Pullet Management Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason for providing sufficient nests for pullets?

To reduce competition among pullets

To prevent floor eggs (correct)

To increase feeding efficiency

To ensure each pullet has personal space

At what height should the lowest part of a nest be placed above the floor?

1.2 m

0.6 m (correct)

1.5 m

0.9 m

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of rising ambient temperatures for pullets?

Increased feed intake (correct)

Increased water consumption

Increased body temperature

Decreased egg production

How does cold weather typically affect egg production in pullets?

It can reduce egg production significantly Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of inadequate feed consumption during lower temperatures?

Layers will reduce production Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the lighting condition needed for optimal sexual maturity in pullets?

More than 11-12 hours of daylight Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of the litter becoming damp or wet in cold weather?

Increased ammonia production Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the thyroid size and activity of pullets as temperatures rise?

It increases Signup and view all the answers

What is the time required for the infundibulum to contribute to egg formation?

15 minutes Signup and view all the answers

At what stage of layer management are pullets usually moved to the permanent laying house?

14 to 18 weeks Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended housing practice for laying hens?

Birds can remain in the same house from day one until the end of laying. Signup and view all the answers

What density of medium-sized birds is considered optimal in a given area?

5.4 birds/m² Signup and view all the answers

When does the laying period or biological year officially start?

At 5% production Signup and view all the answers

Why should nests be prepared approximately a week before the first eggs are laid?

To train pullets for egg-laying. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of laying hens that have reached production compared to those that have not?

Laying hens have darker comb colors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the time period for which an egg passes through the uterus during formation?

20 hours Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using laying cages for pullets?

Easier care for the pullets Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using laying cages?

Problems handling manure Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the degree of uniformity in growing birds?

Quality of the birds themselves Signup and view all the answers

At what age does a flock typically start producing eggs?

145 days Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the potential issues with investment in laying cages?

Higher initial investment per pullet Signup and view all the answers

How does egg production typically trend over the laying year?

First increases then decreases Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following measurements is standard for the height of most laying cages?

40.6 cm Signup and view all the answers

Why are production standards important for poultry men?

They help compare productivity with recognized figures Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of reducing light duration during the growing period on egg production?

It delays sexual maturity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended maximum duration of light per day for optimal production?

17 hours Signup and view all the answers

At what age is the most economical time for hens to start laying their first eggs?

20-21 weeks Signup and view all the answers

How should lighting be managed during the first two days of life for chicks?

24 hours of light Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended light intensity at the bird level?

One foot candle Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the factors affecting the uniformity of growing pullets?

Type of management and nutrition Signup and view all the answers

What should be done to establish the mean flock weights?

Sample a representative group every three weeks. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if the flock is too light or too heavy at sexual maturity?

Reduced egg production Signup and view all the answers

What is the age of a flock at peak hen-day egg production?

7.2 months Signup and view all the answers

How is hen-day egg production for one day calculated?

No. of eggs produced / No. of live hens × 100 Signup and view all the answers

If 1000 hens produce 750 eggs in a day, what is the hen-day egg production percentage?

75% Signup and view all the answers

What information is required to calculate hen-housed egg production for one day?

No. of eggs produced and number of hens housed Signup and view all the answers

To find the hen-day egg production over a long period, which of the following is the first step?

Total the number of hen days during the period Signup and view all the answers

When calculating hen-housed egg production for a long period, what is essential?

Average number of eggs produced per day during the period Signup and view all the answers

Why is hen-day egg production an excellent indicator of laying performance?

It focuses solely on live hens' productivity Signup and view all the answers

What should be done if actual egg production is below the standard figures?

Investigate potential problems Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Layer Management & Lighting Program Lecture

Presented by Dr. Mohammad Q. Al-Natour, DVM, MPH, Ph.D., Professor of Avian Diseases & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, JUST, Irbid - Jordan
Contact information provided

Egg Formation Time

Infundibulum: 15 minutes
Magnum: 3 hours
Isthmus: 75 minutes
Uterus: 20 hours
Uterovaginal Gland: 2 weeks

Layer Hen Production Comparison

Differences exist between hens in production and hens not in production, especially concerning:
- Comb size
- Comb color
- Distance between pubic bones
- Necropsical findings

Laying Hens in Battery Cages

Describes a method of housing laying hens in cages.

Layer Management on Floor

Layering hens are managed on a floor.

Local Layer Farm

Images of layer farms are shown.

Layer Management on Floor - Stages

Brooding stage (6-10 weeks of age)
Growing stage (7-21 weeks of age)
Laying stage (21 weeks - end of production cycle - one year)

Housing Practices

Brooding houses: Birds stay in the same house for 10 weeks then move to another house (grow-laying).
Brood-grow house: Birds stay in the same house for 18 weeks and then move to a permanent laying house.
Brood-grow-lay house: Birds stay in the same house from one day until the end of the laying period (brooding, growing-laying house).
Most layers move to a permanent laying house between 14-18 weeks of age

Floor Space

Adequate floor space, feed space, and water space should be provided for birds before moving them into the house.
Medium-sized birds require 5.4 birds/m².
Increasing bird density may increase productivity as long as environmental conditions do not drop below optimum.
High bird density may negatively affect productivity

Laying Period

The laying cycle begins when laying birds reach 5% production and continues until the end of the laying period.
Birds are often sold as "spent hens" without experiencing a molt (12-14 months).

Nest Preparation

Nests should be ready approximately one week prior to the first egg-laying to acclimate pullets.
Employ clean nesting material to reduce egg breakage.
Close nests at night before egg production starts (prevent overnight nesting).

Nests

Types of nests:
- Single-compartment nest (30x30x30cm): recommended per four pullets
- Community nest (0.6m x 2.4m): used for 60 pullets
- Roll-away nest: used in litter floors

Temperature Effects on Birds

High ambient temperature: Increased water consumption, respiration rate, body temperature and risk of stress
Decreased ambient temperature: reduced oxygen consumption, blood pressure, pulse rate, thyroid activity, blood calcium levels, feed intake, bird weight, egg production, egg weight and shell quality.

Cold Weather Problems

Damp or wet litter: may cause coccidiosis issues.
Freezing weather issues: Water freezing, frozen combs and wattles, egg production issues and possible molts.

Inadequate Feed Consumption

Decreased temperature = increased feed consumption.
If feed required is more than provided, will decrease egg production.

Lighting Management

Length of daylight affects sexual maturity and egg production; 11-12 hours optimal.
Too short light: Delayed sexual maturity and egg production.
Too long light: Increases productivity

Lighting Program

Strains need differrent light routines. Start with 24 hrs then reduce by 1 hr gradually till 132 days then 11 hrs light and 8 hrs dark. Increase by 1 hr every 2 weeks until 27 weeks of age

An Example of Lighting Program

A schedule of lighting hours over a period of time.

Light Intensity

Recommendation: One-foot candle of illuminations at bird level (one bulb watt/0.37m² floor space, bulbs should be under a good reflector and 2.1-2.4 m above the floor.)
Reduced light during growing period: May delay sexual maturity, increase first egg size and total eggs produced in the first half of the laying period, though not during the entire egg-laying period.

Sample Weighing of Birds

Method for establishing average flock weights.
Steps for accurate weighing.

Body Weighing at Sexual Maturity

Optimum weight at sexual maturity yields better egg production.
Too light or too heavy flocks produce fewer eggs.

Uniformity of Growing Pullets

Measured as a percentage of birds within 10% of the mean weight of all birds.
Indicators of bird quality.

Laying Cages

Advantages: easier care for pullets, elimination of floor eggs, cleaner eggs, less feed, more pullets housed in a given area and no litter problem.
Disadvantages: Handling of manure is a problem, generally increased flies, pullets lay fewer eggs in cages, investment per pullet may be higher, slightly higher percentage of blood spots in eggs and more fragile bones

Laying Cage Size

Similar cage heights are common (40.6cm, 16 inches).
Width x Depth: 30x41cm, or 61x91/91x122cm (colony cages)

Production Standards

Calculated values are considered standards
Geneticists establish expected egg production

Importance of Standards

Egg production increases then decreases during laying.
Egg size and hatchability differ based on the laying time.
Comparing week-to-week productivity helps to identify issues with production.

Age at Early Egg Production

Age when first egg is laid: 145 days (4.8 months)
Age for 5% production: 154 days (5.1 months)
Age at 50% production: 182 days (6.0 months)
Age at peak hen-day production: 217 days (7.2 months)

Production Indices

Hen-day egg production for one day: measures daily egg productivity in live hens;
Number of eggs produced/Number of live hens x 100 = Percentage hen-day production for 1 day.
Hen-housed egg production: measures egg production in housed hens;
Number of eggs produced/Number of hens housed x 100 = Percentage hen-housed production for 1 day.
Hen-day egg production (long period): measures egg production over an extended period.
Average daily egg production x 100 / Number of hen-days in the period = Percentage hen-day egg production for the period
Hen-housed egg production (long period): uses average daily egg production to measure production over an extended period;
- Average daily number of eggs produced / number of hens housed x 100 = Percentage hen-housed egg production for the period.

How to Use the Standards

Comparing actual flock production with standard figures.
Identifying problems with production if actual figures are below the standards.
Comparisons can be made weekly

Actual Production Graph

Graph illustrating hen-day production over time.

Female Body Weights

Graph depicting relation of the standard and actual body weights of female laying hens by weeks

Feed Allocation Amounts

Graph measuring feed by weekly amounts

Percentage of Productive Laying Flock Over a Period of Time

Graph showing the productive laying flock overtime.

Egg Laying Rate

Graph depicting observed vs predicted egg laying rate over time

Daily Egg Weight per Hen House

Graph measuring egg weight per hen housed

Body Weights at Light Stimulation Effects on Egg Production

Graph illustrating body weight effects on egg production

Reduction in Egg Production After Peak

Graph illustrating reduction after the peak in egg production and associated factors.

Percentage of Productive Laying Flocks Over Different Times

Shows percentage rate of productive layers over different time periods.

Rate of Lay

Graph showing rates of laying chickens over different time periods.

Maximum Compensation Rate, DOC Price, Point of Laying, Spent Hen Price

Graph illustrates price differences for different stages of a hen's life cycle.

Within-Flock Prevalence

Graph showing how prevalent factors are within a flock.

Summary of Actual Production Graph

Graph illustrating hen-day production over time.

Type of Feed

Images of different types of feed (fine and pellet).

Local Hatchery

Image of a Local Hatchery in Irbid Governorate.
Additional images of equipment (e.g., machines, ventilation systems) and processes were included

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Description

Test your knowledge on the optimal management practices for pullets, including housing, feeding, and environmental factors that influence their development and egg production. This quiz covers essential aspects of the poultry industry relevant for students and professionals alike.