A farmer feeds layer birds at Kabanyolo. Phase feeding can be followed for layers according to age, level of production and climatic factors. The average feed consumption through the laying period ranges from 100-110 grammes . PHOTO/ NMG
Female poultry birds which are reared for egg laying are called layers. There are mainly two classifications of poultry birds, namely egg producers; that is, the laying birds or layers and meat producers; these are broilers and cockerels.
Egg production is a lucrative agribusiness, it is a short-term investment with quick turnover. Laying birds are of different breeds.
The white and brown colour leghorns are the best egg producers and here in Uganda, the brown leghorn is the commonest.
Management
The birds produce their eggs between 20 to 72/75 weeks of age. This means laying starts at 20 weeks of age and the birds will lay the eggs up to 72 to 75 weeks of age after that the egg production will decrease and the bird will be culled.
This laying period is also called a laying cycle or biological year when the bird reaches five percent egg production.
The birds which completed their whole 75 weeks laying phase is termed as off-layer.
Layers, unlike the meat producers, are vulnerable birds that want proper management practice for them to reach and maintain the peak of their production potential.
It is necessary a poultry farmer knows how to take care of egg-laying chicken; the care is the only success factor in the poultry business, a poorly managed farm record loss, and low productivity always.
All farmers accord their losses to the genetic make-up of the birds; however, lack of appropriate management crumbles an egg-producing venture.
Management of laying birds is a dicey task that needs careful attention; it starts right from the brooding stage until when the birds cease production.
Layers are brooded for about eight weeks and fed with chick mash; after the eighth week, they must be fed with grower till about 18 weeks before introducing the diet layer.
Normally, egg production commences at about 17 weeks; the birds must be evacuated to the laying pen at about 16 weeks to get them acclimatised to the environment before the commencement of egg production. At 20 weeks, debeak your birds to stop egg pecking.
Layer management
There are three types of nests: Individual nest – One nest box is sufficient for four to five birds; community nest – this will accommodate 50 to 60 birds, and trap nest which will accommodate one bird at a time and is used for academic and breeding studies.
The nest must be provided with litter material. The litter material has to be replaced at least once in a week to check contamination of the eggs. During night hours the nest must be closed to prevent the sitting of birds in the nest.
In the deep-litter system, the litter material must be racked in the evening daily after egg collection is over. The litter must be treated chemically at least once in a month or whenever needed in case of wet litter problem to prevent ammonia emission in the house.
Laying period
Provide 16 hours light through the laying period. Present well-balanced layer mash. Phase feeding can be followed for layers according to age, level of production and climatic factors. The average feed consumption through the laying period ranges from 100 to 110 gram.
Feed consumption through winter increases and during summer feed consumption decreases. Summer and winter management must be followed for better flock percentages.
Deworming should be done regularly at an interval of six to eight weeks depending on the worm load, especially when reared under the deep-litter system. Collect the eggs at least five times a day in a deep-litter system and twice a day in a cage system.
Source of light
Mercury vapour light, fluorescent and incandescent light can be used. The distance between the two bulbs is 10 feet. The height of bulb seven to eight feet from the floor wall and if we are using a tube light instead of the bulb than between two tube light the distance must be 15 feet.
Light management for laying birds
After feeding, another parameter that must be managed optimally is the length of light per day. Lighting stimulates egg production; the daylight length must be increased gradually as the pullets come into egg production.
Artificial light in the form of the fluorescent bulb must be used to lengthen the daylight. Daylight of 16 hours per day must be activated at the beginning of egg production to ensure optimum production. After six months of production, the daylight should be increased to 17 hours per day.
The issue of pest and diseases want serious attention; adequate preventive measures have to be positioned in place to mitigate these threats. The main pests of layers are lice and worm; they make the birds uncomfortable, thus, reducing productivity.
Layers must be dewormed once every three months. Antibiotics and vitamins should be given through drinking water at least every three days to boost the birds’ immunity. The feeders and drinkers should be cleaned every two weeks to prevent the emergence of pathogens.
Battery cage system
The battery cage system is a common process used in commercial egg production. In this method, laying birds are confined in cages.
Each cage accommodates two to four birds depending on the size of the cage. This cage system saves labour and space as the battery cages are set up in tiers. It controls cannibalism and egg pecking as eggs stray away instantly after dropping; also, it controls infection of parasitic diseases and the rapid increase of disease. However, it is expensive and birds get bored, hence, inducing cage fatigue. This cage system requires effective management as the layers nutrient requirements have to be met, especially calcium, to ensure optimum production.
Layers feeding schedule
The first thing is, the layer feed nutritional requirements, and these have to be met. Feed layers in the right quality and quantity to make sure adequate production. Birds are fed through the feeding trough; either in the linear feeding trough or hanging feeding trough.
The linear feeder must not be filled more than one-third of the trough to avoid feed wastage; a hanging feeder of about 50cm diameter can accommodate about 20 to 25kg of feed for 100 layers.
Layers diet is fed at about 20 weeks, they are generally high in calcium, and the feeds should be of larger particles. Feeding must be done during the cool hours of the day.
Water must be provided at all times, it is essential for egg production. Starving the birds with water is detrimental as it can decrease the productivity of laying birds greatly. Adding vitamins, probiotics, and electrolyte in drinking water helps to mitigate the menace of heat stress.
DEEP LITTER SYSTEM
In this system, the birds are placed inside the house all the time. Arrangement for feed, water, and nest are ready inside the house. The birds are kept on proper litter material of about three to five depth. The word litter is used for clean litter material spread on the floor. Generally, coffee husk, sawdust, groundnut hulls, chopped paddy straw or wood shavings are used as litter materials.
This arrangement saves labour involved in regular cleaning of fecal matter (droppings). However, it needs periodical stirring. The litter is extended on the floor in layers of two-inch height all fortnightly till the required is achieved.
