WHY ARE YOUR BIRDS NOT LAYING ?? (1)
As always, I have purposed to use this medium to educate the neophyte, subsistence but curious and willing livestock farmers.
I have consistently had to answer many questions bordering on the expectations for high performance of layers.
The production of a poultry egg takes an average of 24 to 26 hours in a healthy bird.
A bird therefore is expected to lay an egg a day. Although It happens at times, it is uncommon for a bird to produce two eggs a day.
A properly formed egg will have to pass through different regions or zones of the OVIDUCT. Any impairment at these stages will affect the egg quality produced.
An excellent laying bird will produce six eggs in seven days; a good layer will lay five eggs in a week, and an economically viable hen should not produce less than four eggs weekly.
Your birds may not lay at all or produce sub-optimally due to several factors:
AGE:
A very young bird may not have been physiologically developed for egg production.
As from the age of 16weeks, a well raised and appropriately weighed hen may commence the production of eggs.
It is not uncommon to see eggs in a flock of bird as from 4months, even though only 5% of them will have been ready.
A well raised layer will attain peak performance in egg production at 30weeks of age. Production will remain impressive for up to 12months after which decline will become inconsistent with cost of feeds consumed.
Depending on the breed of pullet, a hen will lay between 250 to 350 eggs in her life time. This target may or may not be attained if the bird was poorly raised or badly managed.
Don't be lured into buying a spent layer for the purpose of egg production.
Birds will become exhausted and run out of egg follicles with increasing age.
NUTRITION
Birds that are under-fed will not develop appropriately, and hence delay in egg production will be noticed.
Failure to give the birds adequate quality and quantity of the right nutrients will make them underweight.
Layers must attain an average weight of 1.5kg before the commencement of egg production.
A feed ration lacking the right proportion of protein and other essential nutrients is compromised and hence will lead to suboptimal performance.
Nutritional factors account for the most reasons behind the failure and success of a layer bird.
Poor nutrition will lead to a compromised immune system and consequently diseases.
As the saying goes, a bird is what it consumes.
POOR REARING
Layers that were poorly raised during their growing phase will not do well. They will commence laying later than the usual time.
Poorly raised birds may lay small-sized eggs and, may develop prolapse.
Percentage production will remain perpetually low due to a lack of uniformity in size.
All efforts must be geared towards achieving 90% uniformity in size.
ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
Laying birds thrive well under ambient temperatures.
Birds have feathers and do not sweat, hence excessive environmental temperature causes heat stress.
Birds do die of heat stroke. Feed intake at such times is also reduced leading to poor egg production.
Farmers in the tropics must have measures in place to reduce the effects of heat stress.
This includes brooding pullets during the hot period of the year and the harvest of eggs for the most favourable part of the season.
The orientation of the poultry pen in the East-West direction; building of an open-sided pen with a roof not less than 5metres from the floor
The extension of the roof outwards to protect against sun reflection during the hottest part of the day; feeding during the coolest part of the day; constantly making available fresh cool water; planting trees around the pen for a cooling effect; installation of a fogger or mister, etc.
WATER DEPRIVATION
When birds do not drink, they do not feed. Birds in battery cages do inadvertently experience blockades in the water lines.
If this persists, egg production declines.
Whether on deep litter or cages system, farmers must ensure continuous availability and flow of fresh, clean, and sanitized potable water.
