Egg production by your chicken layers can be disrupted or ceased abruptly due to disruptions in their reproductive cycles. Farmers derive a major benefit from keeping layer chickens on their farms in the form of egg production. Therefore, a decrease in egg production raises significant concerns for the farmer. This is because, when your layers skip a day without giving you eggs, the feed consumption remains the same therefore a farmer encounters a loss. By having proper knowledge and understanding of layers’ reproductive cycle, you can properly handle and find the best solution for your layers before encountering further losses. However, in an attempt to reduce farmers’ losses several factors that cause low egg production have been identified and addressed.
Layers egg production cycle.
Understanding these natural cycle that occurs in all layers is important for closely monitoring and maximizing your layer’s egg production. This cycle typically begins around 18 to 20 weeks of age, depending on breed genetics and feed management practices. At this point, pullets reach maturity and start laying eggs regularly. As a matter of fact, this stage is the most reproductive for layers and results in the highest number of eggs being produced.
The cycle of egg production in your layers will continue until they reach approximately 25 to 32 weeks of age, at which point egg production will start to decrease. During the peak of their reproductive phase, your hens will lay eggs regularly, with each hen producing at least one egg per day. However, various factors can disrupt this cycle, as mentioned earlier. Here are some of the factors that can interrupt the laying cycle of your layers.
How stress affects egg production.
One of the biggest challenges that can impact a layer’s ability to lay eggs is stress. When a layer is stressed, they focus all their energy on dealing with the stress rather than forming eggs. Stress can come in many forms, such as changes in the environment, extreme temperatures, overcrowding, the presence of predators, aggressive hens or noisy surroundings, and poor nutrition or illness.
Here are some tips for managing stress in a layer farming operation.
Overcrowding. In all cases, your poultry house should be spacious enough to accommodate your layers and at the same time ensure proper air circulation within the house. Giving each chicken an adequate space is critical for their comfort and their overall well-being. Overcrowding causes negative behavior changes such as cannibalism and peaking and as a result low egg production. In order to avoid overcrowding your layer, make sure you provide a minimum space of 3 to 4 square meters per bird.
How extreme temperatures affect egg production.
Extreme temperatures occur when body temperatures rise to a fatal stage due to poor heat loss and minimal coping means. Most of the birds including layers have a thermal neutral zone of between 15.5 to 23 degrees Celsius which is the range where production is lowest. Further increasing temperatures to 29 degrees Celsius, layers start adjusting their production and overall behavior such as feeding. Further increases in temperatures will be lethal to your layers. At this stage, water intake will increase whereas feed intake decreases. As a result, egg production will decline.
Tips on how to regulate heat in your coop.
Providing vents.
As it happens to all animal house designs, a poultry house structure should have adequate ventilation for proper air circulation. In case natural vents are not enough, consider installing artificial ones, for example, fans to aid in temperature regulation.
Feeding.
As professional advice, feed your poultry in the morning when birds are hungry till they are fed up. In the afternoon, withdraw the feed when temperatures are at their peak. This will help layers avoid the risk of afternoon heat stress.
Water management.
Allows ensure your layers drinker are filled with clean water for drinking during a hot day. This is because layers will increase water intake with an increase in temperatures by 2 to 4 times more than a normal day.
Noisy environment.
Noise is a significant factor that if not well addressed can lead to disruption of the laying cycle of your chickens. Loud noises near your poultry house stress your chickens and as a result the disruption of the physiological function of your flock. This will in turn lead to poor-quality eggs.
Tip for handling noises.
Always establish your poultry house in a quiet area away from loud noises such as busy roads, and airports.
Use soundproof materials to establish your house.
Provide a calm and peaceful atmosphere for your chickens at all times.
Maintain your electrical poultry equipment to reduce noises from water and tear.
Minimize the number of visitors to your coop.
How predator affects egg production.
Predators can mess with your chickens’ egg production, so it’s important to keep them out of your coop. Plus, just having a predator lurking around can stress out your hens and make them lay fewer eggs. Research even shows that chickens can shut down completely when they feel threatened by predators. So, make sure you’ve got a solid coop design, secure enclosure, and sturdy fence. This is to keep those predators such as raccoons, hawks, or stray pets bay and your eggs flowing.
Improper nutrition.
As it happens to all livestock, inadequate nutrition causes low production. For example, layers will stop laying eggs or disrupt the laying cycle in response to poor nutrition. Layers are aggressive when it comes to feeding. Therefore you need to supply your chickens with a balanced diet in order to sustain maximum egg production through their reproductive cycle. Layers require high amounts of proteins, calcium, vitamins, and mineral salts. Although some farmers supplement their flock with whole grains and organic wastes, it should not replace daily poultry feed. This is because these feeds lack some essential minerals the chickens need to lay eggs.
Diseases.
Diseases can significantly affect the egg production of layer hens. They can cause a huge reduction or a complete halt to the production of eggs. Various physiological changes occur in the bodies of hens when they are infected with diseases. Such infectious diseases include bronchitis, Newcastle disease, or avian influenza, which can affect their overall health and reproductive capabilities. These infections can cause stress, decreased feed intake, poor nutrient absorption, and organ damage. This directly impacts the hen’s ability to produce eggs.
Moreover, diseases can also impact the quality of eggs produced. Infections like Salmonella can contaminate eggs, posing a risk to both animal and human health. In some cases, diseases can even lead to the death of the affected hens, which further reduces egg production in the flock.
To prevent and control diseases that can impact egg production in layer hens, poultry farmers need to implement strict biosecurity measures. This includes vaccination programs, regular health monitoring, and proper hygiene practices. Farmers can help ensure consistent and high-quality egg production from their flock by maintaining a healthy environment and providing appropriate veterinary care.
Molting.
Molting is a natural phenomenon in which hens undergo the process of shedding their old feathers and growing new ones. This process can lead to a temporary decrease or even cessation in egg-laying as the hens prioritize the growth of new feathers over the formation of eggs.
The molting period is usually extended over several weeks and necessitates appropriate feed and management practices to support feather regrowth and overall health. After the molting process is complete, hens usually resume egg-laying, often with improved egg quality and quantity.
Proper management practices, such as providing adequate nutrition, a stress-free environment, and optimal lighting conditions, can help reduce the impact of molting on egg production and support the overall performance of chicken layers. By comprehending the effects of molting and implementing appropriate management strategies, poultry farmers can assist their hens in successfully navigating the molting process and maintaining consistent egg production levels in the long term.
Light duration and its effects on egg production.
The egg formation and production are triggered by the presence of light. For an egg to start forming inside the hen there must be sufficient light to trigger this process. The process of egg formation takes around 26 hours after which it takes one hour to lay the egg. Studies have shown that most layers will lay eggs within six hours of daylight or artificial light. Chickens require about 14 to 16 daylight hours in order to trigger their body to start egg formation. In case your layers are not getting enough light, the egg production may decrease are cease completely.
How age affects egg production.
As chickens grow old, their egg production tends to decline gradually. Typically, hens start laying eggs when they are around 18-20 weeks old and reach peak production at about 30 weeks. While most hens will continue to lay eggs until they reach 3-4 years of age, the quantity and quality of the eggs will decrease over time. Factors such as genetics, nutrition, and overall health significantly impact the egg production of older layers. Therefore, poultry farmers must take proper care of their flock and consider replacing older hens with younger ones to maintain optimal productivity levels.
In conclusion, Maintaining accurate records of daily egg production is a pivotal aspect of poultry management. It enables the identification of production declines, thereby providing an opportunity to implement remedial measures expeditiously. Several factors can impact egg production, including but not limited to, hen age, nutrition, day length, and disease. As such, it is imperative to keep track of these parameters to minimize potential stressors that may disrupt egg-laying patterns. By doing so, poultry farmers can ensure that their flocks remain productive and profitable.
References.
