Poultry Commercial Egg Production

Question 1

How are chicks raised in the UK

Answer 1

Received and raised in grower farm, day old to 15-17 weeks
Birds transporter to layer farm - free range, enrich caged, banded
In layer farm until depletion >80 weeks

Question 2

What are common layer breeds in Uk

Answer 2

Isa brown
Hy-line brown
Lohmann brown
Novogen brown

Question 3

What is the barn housing system

Answer 3

Birds have access to litter area
Practice natural behaviour dust bathing and scratching
Has next boxes
Slatted area where water and feed are presented

Question 4

What is the aviary housing system like

Answer 4

Multi tier
Similar to barm house
Birds move to different levels
Feed presented on different levels and water presented at front of nest boxes
Birds feed to move through system to eat, drink, rest and lay eggs

Question 5

What is the free range housing system like

Answer 5

Combination and aviary
Birds outside range area

Question 6

What does rearing include between 0-15/16 weeks

Answer 6

Beak trimmed chicks
Preparing for chick arrival
Feed and water 20-25 degrees
Supplementary feeder and drinker for first few days
Introduce automated system
Heating starting 31-33 degrees then reduce to 20 degrees by 5 weeks
If heat too high - limits good feathering, feed intake and growth rate
Lighting - 22 hours 0-3days, 21 hours 4-7 days, 30-50 lux

Question 7

Why do we use perches 0-15/16 weeks

Answer 7

Improve welfare, express natural behaviour
Train birds to jump
Offer escape route form agressive birds
Increase usable surface per bird and increases floor density

Question 8

Why do we need good ventilation 0-15/16 weeks

Answer 8

Essential for growth
Provide fresh air
Temperature control
Constant house climate no draught
Evacuation of moisture, dust and gases
Reduction of of air born pathogens
Minimise risk of conjunctivitis
Minimise risk of respiratory disease

Question 9

Why do we use litter for 0-15/16 weeks

Answer 9

Wood shavings or chopped straw
Important in maintaining floor and chicken body temperature

Question 10

Look at power point for age - temperature and lighting

Answer 10

LOOK!

Question 11

What must the lighting be like in 0-15/16 weeks

Answer 11

Generally 22-23 hours for first few days. 30-40 lux
To encourage feed and water intake
After week 5 follow breed recommendation

Question 12

What are the growth concepts to consider with poultry

Answer 12

Development of immune system and organs, skeleton and muscles, BW at 5/6 weeks is good indicator of pullet quality

Question 13

When do the oviducts matures

Answer 13

18 weeks onwards
Hormonal regulation
Sexual maturity

Question 14

What are reasons for and consequences of poor uniformity

Answer 14

Consequences - poor egg laying performance
Reasons for - high stock density, insufficient feeder/drinker space, poor feed distribution or presentation and other management issues

Question 15

What percent should be uniformity

Answer 15

90%

Question 16

What does sustained body weight result in

Answer 16

Good egg production

Question 17

What are the main targets for 18 week old poultry

Answer 17

Growing period to 18 weeks
Liveability = 96-98%
Feed consumed 6.3-7kg
Body weight at 18 weeks = 1.5 Kg

Question 18

What happens during the laying period

Answer 18

Transferred to laying farm
Cleaned disinfected
Temp, humidity and ventilation correct
Transfer in early morning
Feed only after 2 hours of arrival
After moving checks and observations
Minimum daily, weekly monitoring - consumption, body weight, mortality, environment

Question 19

What are the requirements of laying period housing

Answer 19

Enriched cages, free range, barn
Nests - 1 for 5-6 birds or 1m2 for 120 birds straw bedding, dim 0.3-0.5 lux light
Perches toys
Ventilation
Heating 18-22 degrees
Lighting
Litter
Health and feeding program

Question 20

What is the optimal lighting for egg production

Answer 20

16 hours per day for egg laying birds until culled

Question 21

What can the lighting regime do

Answer 21

Decide early or delayed maturation

Question 22

What do photoreceptors do

Answer 22

Very important for stimulating maturity of reproductive tract

Question 23

What are the periods for chicken rearing

Answer 23

Starter 0-4 weeks
Grower 4-10 weeks
Pullet 10-16 weeks
Pre lay 17 weeks
Laying variable programs 22-26 weeks,
Curve for egg laying = sharp up steady down

Question 24

What do the laying birds require for feeding

Answer 24

Space
Emptied every day
Regime to follow breed specifics
Monitor BW weekly

Question 25

How do we reduce floor eggs

Answer 25

Make nest more attractive and comfortable to other parts of house
Improve access to nest
Easy to reach

Question 26

What are commercial egg layer targets (a lot learn slowly)

Answer 26

LAYING PERIOD (to 80 Weeks)
Age at 50% Production 145 Days
Peak Production 93-95%
Hen-Day Eggs
To 60 Weeks 249
To 72 Weeks 315
To 80 Weeks 354
Hen-Housed Eggs
To 60 Weeks 246
To 72 Weeks 309
To 80 Weeks 347
Liveability (18-80 Weeks) 95%
Average Egg Weight
At 32 Weeks 62.9 Gms
At 70 Weeks 66.9 Gms
Total Egg Mass Hen-Day
18-72 Weeks 20.00 Kg
18-80 Weeks 22.8 Kg
Body Weight at 72 Weeks 1.94Gms
Average Daily Feed Consumption
Barn production 18-72 Weeks 115-122g/bird/day
Free range 18-72 Weeks 125-135g/bird/day

Question 27

What are some other final considerations for laying poultry

Answer 27

Quality of feeding
Drinking water quality
Flock health programme
Bio security
Common non infectious disease
Common infectious disease
Behaviour

Question 28

What are abnormal behaviours of birds

Answer 28

Crowding
Broodiness
Pecking