LAYER PRODUCTION

& MANAGEMENT
PART 2
 LAYER MANAGEMENT (21-72 WEEKS

Grower birds are transferred to layer houses at the end

of the 18th week after deworming, dipping and
protective vaccinations against Newcastle disease.

When reared on litter, litter material must be provided

to a height of 12-15 cm.

A floor space allowance of 1,800 cm2 per bird must be

given. Circular or linear feeders may be provided;
feeder space allowance of 10-12 cm per bird must be
given.
Linear feeder 180 cm long and 10 cm deep will suffice
for 35 layer birds. A free supply of feed at all times has
to be ensured.

Layer mash with 17 % crude protein, 2 600 Kcal per kg

of M.E, 2.75 % calcium and 0.80 % available
phosphorous must be provided.
Provide a drinker space allowance of 2.5 cm per bird.

During the laying stage, 1,000 birds will consume

approximately 250 litres of water per day.

A circular drinker of 45 cm in diameter and 7 cm depth

will be sufficient for 50 birds. Automatic drinkers
connected to a common water tank can also be provided.
Nest boxes made of G.I or aluminium sheets may be
provided at 45 cm height – one for every three to five
birds.

The layers must be trained to get into the nest box to lay
their eggs as eggs laid on the floor have a higher chance
of breakage.

The mouth of the box should be 30cm wide and 20 cm

deep
Layer cages

Most often, layer birds are reared in cages. Cages of

various sizes are used to house 3 to 5 birds in a cage

Cages of the following sizes may be

made and fitted in rows:
45 x 30 cm - for 3 birds
45 x 40 cm - for 4 birds
50 x 35 cm - for 4 birds
50 x 45 cm - for 5 birds
60 x 37.5 cm - for 5 birds
 These cages are arranged in two or three such rows
next to each other on either side. They are called
Californian cages.

A floor space allowance of 420-450 cm2 is provided

inside the cages.

Conventionally, the bottom of the

lowermost cage is fitted at 75 cm
height from the floor.

Nowadays, they are fitted at 180-240 cm height above

floor level, with walking platforms constructed on the
sides.
The layer cage will be 40 cm in height. The floor is fitted
with 2.5 x 5.0 cm 14 gauge weld mesh. On the sides,
7.5 x 7.5 cm 16 gauge mesh is fitted. The bottom floor
is provided with a one-sixteenth slope downwards to
the front to enable the eggs to roll to the cage front.

Drinkers are fitted above the feeders in the front.

Feeders and automatic drinker nipples or buttons may
be provided in the cages.
Cage rearing facilitates is:
• easy management,
• easy collection of eggs,
• needs less space,
• gives a lower percentage of broken eggs,
• better egg weight,
• a cleaner egg production,
• easy culling and
• a reduced mortality rate
Artificial lighting must be provided during the laying
stage by a minimum of one 60 watt bulb for every 20 m2
area.

Start giving 20 minutes of additional lighting per week

from 21 weeks of age and continue increasing it until a
total day length (natural day length + duration of artificial
lighting) of 16 hours per day is reached.

It should be maintained at that level until 72 weeks of

age. Day length should never be decreased during the
laying period.
Egg laying starts at 20-21 weeks and the rate of laying
(percentage production) increases every week to reach a
level of 90%.

Afterwards, it comes down slowly to reach 70 % or less by

72 weeks of age.

When the egg production goes below 65 %, it is

uneconomical to retain the layers unless the egg price is
exceptionally high. They are then sold to the meat market
as spent hens.
Egg production may be calculated as the percentage of
the total number of birds available at 21 weeks (hen-
housed egg production) or the percentage of the
number of birds available on each day (hen-day egg
production).

The layer type of chickens lay their

eggs mostly during the period before noon.

Eggs may be collected twice in the morning and once in

the afternoon.

The frequency of egg collection has to be increased to

four or five times daily during peak summer.
Egg production by layers under optimal conditions
ECONOMIC TRAITS OF LAYERS

Economically important characteristics of layer-type

chickens are:
• Age at the start of laying;
• Body weight at maturity;
• Number of eggs;
• Egg weight;
• Feed efficiency (per dozen eggs or per kg egg
mass);
• Liveability
Age at the start of laying

For a flock of layer pullets, the age in days at which a

5 % egg production level is reached, is considered as
the age of maturity.

It usually falls at 21 weeks of age.

If laying starts early, the eggs laid are smaller in size, a
situation that continues for a long time, affecting the egg
price and in turn, the profitability.
Number of eggs
Commercial hybrid layers produce around 290-310 eggs
in one year from 21-72 weeks of age.

Factors:
• strain of the bird,
• age and body weight at the start of laying,
• lighting schedule during growing and laying, feed
quality
• culling procedure,
• climate,
• managerial factors like space allowances, system of
feeding, water quality, vaccination and other disease
control measures
Egg weight

This varies from 52-56 g on average. Egg weight is mainly

dependent on the body weight of the birds.
All other factors such as quality of feed, managerial
factors, age, strain, etc., which influence body weight also
have an influence on egg weight.
Feed efficiency

This denotes the efficiency of the conversion of feed

into eggs. Feed efficiency of layers is calculated in terms
of conversion into number of eggs (per dozen eggs) or
weight of eggs (per kg egg mass)
Factors affecting feed efficiency:

• strain of the bird,

• average egg number,
• egg weight (in the latter case),
• quality of feed (energy, protein and contents of
other vital nutrients, presence of toxins if any,
inclusion of performance promoters, etc.),
• Managerial care (space allowances, system of
feeding, feed wastage, proper debeaking,
deworming, insect and rodent control), climate,
disease control measures, etc.
Liveability

The liveability percentage is calculated separately for each

of the three stages of layer management viz., in brooder
(0-8 weeks), grower (9-20 weeks) and layer (21-72 weeks)
stages.
Permissible levels of mortality during these stages are 4 %,
2-3 % and 6-8 % respectively.

Accordingly, liveability levels of 96 %, 96-97 % and 92 %

are prescribed as optimal for these stages independently
of each other
Influencing factors:

• Strain,
• feed quality,
• litter management,
• vaccination schedule
• design of poultry houses,
• climate,
• bio-security measures adopted
Broodiness

Birds may develop the tendency to sit on the eggs for

hatching purposes and make peculiar noises.
Their egg production will suffer.

To avoid this, collect the laid eggs frequently, ensure

an adequate number of nest boxes, segregate such
birds and keep them separately for two or three days.
Egg eating
Some birds may break the egg and attempt to feed on
it. Ensure adequate floor space, collect eggs frequently,
have an adequate number of nest boxes, and ensure
the required level of protein and minerals in the feed.

Prolapse
When this occurs, after laying eggs, the egg tube hangs
out. Other birds may peck at it and cause injury and
death. Segregate the affected birds and restrict their
feed. Ensure adequate floor space and reduce any
dustiness of feed.
Cannibalism

An indication of this is when birds peck at each other’s

backs. Ensure proper density and adequate fibre in the
diet. Proper debeaking and light intensity will reduce
cannibalism.
Fly control

Flies pose a major problem, especially where layers are

reared in cages.

The wet droppings collected below the cages offer an

optimal environment for the flies to lay their eggs and
multiply. Birds on litter can consume the flies and
control the problem, however, with birds in cages this
is not possible.
The flies irritate the birds, reduce the feed intake and
affect egg production and are a nuisance to the
workers.

They also lay their eggs on the eggshells which mars

their appearance and they spread several diseases.
To control the fly problem, avoid stagnation of water on
or around the farm premises and maintain water
pipelines properly. Treat the appearance of watery
droppings immediately.

Cut and remove the weeds and shrubs around the farm.

The drug larvadex may be given to the birds in their feed,

to kill the larvae. Fly-control drugs like Anumet, Cythion,
Nuvan, Sevin, Sumicidin, Treban, Rukrin and Fudox, may
be used according to specifications as a spray or as
powder on the droppings once in two weeks
Marketing of eggs

Eggs can be collected and stored at room temperature

on the farm premises for three to seven days depending
on climatic conditions. Sometimes traders supply feed,
take back the eggs and pay the excess money to the
farmers.

Eggs are usually graded according to their weight. As

specified by ISI, four such weight grades are identified:
extra large (60 g and above), large (53-59 g), medium
(42-52 g) and small (38-44 g).
END