LINKS TO ARTICLES ON THE WEB OR PAGES OF ARTICLES TO READ FROM OUR CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS. (pls. send to [email protected] if you have an article or link)
www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKChickensA-C.html
POULTRY LIST
www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/goatmedications.html
GOAT MEDS
www.shetland-sheep.org.uk/breed.html
SHETLAND SHEEP INFO AND HISTORY
www.lovelongears.com/hands.html
how tall in hands is your horse/donkey etc.
a guide to measuring by hands
Lice on Chickens and Poultry.
Written by Tim Daniels
There are several types of biting lice that affect chickens and other poultry. These are known as ectoparasites or external parasites as
they live on the outside of the bird.
Lice range in size from about 1 to 4mm and can be found crawling on the bird at the base of the feathers, spreading from bird to bird by direct contact. Clumps of eggs are usually found at the
base of the feathers below the vent.
Off the bird lice can survive for a few days so although less likely, can also spread from bird to bird via the hen house or litter. Most chickens will have a few lice on them from time to time and won't be particularly bothered by them but it's important not to let the numbers get out of control or they will be causing severe irritation and feather loss as they over groom.
On chickens it is usually Menopon gallinae which is a yellowish colour flat louse about 2mm long.
They are fast moving - if you part the feathers you can see them run for cover amongst feather shafts. Waterfowl usually suffer with shaft lice Holomenopen
spp which are dark, thin lice. They are longer around 5mm but again soon
dash for cover when exposed. They can be found on feathers close to the shaft as
well as on skin. Due to their colour, they are quite hard to spot on dark
coloured birds.
The Signs of Lice
The lice eggs attached to the base of a feather, found below the vet. Often, they can be confused with a slightly messy bottom. They are very hard to remove and if there are a lot of them, it's often easier to kill the lice using drops of Ivermectin as detailed
below under 'Treating Lice'.
Preventing Lice
Avoid contact with birds
that have lice, provide a dust bath to help chickens and other poultry rid
themselves of lice. Diatomaceous Earth can be added to the dust bath which will
help. Inspect hens regularly.
Treating Lice
Ivermectin is by far the easiest way to remove lice, and also kills most common poultry worms, however it is unlicensed for use on poultry so you should only use it under the guidance of your Vet. Ivermectin is available online in
drops that are put onto the skin at weekly intervals or as your vet advises for
3 weeks. The eggs can hatch up to 3 weeks later so ensure you treat at this
point, even if there don't appear to be any more lice as the eggs will hatch.
Ivermectin has a residual effect that is useful.
Powders containing the Pyrethrium are also effective however most are not licensed to be used on birds themselves so again, you should be applying these at the instruction of your
vet.
Some organic powders contain tea tree and other ingredients that the lice don't like. Diatomaceous Earth (like Diatom or Smite Powder) can be effective with a
few regular treatments each week over a couple of weeks, this works by drying
the lice up but getting the bird dusted all over can be difficult. It is
sometimes useful to add these powders to nesting areas, bedding and into dust
baths (in the case of chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl) so that birds can
effectively apply these themselves.
The life cycle of biting lice is around 3 weeks - so it is important when using a product to remove them that you re-check regularly and re-treat as necessary after a week as most
products will not kill the eggs and these will hatch over this
period.
Written by Tim Daniels
There are several types of biting lice that affect chickens and other poultry. These are known as ectoparasites or external parasites as
they live on the outside of the bird.
Lice range in size from about 1 to 4mm and can be found crawling on the bird at the base of the feathers, spreading from bird to bird by direct contact. Clumps of eggs are usually found at the
base of the feathers below the vent.
Off the bird lice can survive for a few days so although less likely, can also spread from bird to bird via the hen house or litter. Most chickens will have a few lice on them from time to time and won't be particularly bothered by them but it's important not to let the numbers get out of control or they will be causing severe irritation and feather loss as they over groom.
On chickens it is usually Menopon gallinae which is a yellowish colour flat louse about 2mm long.
They are fast moving - if you part the feathers you can see them run for cover amongst feather shafts. Waterfowl usually suffer with shaft lice Holomenopen
spp which are dark, thin lice. They are longer around 5mm but again soon
dash for cover when exposed. They can be found on feathers close to the shaft as
well as on skin. Due to their colour, they are quite hard to spot on dark
coloured birds.
The Signs of Lice
The lice eggs attached to the base of a feather, found below the vet. Often, they can be confused with a slightly messy bottom. They are very hard to remove and if there are a lot of them, it's often easier to kill the lice using drops of Ivermectin as detailed
below under 'Treating Lice'.
Preventing Lice
Avoid contact with birds
that have lice, provide a dust bath to help chickens and other poultry rid
themselves of lice. Diatomaceous Earth can be added to the dust bath which will
help. Inspect hens regularly.
Treating Lice
Ivermectin is by far the easiest way to remove lice, and also kills most common poultry worms, however it is unlicensed for use on poultry so you should only use it under the guidance of your Vet. Ivermectin is available online in
drops that are put onto the skin at weekly intervals or as your vet advises for
3 weeks. The eggs can hatch up to 3 weeks later so ensure you treat at this
point, even if there don't appear to be any more lice as the eggs will hatch.
Ivermectin has a residual effect that is useful.
Powders containing the Pyrethrium are also effective however most are not licensed to be used on birds themselves so again, you should be applying these at the instruction of your
vet.
Some organic powders contain tea tree and other ingredients that the lice don't like. Diatomaceous Earth (like Diatom or Smite Powder) can be effective with a
few regular treatments each week over a couple of weeks, this works by drying
the lice up but getting the bird dusted all over can be difficult. It is
sometimes useful to add these powders to nesting areas, bedding and into dust
baths (in the case of chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl) so that birds can
effectively apply these themselves.
The life cycle of biting lice is around 3 weeks - so it is important when using a product to remove them that you re-check regularly and re-treat as necessary after a week as most
products will not kill the eggs and these will hatch over this
period.
Basics about Poultry (taken from Performance Poultry pages)
Poultry is the class of domesticated fowl (birds) used for food or for their eggs. These most typically are members of the orders Galliformes (such as chickens and turkeys), and Anseriformes (waterfowl such as ducks and geese).
The word poultry is often used to refer to the meat of these birds. In a more general sense, it may refer to the meat of other birds, such as pigeons or doves, or game birds like pheasants. Chicken General biology and habitat Posted
Male chickens are known as roosters (in the U.S., Canada and Australia), cocks, or cockerels if they are young. Female chickens are known as hens, or 'chooks' in Australasian English. Roosters can usually be differentiated from hens by their striking plumage, marked by long flowing tails and bright pointed feathers on their necks. However in some breeds, such as the Sebright, the cock only has slightly pointed neck feathers, and the identification must be made by looking at the comb. Both the male and female have distinctive wattles and combs. These organs help to cool the bird by redirecting bloodflow to the skin. In males, the combs are often more prominent, though this is not the case in all varieties.
Chickens have a flesh crest on their heads called a comb and a fleshy piece of hanging skin under their beak called a wattle. Chickens are often kept in gardens, not just in farms, and can make loving and gentle pets.
Chickens are omnivores and will feed on small seeds, herbs and leaves, grubs, insects and even small mammals like mice, if they can get them. Domestic chickens are typically fed commercially prepared feed that includes a protein source as well as grains. Chickens often scratch at the soil to get at adult insects and larva or seed. Incidents of cannibalism can occur when a curious bird pecks at a pre-existing wound or from over-crowding. This is exacerbated in close quarters. In commercial production this is controlled with chick "de-beaking" (removal of 2/3 of the top half and 1/3 of the lower half of the beak). This "de-beaking" process is very painful for the chicken because their beaks are filled with nerve endings.
Domestic chickens are not capable of flying for long distances, although they are generally capable of flying for short distances such as over fences. Chickens will sometimes fly simply in order to explore their surroundings, but will especially fly in an attempt to flee when they perceive danger. Because of the risk of flight, chickens raised in the open generally have one of their wings clipped by the breeder — the tips of the longest feathers on one of the wings are cut, resulting in unbalanced flight which the bird cannot sustain for more than a few meters.
Chicken eggs vary in color depending on the hen, typically ranging from bright white to shades of brown and even blue or green (Auracana varieties).
Enlarge
Chicken eggs vary in color depending on the hen, typically ranging from bright white to shades of brown and even blue or green (Auracana varieties).
Chickens are gregarious birds and live together as a flock. They have a communal approach to the incubation of eggs and raising of young. Individual chickens in a flock will dominate others, establishing a "pecking order", with dominant individuals having priority for access to food and nesting locations. Removing hens or roosters from a flock causes a temporary disruption to this social order until a new pecking order is established.
Chickens will try to lay in nests that already contain eggs, and have been known to move eggs from neighbouring nests into their own. Some farmers use fake eggs made from plastic or stone to encourage hens to lay in a particular location. The result of this behaviour is that a flock will use only a few preferred locations, rather than having a different nest for every bird.
Hens can also be extremely stubborn about always laying in the same location. It is not unknown for two (or more) hens to try to share the same nest at the same time. If the nest is small, or one of the hens is particularly determined, this may result in chickens trying to lay on top of each other.
Contrary to popular belief, roosters may crow at anytime of the day. Their crowing - a loud and sometimes shrill call - is a territorial signal to other roosters.
Chickens are domesticated descendents of the red junglefowl, which is biologically classified as the same species.
Chickens as pets
In Asia, chickens with striking plumage have long been kept for ornamental purposes, including feather-footed varieties such as the Cochin and Silkie from China and the extremely long-tailed (Phoenix) from Japan. Asian ornamental varieties were imported into the United States and Great Britain in the late 1800s. Poultry fanciers then began keeping these ornamental birds for exhibition, a practice that continues today. From these Asian breeds, distinctive American varieties of chickens have been developed.
Today, some cities in the United States still allow residents to keep live chickens as pets, although the practice is quickly disappearing. Individuals in rural communities commonly keep chickens for both ornamental and practical value. Some communities ban only roosters, allowing the quieter hens. Many zoos use chickens instead of insecticides to control insect populations.
Growing chickens can easily be tamed by feeding them a special treat such as mealworms in the palm of one's hand, and by being with them for at least ten minutes daily when they are young. Going broody Posted By Admin
Sometimes a hen will stop laying and instead will focus on the incubation of eggs, a state that is commonly known as going broody. A broody chicken will sit fast on the nest, and protest if disturbed or removed, and will rarely leave the nest to eat, drink, or dust bathe. While broody, the hen keeps the eggs at a constant temperature and humidity, as well as turning the eggs regularly.
At the end of the incubation period, which is an average of 21 days, the eggs (if fertilized) will hatch, and the broody hen will take care of her young. Since individual eggs do not all hatch at exactly the same time, (The chicken can only lay one egg approximately every 25 hours), the hen will usually stay on the nest for about two days after the first egg hatches. During this time, the newly-hatched chicks live off the egg yolk they absorb just before hatching. The hen can hear the chicks peeping inside the eggs, and will gently cluck to encourage them to break out of their shells. If the eggs are not fertilized and do not hatch, the hen will eventually grow tired of being broody and leave the nest.
Modern egg-laying breeds rarely go broody, and those that do often stop part-way through the incubation cycle. Some breeds, such as the Cochin, Cornish and Silkie, regularly go broody and make excellent mothers.
Poultry is the class of domesticated fowl (birds) used for food or for their eggs. These most typically are members of the orders Galliformes (such as chickens and turkeys), and Anseriformes (waterfowl such as ducks and geese).
The word poultry is often used to refer to the meat of these birds. In a more general sense, it may refer to the meat of other birds, such as pigeons or doves, or game birds like pheasants. Chicken General biology and habitat Posted
Male chickens are known as roosters (in the U.S., Canada and Australia), cocks, or cockerels if they are young. Female chickens are known as hens, or 'chooks' in Australasian English. Roosters can usually be differentiated from hens by their striking plumage, marked by long flowing tails and bright pointed feathers on their necks. However in some breeds, such as the Sebright, the cock only has slightly pointed neck feathers, and the identification must be made by looking at the comb. Both the male and female have distinctive wattles and combs. These organs help to cool the bird by redirecting bloodflow to the skin. In males, the combs are often more prominent, though this is not the case in all varieties.
Chickens have a flesh crest on their heads called a comb and a fleshy piece of hanging skin under their beak called a wattle. Chickens are often kept in gardens, not just in farms, and can make loving and gentle pets.
Chickens are omnivores and will feed on small seeds, herbs and leaves, grubs, insects and even small mammals like mice, if they can get them. Domestic chickens are typically fed commercially prepared feed that includes a protein source as well as grains. Chickens often scratch at the soil to get at adult insects and larva or seed. Incidents of cannibalism can occur when a curious bird pecks at a pre-existing wound or from over-crowding. This is exacerbated in close quarters. In commercial production this is controlled with chick "de-beaking" (removal of 2/3 of the top half and 1/3 of the lower half of the beak). This "de-beaking" process is very painful for the chicken because their beaks are filled with nerve endings.
Domestic chickens are not capable of flying for long distances, although they are generally capable of flying for short distances such as over fences. Chickens will sometimes fly simply in order to explore their surroundings, but will especially fly in an attempt to flee when they perceive danger. Because of the risk of flight, chickens raised in the open generally have one of their wings clipped by the breeder — the tips of the longest feathers on one of the wings are cut, resulting in unbalanced flight which the bird cannot sustain for more than a few meters.
Chicken eggs vary in color depending on the hen, typically ranging from bright white to shades of brown and even blue or green (Auracana varieties).
Enlarge
Chicken eggs vary in color depending on the hen, typically ranging from bright white to shades of brown and even blue or green (Auracana varieties).
Chickens are gregarious birds and live together as a flock. They have a communal approach to the incubation of eggs and raising of young. Individual chickens in a flock will dominate others, establishing a "pecking order", with dominant individuals having priority for access to food and nesting locations. Removing hens or roosters from a flock causes a temporary disruption to this social order until a new pecking order is established.
Chickens will try to lay in nests that already contain eggs, and have been known to move eggs from neighbouring nests into their own. Some farmers use fake eggs made from plastic or stone to encourage hens to lay in a particular location. The result of this behaviour is that a flock will use only a few preferred locations, rather than having a different nest for every bird.
Hens can also be extremely stubborn about always laying in the same location. It is not unknown for two (or more) hens to try to share the same nest at the same time. If the nest is small, or one of the hens is particularly determined, this may result in chickens trying to lay on top of each other.
Contrary to popular belief, roosters may crow at anytime of the day. Their crowing - a loud and sometimes shrill call - is a territorial signal to other roosters.
Chickens are domesticated descendents of the red junglefowl, which is biologically classified as the same species.
Chickens as pets
In Asia, chickens with striking plumage have long been kept for ornamental purposes, including feather-footed varieties such as the Cochin and Silkie from China and the extremely long-tailed (Phoenix) from Japan. Asian ornamental varieties were imported into the United States and Great Britain in the late 1800s. Poultry fanciers then began keeping these ornamental birds for exhibition, a practice that continues today. From these Asian breeds, distinctive American varieties of chickens have been developed.
Today, some cities in the United States still allow residents to keep live chickens as pets, although the practice is quickly disappearing. Individuals in rural communities commonly keep chickens for both ornamental and practical value. Some communities ban only roosters, allowing the quieter hens. Many zoos use chickens instead of insecticides to control insect populations.
Growing chickens can easily be tamed by feeding them a special treat such as mealworms in the palm of one's hand, and by being with them for at least ten minutes daily when they are young. Going broody Posted By Admin
Sometimes a hen will stop laying and instead will focus on the incubation of eggs, a state that is commonly known as going broody. A broody chicken will sit fast on the nest, and protest if disturbed or removed, and will rarely leave the nest to eat, drink, or dust bathe. While broody, the hen keeps the eggs at a constant temperature and humidity, as well as turning the eggs regularly.
At the end of the incubation period, which is an average of 21 days, the eggs (if fertilized) will hatch, and the broody hen will take care of her young. Since individual eggs do not all hatch at exactly the same time, (The chicken can only lay one egg approximately every 25 hours), the hen will usually stay on the nest for about two days after the first egg hatches. During this time, the newly-hatched chicks live off the egg yolk they absorb just before hatching. The hen can hear the chicks peeping inside the eggs, and will gently cluck to encourage them to break out of their shells. If the eggs are not fertilized and do not hatch, the hen will eventually grow tired of being broody and leave the nest.
Modern egg-laying breeds rarely go broody, and those that do often stop part-way through the incubation cycle. Some breeds, such as the Cochin, Cornish and Silkie, regularly go broody and make excellent mothers.
Measuring Equines Just how tall is a hand?
by Shlei
Equines are measured in units. Which unit of measure is used depends on the association doing the registration. Some registries use inches to determine size, since it is easier than trying to convert to hands. A hand is four inches. The story behind this unit of measurement is that a kind went to measure his favorite horse. Not having a device to measuer with, he used the only thing he knew would be consistent: the palm of his hand. Since then, the hand has been the unit of measure for equines. The letters HH or hh after the numbers stand for Hands High. The single letter H or H may be used, standing just for "hands".
Parts of a hand are given after the whole unit, following a decimal. 10.2 hands (can also be read as just Ten-two) means ten hands and two more inches. (4 inches x 10 hands equals 40 inches, plus two additional inches, so 10.2 is 42 inches tall). 10.3 would be 10 hands and 3 inches, forty-three (43) inches. There is no such thing as 10 hands 4 inches, as 4 inches would be an additional hand. However, even fractions of an inch can be listed, such as 10.3 ¾ hh. (Ten hands, 3 ¾" inches, or Ten-three and three-quarters: just ¼" shy of a full 11 hands.)
3.3 hands - 15 inches at the withers, the smallest horse ever documented. Too Small! But, this animal reportedly only lived to be two years old (just short of what anyone would call mature).
4.2 hands - 18 inches. A few Miniature foals are only 18 inches high at birth.
6 hands - 24 inches. There have been a few Miniature Horses reported at this height (short?) in recent years.
6.1 hands - 25 inches - unverified report of the smallest known mature Miniature Donkey
6.2 hands- 26 inches - the height of the smallest known breeding Miniature donkeys (in the USA) and also the height of the smallest known mule in the world (General Grant).
7 hands - 28 inches. A few Miniature donkeys this small, difficult for females in pregnancy and birthing. Animals this small prized in some circles, but conformation tends to suffer. Either malproportioned in some cases, or very tiny with weak bone.
7.2 - 30 inches. Was once being debated as the cut-off point for breeding size in Miniature donkeys (no plans by ADMS to do this)
8 hands - 32 inches. Miniature size for horse, donkey or mule. Good average for Miniature Donkey height.
9 hands - 36 inches - breakover point from Miniature to Small standard for donkeys with no pedigree (Maximum height 36") . Still miniature height for mules.
9.2 hands - 38 inches. Maximum allowable height for Miniature donkeys with BOTH parents registered as Miniature. Still classified as Oversized in MDR.
10 hands - 40 inches. Breakover for small standard to Standard donkeys. (Still Miniature height for mules)
11 hands - 44 inches. Standard donkeys in this height range. Common height for most of the Plains zebras (Grants, Damaraland, Chapmans)
12 hands - 48 inches. The breakover from Standard to Large Standard in donkeys
12.2 hands - 50 inches. The breakover from Miniature to Saddle Mules.
13 hands - 52 inches - large Standard donkeys. Considered Pony height in horse breeds. Top end height for zebras, only Grevy's species usually get this tall.
13.2 hands - 54 inches - breakover from Large Standard to Mammoth height in Jennets
14 hands - 56 inches - breakover point from Large Standard to Mammoth for Jacks and Geldings
14.2 - 58 inches - in horses considered the line between Pony (under 14.2) and horse height. Typical size of many Mustangs, although a recent infusion of outside blood in some herds produces larger animals now.
15 hands - 60 inches - typical for many saddle horse breeds, mules, and reaching the top end for Mammoth height. About average height for Arabians and some Gaited breeds.
16 hands - 64 inches. Getting pretty large for a donkey, but a few jacks reported close to this height. Typical range for saddle mules, draft horses, and many saddle horse breeds.
17 hands - 68 inches. Extremely large for a donkey, they tend to "fall apart" in conformation at this height. Commonly seen in some Draft horse breeds, Warmbloods, and a few saddle mules.
18 hands - 72 inches. A few specimens this tall, but unusual in all but a few breeds, mainly Warmblood or Drafters.
19 hands - 76 inches! (6 foot, 4" at the withers). Taller than most men!
19.1 hands - 77 inches high, 6 foot 5 inches at the withers. The height of the tallest Mule in the World, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Apollo, (b 1977, in TN) is listed with teammate Anak at 18.3. (75 inches)
20 hands - 80 inches.
21 hands - 84 inches
21.2 ½ hands - 86 ½ inches at the withers. Tallest horse ever documented, a Shire gelding named Sampson (aka Mammoth with good reason!) measured in 1850 and listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
How do you measure an equine?
You must use a measuring stick, with a cross-piece and preferably a level. Stand the animal on a hard, level surface (a drive, aisle, or sheet of plyboard). A muddy field or uneven ground won't give you an accurate reading.
Place the level/crossbar at the withers. The stick should be straight up-and-down and not leaning. Measure at the top of the withers (the last hair of the mane on most equines). If you are not sure where to measure, put a small treat like a bit of apple or carrot on the ground in front of the animal. Look at the shoulders when they put their head down. The part of the shoulders that sticks up HIGHEST when their head is down is where you measure to.
If you try to measure just using a flexible tape measure you won't get an accurate measurement. A version of using the tape used to be called "Jackstock Measuring" and resulted in additions of fractions of an inch to more than 2" to an animals height.
Measure three times, and average the readings if you have to. You will find it's very hard to make an animal measure up exactly the same every time. Remember, too, that measuring should be done when the animals hooves are freshly trimmed, or at least of proper length. Long toes and the addition of shoes can add to a height.
Height measurements should not be given in most cases in fractions of anything smaller than 1/8 of an inch. A thick winter coat or a little extra hoof can cause that much difference with ease.
by Shlei
Equines are measured in units. Which unit of measure is used depends on the association doing the registration. Some registries use inches to determine size, since it is easier than trying to convert to hands. A hand is four inches. The story behind this unit of measurement is that a kind went to measure his favorite horse. Not having a device to measuer with, he used the only thing he knew would be consistent: the palm of his hand. Since then, the hand has been the unit of measure for equines. The letters HH or hh after the numbers stand for Hands High. The single letter H or H may be used, standing just for "hands".
Parts of a hand are given after the whole unit, following a decimal. 10.2 hands (can also be read as just Ten-two) means ten hands and two more inches. (4 inches x 10 hands equals 40 inches, plus two additional inches, so 10.2 is 42 inches tall). 10.3 would be 10 hands and 3 inches, forty-three (43) inches. There is no such thing as 10 hands 4 inches, as 4 inches would be an additional hand. However, even fractions of an inch can be listed, such as 10.3 ¾ hh. (Ten hands, 3 ¾" inches, or Ten-three and three-quarters: just ¼" shy of a full 11 hands.)
3.3 hands - 15 inches at the withers, the smallest horse ever documented. Too Small! But, this animal reportedly only lived to be two years old (just short of what anyone would call mature).
4.2 hands - 18 inches. A few Miniature foals are only 18 inches high at birth.
6 hands - 24 inches. There have been a few Miniature Horses reported at this height (short?) in recent years.
6.1 hands - 25 inches - unverified report of the smallest known mature Miniature Donkey
6.2 hands- 26 inches - the height of the smallest known breeding Miniature donkeys (in the USA) and also the height of the smallest known mule in the world (General Grant).
7 hands - 28 inches. A few Miniature donkeys this small, difficult for females in pregnancy and birthing. Animals this small prized in some circles, but conformation tends to suffer. Either malproportioned in some cases, or very tiny with weak bone.
7.2 - 30 inches. Was once being debated as the cut-off point for breeding size in Miniature donkeys (no plans by ADMS to do this)
8 hands - 32 inches. Miniature size for horse, donkey or mule. Good average for Miniature Donkey height.
9 hands - 36 inches - breakover point from Miniature to Small standard for donkeys with no pedigree (Maximum height 36") . Still miniature height for mules.
9.2 hands - 38 inches. Maximum allowable height for Miniature donkeys with BOTH parents registered as Miniature. Still classified as Oversized in MDR.
10 hands - 40 inches. Breakover for small standard to Standard donkeys. (Still Miniature height for mules)
11 hands - 44 inches. Standard donkeys in this height range. Common height for most of the Plains zebras (Grants, Damaraland, Chapmans)
12 hands - 48 inches. The breakover from Standard to Large Standard in donkeys
12.2 hands - 50 inches. The breakover from Miniature to Saddle Mules.
13 hands - 52 inches - large Standard donkeys. Considered Pony height in horse breeds. Top end height for zebras, only Grevy's species usually get this tall.
13.2 hands - 54 inches - breakover from Large Standard to Mammoth height in Jennets
14 hands - 56 inches - breakover point from Large Standard to Mammoth for Jacks and Geldings
14.2 - 58 inches - in horses considered the line between Pony (under 14.2) and horse height. Typical size of many Mustangs, although a recent infusion of outside blood in some herds produces larger animals now.
15 hands - 60 inches - typical for many saddle horse breeds, mules, and reaching the top end for Mammoth height. About average height for Arabians and some Gaited breeds.
16 hands - 64 inches. Getting pretty large for a donkey, but a few jacks reported close to this height. Typical range for saddle mules, draft horses, and many saddle horse breeds.
17 hands - 68 inches. Extremely large for a donkey, they tend to "fall apart" in conformation at this height. Commonly seen in some Draft horse breeds, Warmbloods, and a few saddle mules.
18 hands - 72 inches. A few specimens this tall, but unusual in all but a few breeds, mainly Warmblood or Drafters.
19 hands - 76 inches! (6 foot, 4" at the withers). Taller than most men!
19.1 hands - 77 inches high, 6 foot 5 inches at the withers. The height of the tallest Mule in the World, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Apollo, (b 1977, in TN) is listed with teammate Anak at 18.3. (75 inches)
20 hands - 80 inches.
21 hands - 84 inches
21.2 ½ hands - 86 ½ inches at the withers. Tallest horse ever documented, a Shire gelding named Sampson (aka Mammoth with good reason!) measured in 1850 and listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
How do you measure an equine?
You must use a measuring stick, with a cross-piece and preferably a level. Stand the animal on a hard, level surface (a drive, aisle, or sheet of plyboard). A muddy field or uneven ground won't give you an accurate reading.
Place the level/crossbar at the withers. The stick should be straight up-and-down and not leaning. Measure at the top of the withers (the last hair of the mane on most equines). If you are not sure where to measure, put a small treat like a bit of apple or carrot on the ground in front of the animal. Look at the shoulders when they put their head down. The part of the shoulders that sticks up HIGHEST when their head is down is where you measure to.
If you try to measure just using a flexible tape measure you won't get an accurate measurement. A version of using the tape used to be called "Jackstock Measuring" and resulted in additions of fractions of an inch to more than 2" to an animals height.
Measure three times, and average the readings if you have to. You will find it's very hard to make an animal measure up exactly the same every time. Remember, too, that measuring should be done when the animals hooves are freshly trimmed, or at least of proper length. Long toes and the addition of shoes can add to a height.
Height measurements should not be given in most cases in fractions of anything smaller than 1/8 of an inch. A thick winter coat or a little extra hoof can cause that much difference with ease.