Feeding and nutrition of chicken hybrids kept for egg prod (pullets and commercial hens)

Question 1

What is a pullet?

Answer 1

From hatching until egg prod

Question 2

Lengths and periods of pullet hatching

Answer 2

• 0-8wks: starter (broiler before 8 wks)
• 8-17wks: grower

Question 3

Changes of dietary protein and E density at the different stages (pullets)

Answer 3

Conparing the ME (MJ/kg) and CP% of the starter vs the grower

• 11.7 vs 11.7: less intensive feeding than the broilers- focus on achieving social development and isolmetric growth
• 17.0 vs 15.0: is reduced in order to delay sexual maturity– for better egg prod

Question 4

Physcial forms of the diets at the different ages (pullets)

Answer 4

• 0-3 wks: Mash ad lib
• 4-8wks: If low BW then pellets- to incr feed intake and nutrient density, if high BW then unchanged daily amnt of feed (would you keep mash then?)
• 9 wks: should be 650-700g- so you should alter the diet to reach this
• 17 wks: housing

Question 5

Hens: 4 things to mention

Answer 5

Length of egg prod

Phases of the laying period

Number of eggs produced

Size of eggs

Question 6

Hens: length of egg prod

Answer 6

1 year

Question 7

Hens: phases of the egg prod (5)

Answer 7

• 18wks: 5%
• 20 wks: 10%
• 21-23 wks: 50-60%
• 24-26wks: 95% (peak)
• 65-76 wks: 75%

Question 8

Hens: number of eggs produced per year

Answer 8

320-350

Question 9

Hens: egg size

Answer 9

60g

Question 10

Hens: timeline and stages

Answer 10

• 0-7wks: starter
• 7-18wks: grower
• 18-20 wks: prelayer
• 21-64 wks: layer 1
• 65-76wks: layer 2

Question 11

Different nutrients for the different stages

Answer 11

comparing ME (MJ/kg) and CP% and Ca (g/kg) for the prelayer vs layer 1 vs layer 2

• ME: 12 vs 12 vs 11.5
• CP%: 16 vs 18 vs 16
• Ca: 18 vs 36.5 vs 37.5 (this incr because the size of the eggs increases, large3r eggs require more Ca)

Question 12

Physcial forms of the diet (4) for hens

Answer 12

• Ad lib
• Mash- slightly restricted
• Grit- to help with grinding in the crop
• Ca supplement- must be done without altering the taste of the feeds

Question 13

Feed efficiiency of hens

Answer 13

2-2.1kg per kg of eggs

Question 14

At the end of egg prod

Answer 14

Induced moult with 2nd laying period– larger eggs are produced

Question 15

Light programme- what are we comparing

Answer 15

Pullet rearing vs the laying period of hens

Question 16

Light programme: pullet rearing

Answer 16

• 0-3 days: 24 hrs at 20 lux
• 4-21 days: 8-24 hrs at 10 lux
• 21-17 wks: 8 hrs at 10 lux

***Reduce or keep the same NEVER INCREASE

Question 17

Light programme for laying hens

Answer 17

• 18-21wks: 1hr per week at 20 lux
• 22wks: 12hrs per day at 20 lux
• 24wks: 14hrs per day at 20 lux
• at 85% egg prod: 16hrs per day

***increase or keep the same, NEVER reduce