Poultry Commercial Egg Production Flashcards
(28 cards)
How are chicks raised in the UK
Received and raised in grower farm, day old to 15-17 weeks
Birds transporter to layer farm - free range, enrich caged, banded
In layer farm until depletion >80 weeks
What are common layer breeds in Uk
Isa brown
Hy-line brown
Lohmann brown
Novogen brown
What is the barn housing system
Birds have access to litter area
Practice natural behaviour dust bathing and scratching
Has next boxes
Slatted area where water and feed are presented
What is the aviary housing system like
Multi tier
Similar to barm house
Birds move to different levels
Feed presented on different levels and water presented at front of nest boxes
Birds feed to move through system to eat, drink, rest and lay eggs
What is the free range housing system like
Combination and aviary
Birds outside range area
What does rearing include between 0-15/16 weeks
Beak trimmed chicks
Preparing for chick arrival
Feed and water 20-25 degrees
Supplementary feeder and drinker for first few days
Introduce automated system
Heating starting 31-33 degrees then reduce to 20 degrees by 5 weeks
If heat too high - limits good feathering, feed intake and growth rate
Lighting - 22 hours 0-3days, 21 hours 4-7 days, 30-50 lux
Why do we use perches 0-15/16 weeks
Improve welfare, express natural behaviour
Train birds to jump
Offer escape route form agressive birds
Increase usable surface per bird and increases floor density
Why do we need good ventilation 0-15/16 weeks
Essential for growth
Provide fresh air
Temperature control
Constant house climate no draught
Evacuation of moisture, dust and gases
Reduction of of air born pathogens
Minimise risk of conjunctivitis
Minimise risk of respiratory disease
Why do we use litter for 0-15/16 weeks
Wood shavings or chopped straw
Important in maintaining floor and chicken body temperature
Look at power point for age - temperature and lighting
LOOK!
What must the lighting be like in 0-15/16 weeks
Generally 22-23 hours for first few days. 30-40 lux
To encourage feed and water intake
After week 5 follow breed recommendation
What are the growth concepts to consider with poultry
Development of immune system and organs, skeleton and muscles, BW at 5/6 weeks is good indicator of pullet quality
When do the oviducts matures
18 weeks onwards
Hormonal regulation
Sexual maturity
What are reasons for and consequences of poor uniformity
Consequences - poor egg laying performance
Reasons for - high stock density, insufficient feeder/drinker space, poor feed distribution or presentation and other management issues
What percent should be uniformity
90%
What does sustained body weight result in
Good egg production
What are the main targets for 18 week old poultry
Growing period to 18 weeks
Liveability = 96-98%
Feed consumed 6.3-7kg
Body weight at 18 weeks = 1.5 Kg
What happens during the laying period
Transferred to laying farm
Cleaned disinfected
Temp, humidity and ventilation correct
Transfer in early morning
Feed only after 2 hours of arrival
After moving checks and observations
Minimum daily, weekly monitoring - consumption, body weight, mortality, environment
What are the requirements of laying period housing
Enriched cages, free range, barn
Nests - 1 for 5-6 birds or 1m2 for 120 birds straw bedding, dim 0.3-0.5 lux light
Perches toys
Ventilation
Heating 18-22 degrees
Lighting
Litter
Health and feeding program
What is the optimal lighting for egg production
16 hours per day for egg laying birds until culled
What can the lighting regime do
Decide early or delayed maturation
What do photoreceptors do
Very important for stimulating maturity of reproductive tract
What are the periods for chicken rearing
Starter 0-4 weeks
Grower 4-10 weeks
Pullet 10-16 weeks
Pre lay 17 weeks
Laying variable programs 22-26 weeks,
Curve for egg laying = sharp up steady down
What do the laying birds require for feeding
Space
Emptied every day
Regime to follow breed specifics
Monitor BW weekly
