TOPIC: - Pre-Laying management – Deep litter and cage

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this period is to prepare the birds to sexual maturity and maintain uniformity above 85%. This will help to get all the birds in to lay at the same time.

BODY WEIGHT OBSERVATION AND FEED:

During this period, the rate of body weight gain increases every week.

That is weekly weight gain at 16th weeks is 90 grams

At 17thweek is 110 grams

At 18th week is 130 grams

At 19th week is 150 grams

At 20th week is 170 grams

At 21th week is 180 grams

At 22th week is180 grams

This is achieved by giving weekly feed increment of 5-9 grams from 16-20 weeks of age. Accelerated body weight gain initiates sexual maturity. Pre-breeder ration should be started at 18 weeks of age. Separate sex feeding should be practiced in this stage.

SHIFTING OF PULLETS TO LAYER HOUSE:

1. Pullets should be shifted to layer house ideally at 16 weeks of age. Delay in shifting will postpone onset of lay, hence negatively affects the performance of the bird.

HOUSING:

A) Deep litter / Slat system:

1. Removal of sexing errors, cull birds and defective birds should be completed by 18 weeks of age.

2. About 10-11% of mature males are to be introduced between 22-24 weeks of age. Male body weight should be 25-30% more than that of female to be considered. Heavier males are to be mixed with heavier females. Immature males and immature females should not be mixed or mature males should not be mixed with immature females and vice versa.

3. In deep litter, 3 sq. ft floor space per bird and in case of slats2.6 sq. ft per birds is to be provided.

4. Feeding space, 8 linear inches in case of long feeders and incase of round feeder 8-10 birds per feeder should be ensured.

5. Nose clip insertion to the Male birds: A week before of Males introduction, the nose clips to be inserted in the nose of birds to avoid stealing and consumption of female feed from the female feeder. The Nose clips should be clean, sterilized and inserted for males during cool hours.

B) Cage system:

1. Removal of sexing errors, cull birds, defective birds should be completed by 20 weeks of age.

2. Feeding space of 8.25 linear inches per female is to be ensured.

3. Cage mate is to be fixed before the onset of production or by 23 weeks of age.

MALE AND FEMALE RATIO:

In cages or deep litter or slat system, male should be 10% of female numbers. However it is advisable to keep 2-3% of males separately as reserve for future use.

NEST BOX INTRODUCTION:

OBJECTIVE: To provide comfortable environment during the laying period. It should be placed in uniform ration in all areas of the pen with sufficient gap (atleast 3 to 4 feet) so that the floor eggs can be reduced and the hens will lay eggs in the Nest box.

NEST BOX CALCULATION:

1. One Nest box consist of 12 holes.

2. Each hole is for 5 birds and in the peak production period, the total birds in the pen are to 4 birds/hole.

3. Next box should be placed East- West direction across the length of the shed/pen. There should be sufficient amount of space between the Nest boxes based on the No. of birds in the pen/shed.

4. Nest box is to be introduced 4 weeks prior to egg production. The Nest box hole to be black in colour to create privacy and dark atmosphere to the hens.

LIGHTING:

1. Light stimulation is essential for sexual maturity and reproductive activity of birds. Optimum lighting intensity and duration are vital for normal reproductive function. Provide 60 to 80 Lux well distributed in the shed. The light source should have at a height of 8 ft. from the floor.

2. Monitor the light intensity periodically by using the Lux meter. Intensity and duration of light during this phase stimulate and influence the growth of ovary and testes.

3. A flock should not be light stimulated at 20 weeks of age if the uniformity is below 80% and if more than 5% of the birds are weighing less than 1900 grams. Over stimulation of poor uniform flock or underdeveloped birds will result in prolapse, poor peaks, low selection of hatching eggs and broodiness.

LIGHTING SCHEDULE:

A) Out of season (August to January), 19th weeks onwards

Age (week)

Natural light (hrs.)

Artificial light increment

(hrs.)

Artificial light (hrs.) Total hours

(Cumulative)Morning (hrs.) Evening (hrs.)

19 12 2 2 hrs. (4 am to 6 am) ----- 14 hrs.

20 12 1 2 hrs. (4 am to 6 am) 1 hrs. (6 pm to 7 pm)

15 hrs.

21 12 1 2 hrs. (4 am to 6 am) 2 hrs. (6 pm to 7 pm)

16 hrs.

22nd to 12 1 2 hrs. (4 am to 6 am) 3 hrs. (6 pm to 7 17 hrs.

Culling pm)

B) In season (February to July), 22th weeks onwards

Age (week)

Natural light (hrs.)

Artificial light increment (hrs.)

Artificial light (hrs.) Total hours

(Cumulative)Morning (hrs.) Evening (hrs.)

22 12 1 1 hrs. (5 am to 6 am) ----- 13 hrs.

23 12 1 1 hrs. (5 am to 6 am) 1 hrs. (6 pm to 7 pm)

14 hrs.

24th to till culling

12 2 2 hrs. (4am to 6 am) 2 hrs. (6 pm to 8 pm)

16 hrs.