Exam 3 - Laying Hen Management Flashcards
(45 cards)
pullet
a young laying hen
what are the stages of pullet production?
- starter
- grower
- finisher
- developer
breeders are reproductively sound at _____ weeks while layers are reproductively sound at ______ weeks
24; 18
how should light be managed for pullets?
less light needed when they are young
how should pullets weights be managed?
controlled growth, prevent the overgrowth of pullets and maintain them at similar weights
what do you have to prepare pullets for as they go into lay?
prepare them for a change in environment
before lay the light should be less than ____ hours
14
when the hens are in lay ___ hours of light should be provided with a maximum of ____ hours of light
14; 16
T/F: when turning on and off lights in the barn you can just flip a switch
FALSE; there needs to be a transition of light, otherwise you could scare the birds
peewee egg
a very small egg that the hens will produce their first couple weeks of laying
when should you begin transitioning lighting protocols when moving hens to the laying house?
1-2 weeks prior
when moving birds into the laying house, why is important to weigh them?
weighing a portion of the birds allows you to make management decisions and ensure they are at a similar and appropriate size
light should be ______ in the housing area and _____ in the laying box
consistent; dim
what would happen if you gave the hens light too soon?
they will produce eggs earlier meaning they will have more peewee eggs and increase feed consumption, or the hens are not ready to produce any eggs and nothing happens
what would happen is you gave the hens light too late?
you are wasting productivity, pushing back the timeline of egg production
what effect does blue and green light have on the birds?
stress management and growth promotion
what effect does red and orange light have on the birds?
increases hormone secretion to support reproduction
how do you induce molting?
decrease light and energy in the diet
describe the hormone cascade of hen reproduction and how light effects this
The hormone cascade in hen reproduction is a process triggered by light exposure, specifically the increasing and decreasing day length. Light stimulates the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary produces GnRH leading to the release of hormones like LH and FSH, which regulate ovulation and egg-laying. ALSO increased light stimulates the thyroid which increases T3 that increases GnRH.
how can you stimulate the bird to lay?
they need to have an environment to lay, like a box that is dark and gives a private environment, she cannot be broody
what is broodiness?
a maternal instinctual behavior characterized by sitting on eggs for extended periods
how can legislation affect housing styles?
affect the size and space the birds are allowed, accommodating consumer interest
describe conventional housing
- cages
- highly automated
- wire cased with feeder and water lines
- eggs roll down to be collected
advantages of a conventional housing system?
- the system is built to be very clean (conveyer belt to collect waste, ability to weep between cages, etc.)
- ability to monitor individual bird health
- stable social hierarchy
