also is used colloquially for the killing or serious injury of conspecifics by biting or pecking.

A male chicken, which has been castrated to improve its growth and the quality of its flesh for the table.

Captive environments which lack complexity, whether structural, nutritional, social, and/or are barren and deficient. Captive animals that lack access to complexity in any of these realms are at risk of.

A fleshy, often waxy structure at the base of the beak.

A newly hatched bird.

One of the most prevalent forms of livestock in the world. Chickens probably descended from the junglefowl of South East Asia and have domesticated for thousands of years. They provide an excellent source of nutrition and are humanity’s largest source of protein. There are more than 35 billion chickens worldwide.

A male chicken under one year of age.

A process of perception, reasoning, and development of expectations.

Behavior that results from a process of reasoning.

A process of raising many birds (usually in large, enclosed barns) strictly to sell the eggs, meat or both.

An aggregation of juvenile animals, typically birds, that have left their parental nests and band together.

An unusually high spatial density of animals which may cause discomfort to some or all animals in the group, but not serious deprivation or injury. Reduced individual distance zones, for the most part, still can be maintained, and all animals are able to rest at the same time, stand up and lie down freely, extend their limbs without interference, and have adequate opportunity for eating and drinking.

A type of vocalization produced by males which has frequency oscillations of relatively wide amplitude, distinct breaks and a duration of approximately two seconds. It is assumed that crowing has a territorial and sexual function, and its frequency of occurrence bears a positive relation to social status in the flock. Crowing commences after six weeks of age.

Any behavior that appears to be performed for the purpose of minimizing conspicuousness of an organism.

One of several species of Green Peafowl. Pavo antiqus (Northern Yunnan) P. spicifer (Arakan Mountain Range and Northern Western Burma) P. annamensis (Annametic Mountain Range; Elephant Mountain Range) P. javanensis (Sunda Straits) P. muticus (Extinct, formerly of the Malaysian Peninsula) P.imperator (Southern Yunnan, Thailand and Southern Eastern Burma)

1. A common water bird with webbed feet, short legs, and a broad flat bill. It is found all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica. Order: Anseriformes 
2. A female duck.

A duck that has yet to reach sexual maturity.

1. The study of the inter-relationships between living organisms and their environment. 
2. the relationships between individual organisms and between organisms and their environment

A species made up of several subgroups (ecotypes), characterized by its ecological characteristics. For example, Lophura, Tragopan and Crossoptilon are three genera largely made up of Eco-species. In the case of Crested Firebacks, Lophura rufa, they inhabit low-elevation swamp forests and sub-tropical jungles. Their close cousins the Western Kalijs L. leucomelena and Eastern Kalijs L. edwardsi/L.swinhoei, inhabit hill scrub and submontane habitats. Another branch delineates into the closely related Silver pheasants, L. nycthemera and L. lewisi which prefer montane and bamboo forest habitats. Of particular note here is that, though the above birds are true species, narrow hybrid zones exist where the disparate ecosystems merge into one another.

A localized group of interdependent organisms, together with the environment which they inhabit and depend upon.

A transition area between two adjacent ecological communities (ecosystems). It may appear on the ground as a gradual blending of the two communities across a broad area, or it may manifest itself as a sharp boundary line. 
Ecotones are particularly significant for mobile animals, as they can exploit more than one set of habitats within a short distance. This can produce an edge effect along the boundary line, with the area displaying a greater than usual diversity of species. 
The word was coined from a combination of eco (logy) plus -tone, from the Greek tonos or tension – in other words, a place where ecologies are in tension.

Ecotopes are the smallest ecologically-distinct landscape features in a landscape mapping and classification system. As such, they represent relatively homogeneous, spatially-explicit landscape units that are useful for stratifying landscapes into ecologically distinct features for the measurement and mapping of landscape structure, function and change.

A subgroup of a species of organisms, whose members show genetically dictated adaptations to local environmental conditions, yet still intermix with the larger population to some extent.

Ability to produce the necessary or desired results. Effective, competent action.

The reproductive element of birds consisting of a yolk, white, and shell.

The amount of energy needed at different stages in animal development. Juveniles require different energy from laying hens, which in turn have different energy requirements than adult male birds. 
*see Ellen

1. The study of moral standards and how they affect conduct. Also called moral philosophy. 
2. A system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for an individual or group

The study of the behavior of animals in their natural habitat, usually with the aim of proposing evolutionary explanations.

Extrusion is a very popular method used in the food processing industry. Various products like pastas, breakfast cereals, Fig Newtons, prefab cookie dough, and ready to eat snacks are now manufactured by extrusion. Softer foods such as meringue have long been piped using pastry bags. Extrusion is also used with grains such as wheat, corn, and rice.

1. A search or the process of searching for something, especially a search for food and supplies or a search among a varied collection of things. Animals forage for food in the wild and in captivity. 
2. Food for animals, especially crops grown to feed livestock

A nutritious, molded granola block for animals, formulated with varying percentages of dietary fiber and dietary protein. A ForageCake provides behavioral enrichment, by requiring animals to be more active while feeding upon it, when compared to conventional pellets, crumbles, mashes, or kibbles.

1. Any of many wild species such as Chinese Ring Necked pheasants, Bobwhite, Wood quail, Chukar, and Hungarian partridge, which are captive bred and raised for sport hunting. These birds are maintained in a manner similar to domestic poultry, but are released for orchestrated hunting parties. Some of these wild species have been selectively bred into well established domestic breeds, utilized entirely for the table. The Alaskan White True Pheasant, Buff California Pheasant, White Chukar and Tennessee Red Bobwhite are examples of Gamebirds now raised for meat production. 
2.Resolve Sustainable Solutions has designed state of the art nutrition and behavioral enrichment for these important New Heritage breeds and their wild progenitors.

1. A male goose. 
2. A look-see, a quick jaunt to assess the condition of a phenomena or place.

1. A large waterfowl with a long neck and webbed feet, noted for its seasonal migrations and distinctive honking sound. 
2. Subfamily: Anserinae

A goose that has yet to reach sexual maturity.

Any of several long-legged, rather corpulent appearing Galliform genera, endemic to the continent of Africa, with characteristic bare heads and necks and beautifully patterned plumage that resembles a starry night sky. The Guineafowls are an ancient and isolated group distantly allied to both New World Quail and Peafowl. They are invaluable for the health of Africa’s large ungulate, pachyderm, and equine herds, as they are adept gleaners, subsisting almost entirely on ticks, fly larvae and locusts during the dry season. During the wet season, Guineafowl follow the great herds, consuming carrion, leaves and succulent shoots. The West African Numida meleagris coronata was imported into Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas with the slave trade. The birds have subsequently become of vital importance in the biological control of weevils, ticks, and hornworm.  
Family: Numididae 
Phasidus (Black Guineafowl) 
Guttera (Crested Guineafowls) 
Agelastes (White Breasted Guineafowl) 
Acryllium (Vulturine Guineafowl) 
Numida (Helmeted Guineafowls) 

1. Something of great intrinsic value that has been in the possession of a family or culture for many generations. 
2. An heirloom plant or animal is generally a very specific lineage of a stringently maintained breed or variety/cultivar. 
3. Heirlooms are of particularly high value in current times because they carry genetic diversity which is increasingly disappearing from mainstream commercial varieties of plants and animals raised for human consumption. This is crucial because>>>>>

A female fowl over one year of age.

1. The status, conditions, or character acquired by being born into a particular family or social class. 
2. A country’s or area’s history and historical buildings and sites that are considered to be of interest and value to present generations (often used before a noun). 
3. Something such as a way of life or traditional culture that passes from one generation to the next in a social group. 
4. Property or land that is or can be passed on to an heir.

The livestock, vegetables, fruit or flowers of a culture or historically significant region. Heritage breeds of livestock are maintained by farmers practicing sustainable agriculture. Many heritage breeds are on the verge of extinction. Heirloom strains and lineages of these heritage breeds are invaluable for their long-term survival.

An outer protective layer or part of an animal or plant, for example, a shell, rind, husk, or skin. Also includes feathers. In commonly kept bird species, the integument is of vital importance for the health and well being of the animal. Diets inadequate in certain vitamins, for example vitamin e and vitamin b may result in certain infirmities including inferior plumage, excessive feather dander and dull looking bare facial skin. Birds maintain their integument by frequent grooming called preening and wallowing in rough sand and or water. Special oils are generated in the uropygial gland, which are preened into the plumage to seal it against the elements and condition the skin.

A guineafowl, stone partridge, roul-roul, New World quail or peacock-pheasant that has yet to reach sexual maturity.

Meal that has been ground into small pieces and then formed into pellets, especially for pet food. A processed food that is harder and more compact than traditional pelleted feeds and crumbles. Does not lose structural integrity or disintegrate in ambient moisture as traditional processed feedstuffs, reducing dust in the coops.

A bird kept for egg production—mostly chickens, ratites, Pharaoh quail, geese and ducks. Moult: molt To shed integument, e.g. feathers, hair, or skin cyclically, especially seasonally, to allow replacement and repair of what is lost with new growth, 1. The process or time during which a bird or animal casts off all or part of its feathers, fur, or skin 2. The material shed during molting

An alpha hen that adopts the masculine role in the poultry yard or pheasant runs, often in the absence of roosters. Most will have ceased producing estrogen due to age or prolonged illness and are thus sterile. Some mullets actually crow and still others develop male plumage, which increases in development with each succeeding moult.

Newly developed breeds of alternative livestock species and heirloom strains of heritage livestock composites. The White Alaskan Pheasant, Jumbo Bobwhite, French Guineafowl and White Chukar have been developed for the table. Cameo Peafowl, Slate Guineafowl and Chocolate Muscovy ducks have been developed for aesthetic properties and are important insect pest and tick predators in rural regions. The North American Quetro is bred for its eggs and plumage, which is utilized in fly tying and haute couture. New Heritage Breeds reflect the evolving profile of sustainable agriculture.

Any of several genera of large, primarily terrestrial Galliform birds endemic to South East Asia and Central Africa. Peafowl are superficially similar to pheasants. Molecular biology has shown that Peafowl are not closely related to the so-called ‘Peacock-Pheasants’ of the genus Polyplectron and are only very distantly related to the true pheasants. Peafowl can be distinguished from pheasants by the great elongation of their necks, legs, toes and the greater proportional surface area of their wings. Peafowl differ markedly from pheasants and grouses in their habit of perching on emergent trees towering over the canopy of the forest or on tall trees in open habitats. Peafowls are similar to the South American cracids and Australasian megapodes (in contrast to pheasants and grouses) in the markedly precocious flight development of their young and their delayed sexual maturity. Peafowl no older than a few days are capable of making prolonged flights of several hundred yards. Great Argus and Indian Peafowl are not fully mature until their third adult year. The Crested Argus and at least two forms of the Green Peafowl are not fully adult until their fifth or sixth year of life. 
 
Family Argusianidae Rheinartia (Crested Argus and Ocellated Argus) Afropavo (African Peafowl) Pavo (Typical Asiatic Peafowl) Argusianus (Great Argus)

Any species of several genera of large, primarily terrestrial Galliform bird species, distantly related to and resembling superficially the domestic chicken and their wild progenitors the Junglefowl. The word pheasant stems from the Latin, Phasianus meaning bird of the Phasis River in Iraq. Molecular biology has shown us that the term pheasant is not a particularly helpful term in the systematic sense as many of the so-called ‘pheasants’ are derived from paraphyletic ancestors. For example, the Peacock-Pheasants, Junglefowl and Peafowls are only very distant relatives but the enigmatic European Grey Partridge of the genus Perdix in actuality is more closely related to pheasants than partridges. 
 
Family: Phasianidae 
 
Sub-family Phasianinae: (Monophyletically Derived Genera of Pheasants) Acomus (Crestless Fireback Pheasants) Crossoptilon (Eared Pheasants) Catreus (Chir Pheasant) Chrysolophus (Ruffed Pheasants) Lobiophasis (Bulwer’s Pheasant) Lophura (Crested Fireback Pheasants; Western Kalij, Eastern Kalij, and Silver Pheasants) Inornata (Sumatran Heath/Savadori’s Pheasants) Syrmaticus (Long-Tailed and Bar-Tailed Pheasants) Phasianus (True, Caucasian and Japanese Green Pheasants)

A reproductive strategy whereby a female is mated with more than one male. Tinamous and Ratites like the Kiwi, Cassowary and Emu are Polyandrous. Males take up incubation and chick-rearing duties while females may continue to lay other clutches incubated by additional males they have partnered with. Serial monogamy may be

Any of several insectivorous species belonging to the genera Haematortyx; Galloperdix, or Polyplectron. Polyplectrons are small to medium sized, semi-terrestrial, Gallinaceous birds endemic to South East Asia. They are characterized by the presence of multiple metatarsal spurs in one or both sexes. Their Latin name means “many to strike with”: referring to these formidable kicking thorns used in self-defense against reptiles and competitors, as well as to rake though leaf litter to uncover invertebrates. Termites, ants, insect larvae, and mollusks are preferred food items, but leeches and small fruits are also taken. Polyplectrons exhibit complex social behaviors and vocalizations. Members of the genus Polyplectron exhibit iridescent ocellations called ‘mirrors’ at the terminal ends of most dorsal plumes. Galloperdix Spurfowls superficially resemble and behave much like miniature junglefowl, while Haematortyx is remarkably partridge-like. +++Expand Peacock-pheasants were long believed an intermediate link between peafowl and pheasants, until molecular genetics determined that they are actually an ancient group closely allied to Haematortyx and Galloperdix, but otherwise totally isolated. Members of the Polyplectron family are distantly allied to Roul Roul and Hill Partridges, but may also be linked to New World Quails and Guineafowls. In appearance, the Peacock-Pheasants (genus Polyplectron) fall somewhere between bird and dinosaur. They almost seem to slither as they stride cautiously along shadowy trails, winding through some dark ravine. The highly stereotyped motions of its curiously looped neck and head, and its hyper-dilating eye, are an arresting sight. These movements are accentuated by the position of its wings and tail, which may be heightened or lowered amid its short, halting steps, and its many dramatic stops. Most species are adept shape-shifters, capable of altering their silhouettes from fowl to reptile and back again. They clamber over deadfall and through thick underbrush in the manner of a quadruped and once properly launched, fly with grace, endurance and speed, bringing to mind both Chachalacas and Turacoas. The Peacock-Pheasant is surely one of the closest approximations of the Archaeopteryx and other feathered dinosaurs. 
 
Family Polyplectronidae: Haematortyx (Crimson-Headed Wood Partridge) Polyplectron (Peacock-Pheasants) Galloperdix (Asiatic Spurfowls)

A turkey, monal or tragopan that has yet to reach sexual maturity.

Domestic fowl in general, for example, chickens, turkeys, ducks, or geese, raised for meat and/or eggs.

A young female chicken, especially one that has not begun laying eggs.

A flightless bird characterized by the presence of an unusually flat breastbone, lacking the keel typical of flying birds. Cassowaries, Emus, Rheas, Ostriches and Kiwis are the only surviving species of ratites. Even though they are flightless, ratites are capable swimmers and divers, even as chicks.

A male chicken over one year of age.

The major subdivision of a genus, regarded as the basic category of biological classification, composed of related individuals that resemble one another, are able to breed among themselves, but are not able to breed with members of another species.

A detailed official description of a breed and its recognized varieties. In the United States, the American Poultry Association (APA) and the American Bantam Association (ABA) produce the standards for domestic chickens, turkeys, and waterfowl. Recognized breeds and standards differ from country to country.

A full-sized bird, as opposed to the bantam size.

synonym for ‘New World Quail’ and refers to the curious teeth like serrations on the bills of most species which are used in snipping tender shoots and buds.

Largest terrestrial gallinate endemic to the Americas. The Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, had a large historic range which included, the Midwestern and the Eastern United States, and much of Mexico. The Ocellated Turkey belongs to a separate genus Agriocharis and is found only in Central America. However, fossils of a closely related extinct species, Agriocharis californicus, once inhabited southern California, and is well represented in the La Brea Tar Pits. 
 
Turkeys evolved from the same ancestor as Monals. This same lineage eventually split into the branch that gave rise to Koklases, Grouses, Tragopans and Pheasants. The Mexican subspecies of the wild turkey was domesticated by indigenous cultures many centuries ago and is the progenitor of the majority of domestic breeds.

The traditional barnyard birds bred for a combination of egg laying and meat production.

Specific, recognized variations within a breed, which can be passed on to subsequent generations.