LAYING MANAGEMENT – DEEP LITTER, SLAT, SLAT CUM DEEP LITTER AND CAGE

OBJECTIVES:

1. Laying management starts rights from the onset of lay through peak production and post peak production up to culling. In this phase the main target is to produce more number of good quality hatchable eggs.

HEN HOUSING:

1. Before housing the sexing errors, weak and underdeveloped birds are rejected and culled. On 24 th week count the birds before housing and ensure the required Nipple/Drinker, feeders, lighting, Nest box are maintained.

LIGHTING PROGRAMME:

1. During In season and Out of season flock, the given lighting schedule in the Pre-Laying management to be followed.

2. One 36 watt CFL or 40 watt florescent bulb for every 200 sq. ft. at a height of 7 feet from the litter. Cleaning of bulbs to be done monthly once.

FEED MANAGEMENT:

OBJECTIVE: To achieve the HHE (Hen Housed Eggs) by allocating and providing the required feed to the birds based on the body weight gain (grams) and hen day production (HD%).

1. A flock with good uniformity shows rapid increase in production. In such flock feed increment has to be in accordance with rise in production. Delay in feed increments leads to poor peak, rapid drop, post peak fluctuation and poor egg weight.

2. Excessive feed increment results in over body weight, poor egg quality, and more number of double yolk eggs, yolk peritonitis, prolapse and higher depletion. Hence most ideal approach is to give small and frequent feed increment.

CHANGE OVER FROM PRE BREEDER FEED TO BREEDER FEED:

1. Changes over Pre-layer or Pre-breeder feed to Breeder feed is suggested at 3-5% HD (Hen Day) production and not before that.

2. Peak feed should be given at 65% HD production onwards. Peak feed should provide 445-460 K. Cal of metabolic energy and 25-26 grams of CP (Crude protein) per bird. Peak feed of per bird per day is recommended depending upon the climate.

FEED GRAMS ALLOCATION:

1. For every 10% increase in hen day production, 7 grams (approximate) of feed increment is recommended. Conveniently for every increase of 5% hen day production, 3.5 to 4 grams of feed increment can be given.

2. Alternately, for every 10% rise in production from 5 – 25% HD (hen day), give 5 grams of feed increment.

For every 10% rise in production from 25 – 45% HD (hen day) give 7 grams of feed increment.

For every 10% rise in production from 45 – 55% HD (hen day) give 9 grams of feed increment.

For every 10% rise in production from 55 – 65% HD (hen day) give 10 grams of feed increment.

Table no. 1 Suggested Feed Increment Programme (Example for Vencobb 400 Breed)

PRODUCTION HD% FEED IN GRAMS (FEMALE)

5 125.010 128.515 132.020 135.525 139.030 142.535 146.040 149.545 153.050 156.555 160.060 163.565 168.0

FEED TYPE:

Types of feed given are based on the age and hen day %.

1. PBLM: Pre Breeder Layer Mash (from 16th weeks till 5% of HD) both male and female.

2. BMF: Breeder Male Feed is given for males.

3. BLP1 / BLM 1: Breeder Layer pellet 1 / Mash 1, is given from 5% of HD production to till 40 th week.

4. BLP2 / BLM 2: Breeder Layer Pellet 2 / Mash 2, is given from 41st week to till culling.

NB: Feed type can be changed based on the timely decision.

FEED DISTRIBUTION:

A. IN DEEP LITTER, SLAT, SLAT CUM DEEP LITTER

1. Feed to be distributed in the early morning hours (Summer 3 AM).

2. After feed distribution to the feeders, to be dropped down with 3 minutes per pen. Check whether the feeders are easily accessible by all the birds.

B. IN CAGE SYSTEM:

1. Feed to be distributed in the early morning hours (Summer 3 AM).

FEED CLEANUP TIME:

Feed cleanup time should be monitor on daily basis.

* Mash: Within 5 hours

* Pellet: 1 hour

EGG WEIGHT MONITORING:

1. Daily egg weight monitoring is an important tool, as it reflects production progress.

2. Egg weight should gradually increase till culling.

3. Daily egg weighing should be practiced from 5% HD production to peak production. Thereafter, on weekly basis.

E.g.: A sample of 210 numbers of eggs from second collection of the day should be weighed in bulk excluding very small eggs, double yolk eggs and crack eggs.

4. There is rapid increase in egg weight from onset of lay till peak production. Stagnation or decline in egg weight for more than 3 days should be analyzed immediately.

BODY WEIGHT MONITORING IN FEMALES:

* Weekly body weight monitoring is equally important and it should be monitored till culling.

* 5% of the birds in all pens to be weighed and the weight of the birds are recorded in the body weight recoding chart and average body weight of the pens is calculated.

* The same sample of birds should be marked and weighted in every week. Weighment day as well as timing of body weight in every week should not be changed.

WATER MANGEMENT:

* To provide sanitized water to the birds always.

* Ensure the water is available to the birds always and they are easily accessible.

FOR IN DEEP LITTER, SLAT, SLAT CUM DEEP LITTER:

* Auto drinker: 50 birds/ drinker & * Nipple: 8 to 10 birds/ Nipple

DRINKER & NIPPLE CLEANING:

* Auto drinker: To be cleaned twice a day. Have substitute drinkers always while cleaning the drinkers.

* Nipple cup & Nipple sub tank: To be cleaned with bleaching powder once in a day.

* Once in 15 days the drinker parts are cleaned with HCL and Bleaching powder and dried in sunlight.

WEEKLY RECORD DETAILS IN THE FLOCK REGISTER:

The following details to be recorded: HD%, Selection%, Hatch%, Cum. Depletion%, Egg weight, HHHE/Week, Cum. Total eggs (number), Cumulative feed, Feed/Bird, Body weight, Uniformity, Medicine and Disinfectant usage in the laying register.