AnSc 121 LESSON 9

Stages of Life (Layers)

  1. Pullet chicks - day-old to 8weeks (fed on chick mash)

  2. Growing stage: 8- 20 weeks (Point of a cage – 12 to 14 weeks & Point of Lay – 14-16weeks (fed on grower’s mash)

  3. Laying stage: 20 to 72weeks (fed on layer’s mash)

Advantages & Disadvantages of Battery Cage

  1. Advantages

    • More pullets may be kept

    • Broodiness is eliminated

    • Eggs can be collected less frequently

    • Culling is made easier

    • Less feed may be required per dozen eggs.

  2. Disadvantages

    • higher cost because of the cages and house construction.

    • Higher percentage of blood spots in eggs

    • Internal egg quality drops off more quickly

    • Fly problems are higher with the cage system

Management of layers (Provision of Nest Boxes)

  • Nest boxes are provided for layers that will be maintained on deep litter.

  • Nests are preferably lined up near the side of the pen away from the sun ray.

  • Wood shavings should be placed on the floor of the nest box to protect the eggs against breakage and to produce clean eggs.

Signs of Onset Laying

  1. Birds will start to cackle

  2. The combs and wattles will be bright red and when touched, the bird will tend to stoop.

Light physiology

  • Cardinal rule: never increase light during the growing period, and never decrease light during the laying period.

  • increasing day length during the growing period will hasten sexual maturity, more pullet eggs, prolapsed, and shorter egg production cycles.

Light and light programs

two main factors to stimulate the onset of laying in the flock

  1. Body weight

  2. Photoperiod

the duration of the photoperiod can stimulate or delay the onset of lay as follows:

  • Stable or increasing photoperiods with a duration exceeding 14 hours will early stimulate the onset of lay.

  • Stable photoperiods with a duration of less than 14 hours will delay the onset of lay.

The recommended ratios between males and females in the flock are:

  • 1 male to 12 females –for light birds

  • 1 male to 10 females –for medium-sized birds

  • 1 male to 8 females –for meat-type birds

  • Breeders may be revaccinated for IBD Vat 14- 16 weeks of age.