Poultry Science Terms - E
Ear lobes: flesh patch of bare skin located below the ears of birds, and can be red, white, blue, or purple, according to the breed and generally correlate to egg color. White ear lobes usually mean that the hen lays white eggs. Dark ear lobes usually means that the hen lays brown eggs
Ectoparasite: external parasite
Edema: accumulation of excessive fluid in swollen or damaged tissues
Egg: reproductive body produced by female of birds. It is oval-shaped and enclosed in hard calcareous shell within which embryo develops on fertilization that contains nutrients for development of embryo
Egg bound: afflicted hen is one that is unable to complete the egg formation and laying process and retains the partially or fully formed egg in the oviduct
Egg laying bird: hen whose primary purpose is to lay eggs. Our egg laying birds lay brown eggs or white eggs, depending on the breed
Egg shell: complex calcium carbonate structure that covers egg, protective function
Egg Sizes: shell eggs are divided by size (class) according to weight. Minimum net weight per dozen: Jumbo - 30 ounces per dozen eggs, Extra Large - 27 ounces per dozen eggs, Large - 24 ounces per dozen eggs, Medium - 21 ounces per dozen eggs, and Small - 18 ounces per dozen eggs, and 15 ounces per dozen eggs - pee wee
Egg tooth: tiny, hard projection on the beak of a newly hatched chick that was used by the chick to break the shell to hatch (also called a chick tooth)
Electrical stunning: using electric current to make an animal
Electrolytes: natural chemicals in the blood needed by body cells to maintain a salt balance; a liquid mineral solution used to treat dehydration
Emaciation: wasting away of the body
Embryo: developing chick in an egg
Embryology: study of the formation and development of embryos
Embryonation: development of an embryo into a larva inside an egg without hatching
Encephalitis: inflammation of the brain
Endoparasite: internal parasite
Enteric: affecting the intestines
Enteritis: inflammation of the intestines
Enteropathogens: microbes that cause enteritis
Enterotoxin: substance that poisons cells lining the intestines.
Enzootic: continuing presence of a disease or infectious agent in a specific area (equivalent to 'Endemic' human diseases
Epidemic: rapid spreading infectious disease situation in humans. (often used for poultry or other animals as well)
Epizootic: epidemic among chickens or other animals (similar to the word 'epidemic' pertaining to humans).
Epidemiologist: medical professional specially trained to test for, detect, and deal with epidemic diseases
Esophagus: muscular, membranous portion (tube) of the digestive tract that moves from the pharynx to the stomach
Essential amino acids: amino acids not produced by the body, but are necessary for cell function, therefore it is essential that they are included in appropriate quantities in feedstuffs
Estrogen: female hormone that promotes development of female reproductive tract
Etiology: study of causes of a disease
Evaporation: changing a moisture (liquid) into vapor (gas)
Eversion: turned inside out
Exhibition quality: poultry bred to be competitive at poultry shows. This would be in opposite of "hatchery quality" poultry where the selection pressure is only based on egg production
Exsanguination: death occurs because of loss of blood
Extra embryonic membranes: membranes outside the embryo's body that make respiration, nutrition, and secretion possible and provide protection; they include the yolk sac, amnion, allantois, and chorion
Exudate: fluid associated with an inflammation or swelling
Exudative diathesis: accumulation of fluid (exudate) under the skin or around the heart