Poultry Production: Layer Management

• I. BROODING MANAGEMENT

  -Brooding requirement

  Heat - is supplied until the chicks have grown to the point where they no longer need additional heat to keep them comfortable.this period lasts for approximately 4 weeks

  • provide a brooder area
  • should be ready or heated before chicks arrive
• Sources of Heat for Brooders

  • Electricity
  • LPG (liquified petroleum gas)
  • Infra-red lamp
  • Kerosone lamp
  • Charcoal
• Temperature requirement

  Day old - 1 week

  90-950F (32.2-350C)

  1-2 weeks

  85-900F (29.4-32.20C)

  2-3 weeks

  80-85oF (26.7-29.40C)

  3-4 weeks

  80F down (26.7oC and below)

  Growing period - 75oF or cooler temperature

  Be guided by the behavior or reaction of the chicks to existing environmental temperature
• After 12 weeks, the floor space requirements of growing pullets requires according to the system of housing used.

  Litter floor - 2.0-2.5 sq.ft. /bird

  Slat floor- 1.5 - 2.0 sq.ft./bird

  Cage - 0.75 - 1.0 sq.ft/bird
• Light Requirement

  • Light management is very important in the development of new layers.
• The correct light to dark ratio in the rearing house will influence the production of larger eggs.
• First few days of brooding - 24 hrs light

  • more eating time
  • the light in the brooder will encourage the birds to keep close to the source of heat, feed and water
• Increasing day length (light) during the growing period results in:

  • Early sexual maturity
  • Results to production of more pullet eggs or small eggs.
  • Layers are prone to prolapse
  • Shorter egg production cycle
• Under local conditions where there are only slight variations in day length:

  It is recommended day length must not exceed

  11 - 12 hours during the growing stage (4-18 weeks) of the developing pullets.
• Feeds, Feeding and Watering

  • As soon as the chicks are settled in the brooder, it is best if water can be made available to them immediately.
• • Addition of 5-10% sugar in the water for the first 6-8 hours + water-soluble vitamins
• • Feed must be provided about 2-3 hours when the chicks have learned to drink.
• • Chick starter mash, placed in mattings or chick feeder
• Adequate feeder and watering spaces should be provided.

  The following allowances are considered minimum per bird:

  Feeder (linear) Waterer

  Day old - 2 weeks 2.5 cm 0.5 cm (1gal/100 chicks)

  2-6 weeks 4.5 cm. 1.0 cm

  6-10 weeks. 7.5 cm 2.0 cm
• Cannibalism Among Growing Chickens:

  • Feather or toe picking
  • Cannibalism, probable causes:
  • Imbalanced ration - a high energy diet with low protein
  • overcrowding and insufficient feeding and drinking spaces
  • extended period without feed and water
  • Poor ventilation
  • Excessive heat and too much light
  • May also be a strain characteristic

  How to remedy? Find the Cause!
• Factors Affecting Length of Brooding Period

  >weather/climatic conditions

  • longer during cold and rainy months
  • shorter during dry and warm months

  > rate of feathering shorter for fast feathering breeds/strains

  • longer for slow feathering
  • can be due to genetic make-up
  • or nutrition of the birds
• Requirements for Successful Brooding

  • good quality chicks
  • proper temperature
  • good ventilation
  • adequate floor, feeding, drinking spaces
  • dryness and cleanliness
  • protection from predators
  • proper feeds and feeding system
• I. GROWING OR REARING MANAGEMENT

  
  

  • Free - Range system - a good system, needs more land area, for native chicken growers and duck raisers.
  • Semi-confinement system- the birds are provided with a shed or housing and an area to graze or pasture, native chicken, or organic production.
  • Complete confinement
  • litter floor - litter materials such as wood shavings, rice hulls, stovers, etc.
  • slatted floor - bamboo slats, wire combination of litter and slatted floor
  • cages
• Complete confinement

  • litter floor - litter materials such as wood shavings, rice hulls, stovers, etc.
  • slatted floor - bamboo slats, wire combination of litter and slatted floor
  • cages
• REARING OF PULLETS

  1. Feeding requirements of growing pullets

  6-14 weeks Grower Ration 16% protein

  14-20 weeks Pullet Developer 14% protein

  Birds tend to lay eggs early when given feeds with high protein content.

  !! This early sexual maturity is not advisable!!!
• Although pullets fed with low protein start laying eggs at a later period,

  they will produce many more standard size eggs and consequently, bring bigger income.
• It is recommended that pullets be allowed to clean out the feed Hoppers before the next feeding:

  • to keep the pullets on their feeds better and solve the problem of musty or stale feeds.
• Feed Wastage

  • Must be reduced to increase profit
  • Using conventional feeding trough and a mash ration, it has been found out that when feeders are:

  completely full 30% of feed is wasted

  > 2/3 full 10%

  > 1/2 full 3%

  > 1/3 full 1%
• CULLING AND REVACCINATION

  > Only healthy pullets should be transferred to the laying house, and these are:

  • vigorous and active
  • have bright and alert eyes
  • prominent red combs and wattles
  • Possess well-developed body and exhibit deep yellow pigmented beaks and shanks.

  These characteristics are related to high production performance.
• The stunted and poorly developed pullets should be culled.
• The pullets must also be revaccinated against NCD before they are transferred to the laying house.
• The pullets must also be revaccinated against NCD before they are transferred to the laying house.
• SIGNS OF SEXUAL MATURITY

  • After 16 weeks of age, the reproductive organs of pullets will start to develop in preparation for reproduction.
• This is manifested by the change in appearance of the secondary sexual characteristics:

  1. The comb and wattles begin to increase in size and the color becomes red.
  2. The pullets become friendly and cackle.
  3. She instinctively looks for nest.
  4. Pullets become docile (easily managed), gregarious (sociable).
  5. The vent and abdomen became enlarged.
• The surest sign of sexual maturity is the laying

  of an egg

  • The age at which the first egg is laid depends upon the breed and strain and the kind of management given.
  • In general, egg type breeds should come into production when they are 22 weeks old (5.5 months).
• Although the most awaited time in raising pullets is when they begin to produce eggs, it is not desirable to hurry them up to production too early.

  
  

  Too early maturity leads to:

  • Production of small eggs
  • tendency to obtain a lower egg production rate during the whole production period
  • higher mortality
  • high incidence of prolapse
• If too early sexual maturity is being shown by the pullets, some delaying measures maybe worthwhile:

  • Actual amount of feed be reduced. The amount and reduction will depend on the extent of delaying required and the composition of the diet. Around 20% feed reduction based on full feed capacity.
  • The feed maybe diluted by incorporating a high fiber material like rice bran. Full fed.
  • A low protein, specifically low lysine diet, will delay sexual maturity.
  • Skip feeding
  • Light must be reduced, together with any method of feed restriction.
• LAYER FLOCK MANAGEMENT

  Housing

  > The design and construction of houses for layers should be such as to provide for:

  • top performance of the layers
  • optimum environment control
  • maximum labor efficiency
  • satisfactory waste
  • disposal
  • maximum housing and care costs per dozen eggs produced
• Like the grower houses, layer houses can

  either be:

  • Litter floor pens
  • Slat floor pens
  • Combination of litter and slat floor (used only for breeder flocks)
• Many egg raisers still use the slatted floor in relatively small pens with sloping floor for eggs to roll out on one side provided with receptacles.
• Transfer of the Pullets to the Layer House

  • Done before the pullets actually start to lay eggs
  • Pullets should not be allowed to lay eggs in the rearing floor too avoid the development of egg eating habit
  • If pullets started laying, transferring the birds is very stressful to the birds
  • Done about 16-18 weeks or a month before laying.
• Drinking Water must always be provided
• Daily Routine of Work in the Laying House

  • Birds have small depository of feeds
  • Provide them feeds frequently
  • Expected to produce one egg a day
• Feeding - laver ration with 15-18% protein

  1. age, size and egg production
  2. energy content of the diet
  3. climatic conditions
  4. health status of the hens
• Drinking Water

  • must always be provided
  • The egg is 65 to 70% water
  • 100 layers can drink 7 gallons of water daily
  • Layers can take certain short period of starvation (without feed) when water is available and keep a normal egg production rate.
  • When deprived of water for just a couple of hours, even when there is feed, egg production declines.