Pullet Management Quiz

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

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.