How to raise and Manage Layers

Dr. Eliezer M. Tampo

San Miguel Foods, Inc.
CHICK BROODING MANAGEMENT

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 BROODING
• The process wherein the chicks are
provided with warmth and protection by
the hen during the first five weeks of life in
order to survive. In commercial farms,
warmth, comfort and protection must be
provided to the chicks in this stage of their
life. This is done through good brooding
management.

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 ISOLATION
• Isolate brooder house, breed in all-
in-all-out program

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 HOUSE PREPARATION
– Eliminate or reduce disease-causing organism
exposure by:

• cleaning farm/house completely

• sanitizing equipment
• providing two weeks of down time

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 HOUSING
• provide correct space requirement/pullet

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 BROODER PREPARATION
• Place 500-700 chicks per individual
brooder house.
• Operate heat source for 24 hours before
chick arrival
• Provide 14 – 18 in high guards placed 1.5
m from the edge of the house

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BROODER ACTIVITIES

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A. Before placement of chicks

1. Activate heat source in advance so brooder

temperature reaches 29 – 31 degrees centigrade
2. Fill waterers several hours before loading so water is
pre-warmed when chicks arrive
3. Add about one teaspoon of sugar in water

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B. Upon placement of chicks

1. Unload chicks
2. Count number of chicks per box unloaded and record
3. Weigh a representative sample of 20 chicks get the
average and record
4. Allow the chicks to drink two or three hours before
feeding
5. Start spreading a thin layer of feed on the fed trays or
on the newspaper
6. Allow the chicks to drink two or three hours before
feeding

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C. FEEDING

1. Introduce feed by thinly spreading on the newspaper

or feed trays
2. Feed in small amounts the chicks can consume daily
3. Start introducing chick feeders gradually

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 General feeding program for pullets (day old to 18 weeks)

AGE OF BIRDS (weeks) Daily feed intake Feed type

(grams)
1–2 10 – 14 B-meg Chick Booster Mash

3–4 22 – 31 B-meg Chick Starter Mash

5–6 39 – 42 B-meg Chick Starter Mash

7–8 44 – 46 B-meg Chicken Grower Mash

9 – 10 49 – 52 B-meg Chicken Grower Mash

11 – 12 54 – 57 B-meg Chicken Grower Mash

13 – 14 60 – 62 B-meg Chicken Grower Mash

15 – 16 64 – 68 B-meg Chicken Grower Mash/ Layer

Mash 1
17 – 18 70 – 74 B-meg Chicken Grower Mash/ Layer
Mash 1
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D. WATERING

1. Clean waterers twice a day

2. Water must be available 24 hours a day
3. Adjust height of the waterers constantly (lip of
waterers should be at the level of the birds back)

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 E. EXPANSION OF GUARD AREA

- Gradually expand guard area each day. This is done

with the gradual movement of supplemental feeders
and waterers toward permanent feeding and
watering equipment. Adjust the heat source based
on the movement of the chicks.

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 Beak Trimming

• Debeaking or beak trimming is recommended to

control cannibalism.
• Beaks should be trimmed at the age of 6 to 10 days
of age.
• Debeaking machine should be used and proper
procedure must be followed.

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 Debeaking Notes
• Use adaptor on the debeaker and use the guide hole
that will allow the blade to cut 1-2 mm. distal from the
nostril
• Blade must be sharp and heated to cherry red color.
• Do not cauterize for more than 2.5 seconds.
• Rate of debeaking must not be more than 500 birds per
hour.
• Do the activity during the cooler parts of the day.
• Increase feed level for 1 to 2 days following the activity

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 Lighting Management
• It is important that the light provided for the birds should be
controlled for the following reasons:
a. To adjust maturity and onset of production for the correct
age and stage of development
b. To achieve ideal body weight
c. To achieve best rate of egg production
Lighting rule of thumb:
 Do not increase light during the rearing period
 Do not decrease light during the laying period.

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 LIGHTING PROGRAM
Age Daylength (hours)
Week 1 23
Week 2 20
Week 3 17
Week 4 15
Week 5 13
Week 6 to 23 11
Week 24-31 13
Week 32 up 14 to 16

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 GROWING OF THE LAYER BIRDS
The goal of the growing program should be to
rear birds that:
1. Reach the standard weight for its age especially
during onset of lay.
2. Have 80% uniformity
3. Mature uniformity to achieve sustained peak
4. Are healthy and immune to infectious diseases
prevalent in the area

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 MONITORING
During the 4th week of the bird’s life the
following factors should be monitored:

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A. Body weight – It is important to meet
the standard body weight so that:
1. There will be less birds that will be culled during
transfer to the layer house
2. Production target will b achieved throughout the
laying period
3. The health status of the birds will be determined

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B. Flock Uniformity – A uniform flock during hen-house
ensures a higher peak and higher production of eggs.
80% uniformity means that 80% of the birds are
within 10% above and below the standard weight of
the strain.

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MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO OBTAIN 80%
UNIFORMITY:

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A. SPACE ALLOTMENT

1. Correct feeder space should be given

2. Correct waterer space should be given
3. Correct actual floor space should be given

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 Space allowance (day old to 6 weeks)

Cages Litter
Floor 25 sq. in. per 0.6 sq feet per
bird bird
Feeder trough 2” per bird 2” per bird
Drinkers troughs 1” per bird 1” per bird

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 Rearing space for pullets (6-18 weeks)

Cages Litter

Floor 54 sq. in. per 1 sq. ft. per

bird bird
Feeder 3” per bird 3” per bird

Drinker 2” per bird 2” per bird

Birds/Round bell 90
drinker

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 B. WEIGHING
1. Sample weighing of 10% or 100 birds per flock should
be done weekly or every two weeks
2. Overweight and underweight birds must be identified
and isolated separately so proper feeding controls
can be done
3. Isolation of underweight birds reduces mortality
4. Weighing should be conduct before feeding time

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 C. FEEDING
1. The more frequent the feeding, the better.
2. Ad libitum feeding should be done
3. Distribute feeds evenly
4. Feed quality must not vary from time to time

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 D. WATERING
Sanitized water must always be available 24
hours a day

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 E. STRESS OF BIRDS
1. Avoid changing caretakers
2. Schedule stressful activities properly so that
stress is minimized
3. Supplement additional vitamins during stress

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 GENERAL FEEDING PROGRAM
AGE OF BIRDS IN WEEKS DAILY FEED INTAKE FEED TYPE
(g/bird)
17 – 20 70 - 72 B-meg LAYER MASH 1
21 – 24 73 – 83
25 – 28 110 – 115
29 – 32
33 – 36
37 – 40
41 – 44 115 – 120
45 – 48
49 – 52
53 – 56 110 – 115
57 – 60
61- 64 100 – 110

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 PRE – LAY NUTRITION
– Birds need to store up calcium deposits in the
body before laying. High calcium feed should be
given one week before lay (around 16-17 wks).
Layer feed can be given at this time.

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PRE-PEAK AND PEAKING NUTRITION
– Feeding here is essentially ad libitum to point of lay to
about 36-42 weeks old. Layer birds are starting to get into
egg production but are still growing thus there is a high
need for nutrients to support the growth.
– If restricted feeding is done, egg production will still be at
the optimum but the body of the chicken will not grow.
The post peak condition of the chicken will be poor thus it
will also have poor egg production.

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 POST-PEAK NUTRITION
– The growth of the layer bird starts to taper off
around 36-42 weeks of age. Feeding can be
restricted at this point where just enough
nutrients is provided for body maintenance and
for optimum egg production.

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 COMMON DISINFECTANTS

IODOPHORS Use for disinfecting water; Volatile; best for acidic

for egg dipping environments; effective for
bacteria and fungi; no residual
activities ineffective in the
presence organic matter;

SYNTHETIC PHENOLS For footbaths; hatchery Most effective germicide;fast

equipment; poultry house acting; effective vs. bacteria
spores; long residual activities
effective in the presence of
organic matter
QUATERNARY For hatchery floors, water, Odorless; clear; non-
AMMONIUM egg dipping, poultry house irritating; very good surface
COMPUNDS disinfectant in a pre cleaned
environment; has residual
activity; germicidal
properties destroyed by
soaps, detergent litter and
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ALDEHYDES Poultry farm equipment Effective in pre-cleaned
environments vs. bacteria,
fungi and viruses; non
corrosive soft metals;
compatible surfactants;
biodegradable with sticky
residues; no residual activity
ALKALIS Used for their cleaning
properties. caustic, burning,
corrosive and very
destructive to living tissues
BLENDED GERMICIDES Combination of 2 or more
germicide broader spectrum
of activity components may
cause deterioration of
materials and certain
plastics

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 DISEASE PREVENTION
Management Practices which relates to Poultry Health
Good management is the most important factor in
controlling losses from mortality and decreased egg production.
The best managed and cared for flocks perform best in the
absence of disease agents normally present in poultry house
environments. Weather changes are second as they affect bird
health. Disease agents are third. Many agents of disease are in
the environment, and await only a favorable opportunity to
show their effects.

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 Observe the following:
1. Do not mix birds from different sources. Limit the mixing of
hatching eggs from multiple sources. There is often the need to
trace the origin of problem birds to the parent source.
2. Do not mix different age groups.
3. Exclude pets from poultry premises, and control entry of visitors.
Locate foot disinfecting pans at the entry of each building.
4. Sanitize all equipment that circulate between bird premises.
5. Remove dead birds at once.
6. Predators must not have access to dead birds.
7. Dead bird pick-up stations should be outside premises and several
hundred feet from live birds.
8. Follow approved practices with regard to disinfecting, light, bird
density, feeder and water spaces, etc.

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9. Keep honest, accurate and usable records. Include daily mortality, feed
intake, medications, etc.
10. Maintain a sound vaccination program
11. Be on the alert for signs of trouble. Note abnormal feathering coat,
abnormal behavior, decreased activity, decreased feed intake, ammonia,
abnormal droppings, and others
12. Have some knowledge of the “normal” mortality. Autopsy proportion of
dead birds and not general condition, and the location, size and color of
lesions.

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 GENERAL SIGNS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE IN POULTRY

DESCRIPTION NORMAL BIRDS SICK BIRDS

Posture Erect, with elevated Head held close to body; tail
head and tail and wings dropped; neck
twisted with head held over
back or between legs
Head Comb and wattles Comb and wattles shrunken,
bright, clean and red in pale or blue in color
color; Face parts are shrunken
Face parts filled out Eyes are dull, may be partly
Eyes are bright and open
alert Nostrils caked, crusted
Pupil responds to light Eyes watery, sinus area below
changes eyes swollen or flutters with
respiration

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Musculature Has feeling of weight
when handled; has
power of movements
when struggling
Legs and feet Scaly covering are clean
and waxy; legs are filled
out; joints are smooth
and cool to touch
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Loss of weight and
strength; Muscle at
point of the keel near
the area of crop are
shrunken resulting in
thin breast;
Disparity in size
between two thighs,
also between lower legs
Dehydrated with
prominent tendons;
joints enlarged and
warm to the touch;
bottom of feet is
cracked, crusted or
discolored.
41
Feathers Smooth, neat and clean Fluffed out and not
preened; area of
abdomen stained

Pigmentation Characteristic for breed, Reduced depth of color,

strain and period of in adult hens an excess
production of yellow pigments may
result from disease

Appetite and thirst Eat and drink frequently Loss of appetite with
excessive drinking

Manure Gray or brown with Milky-white, green

white caps; mass has yellow, or red. Dropping
definite form; are soft, watery or very
sticky.

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Abdomen Firm to touch; may feel
hard with fat birds
Respiration Absence of noise.
Breathing done through
nostrils. Movement of
abdominal wall barely
perceptible; When pen
temp exceed 30 degrees
Celsius even healthy
adult birds will breath
through open mouth.
Young birds will
demonstrate this at temp
above 37 deg C.
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May feel hard or very soft
with a stretched
appearance that distorts
the vent. Fluid inside the
body cavity may be felt
through the wall.
Gurgling, rattling, or
snicking; Gasping may be
pronounced; There is
obvious movement of
abdominal wall with
respiration
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 VACCINATION PROGRAM

Day 4 IBD ( Mild ) – intra-ocular

Day 7 NCD B1B1 – Intra Ocular, Water
Day 14 IBD ( Strong )– intra Ocular
Day 21 NCD B1B1 – Intra Ocular, Water
Day 35 Dewormimg
Day 42 Fowl Pox – Wing Web
Day 63 Coryza
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 VACCINATION PROGRAM
Day 70 Deworming
Day 77 NCD Lasota + IB – Water/Intranasal
Day 90 Coryza - Intramuscular
Day 120 NCD Killed - Water

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Thank You……

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