Introduction
In layer production, there is a need to carefully choose hens that are well-fed, housed, and protected against infection, rewarding farmers with a stable supply of superior quality and marketable eggs. In addition, this management begins from the first day through the growing stage and then moves into the layers. Feeding practices and management are the primary determining aspects of production (Willis & Ludlow, 2020). The essay examines information on layer birds, housing, equipment, vaccination, feeding, and waste disposal in starting and management of a layer farm.
Layer Birds
These are egg-laying, which are raised only for commercial generation. A good layer requires having big, bright red wattles and combs, alert eyes, bleached claws and beaks, and a moist cloaca (Najjartabar Bisheh et al., 2021). The farmer should determine the number of eggs the flock may generate and be aware of the factors that influence capacity and how the laying bird affects productivity.
However, others have standard colors that fade after laying time. Commercial chickens can generate close to 260 or 300 eggs yearly based on specific breeds and aspects like breed type, floor space, lighting, and nests (Production and Management, n.d.). Therefore, when deciding which breed to keep, it is better to know that commercial chickens can provide a higher production level.
Equipment and Waste Disposal System
A wide range of equipment is needed to lay a chicken farm successfully. For example, feeders are employed to feed birds by putting nourishment in them, and they can be automatic, traditional, or semi-automatic. Shell grit box is employed to provide crushed shells to the layers to supplement calcium. Drinkers give water to the hens in various designs, sizes, and shapes (Wu et al., 2022). Nest boxes in birds can be employed to clean and shun floor eggs in layer houses. In addition, a sprayer can be used as a desired sanitizer or disinfectant in poultry houses (Ezema et al., 2021).
Hence, any poultry farmer must ensure the relevant equipment for the layers. Further, removing waste in layers could involve utilizing a composting system. This is because of the ability of the system to minimize litter, stabilize trace elements and nutrients, dispose of carcasses, and decrease pathogens (Litter Waste Management, n.d.). Compositing might also provide off-site and on-site resolutions to litter usage and improve a closed-loop system for the poultry farmer.
Vaccination
Vaccination plays a critical role in the health administration of a poultry flock. The farmer can employ vaccine droppers /syringes with needles to give vaccine drops intra-ocularly or intra-nasally. There are a range of infections that are controlled by vaccinating the birds, including Marek’s disease administered on day 1, Newcastle disease (NDV) given in ovo, infectious bronchitis (IB) administered by coarse spray, and infectious bursal Disease (IBD) given to hens in ovo vaccination (Fesseha, 2020). Thus, all layers must be vaccinated against NDV, Marek’s infection, IB, and IBD.
Light and Housing
From the perspective of infection management, chickens should be well located on the farm. In this case, quarters of layers must be situated at least 100 meters from houses where growers or chicks are raised (Willis & Ludlow, 2020). The selection of housing is broad and comprises semi-intensive and intensive structures. Producers must be aware that the financial benefits of housing layers in intensive houses may be outweighed by production loss via stress.
If space is not limited, they can use half outside/ half outside practice that minimizes heat strain on chickens during hot periods. In areas where land is abundant and predators are not an issue, they may utilize the field ark in which birds are shifted to clean and fresh parts of pasture daily (Edwards & Hemsworth, 2021). In regions that receive heavy rains, hens may be kept in mass yards, which will be washed clean daily by rain.
Furthermore, a suitable artificial day’s length applied in the house may be manipulated to induce production. This artificial day may be extended in each phase or by the sequence of steps until it attains 16-18 hours; a point for optimal eggs laid within the shortest time must be accomplished. Comparative research reveals that light control is economical with electricity and compares favorably in production based on the traditional program of constant artificial and natural lighting from 3.30 am to 8.30 pm daily (England & Ruhnke, 2020). It helps to improve the production of each hen annually.
Water and Feed Management
Advice for feeding and food for laying chickens may appear contradictory. However, food restriction is vital, mainly for the heavier breed, if the hens can commence laying at the best condition and time. Subsequently, birds should not be dispossessed of food, and the feeders must not be empty. They must commence laying no earlier than five months old and in appropriate condition where they are neither too young nor too fat.
When sexual maturity comes too early, the overall performance suffers both in quality and length. This makes them tiny and petite, with more prolapses at the end of the laying period. Such birds have no vitality and will likely become culled and die early (Edwards & Hemsworth, 2021). Nevertheless, the issues can be shunned by carefully limiting feed at the correct time and correctly.
The birds are supposed to be weighed weekly to be capable of feeding them accurately. Further, the farmer should provide sufficient feeding space for all birds to feed themselves simultaneously. In addition, they ought to make feed change times gradual; if 10% of egg yield has been attained within 23 weeks, the birds must be on layers’ mash (Production and Management, n.d.). A farmer has to terminate restrictive feeding when hens become ill or display symptoms of stress. Farmers may adopt a day feeding practice and, when automated, replenish the feeders at night. Layers also require ratios containing 3% to 4% calcium for strong bones to cope with stress and strain production (Willis & Ludlow, 2020).
Besides, calcium is an essential ingredient for shell production, mainly comprising calcium carbonate. The chickens also require a broad array of amino acids, vitamins, and nutrients, even though vitamin D is critical in laying hens due to its essential role in metabolism. Layers should also be provided with cool and clean fresh water, especially in tropical areas where they can inevitably experience issues of heat pressure (Ezema et al., 2021). Lack of water could amount to a high mortality risk and loss of production.
Conclusion
It is vital to control layers accurately, mostly from the perspective of light and nourishment management, as accurate supervision can influence the quality and level of yielding eggs after the birds commence to lay. It is imperative to ensure they have ample fresh water, a balanced diet, and a cool environment. Waste has to be disposed of well to avoid environmental pollution and ensure sustainability.
References
Edwards, L. E., & Hemsworth, P. H. (2021). The impact of management, husbandry and stockperson decisions on the welfare of laying hens in Australia. Animal Production Science, 61(10) 944-967. Web.
England, A., & Ruhnke, I. (2020). The influence of light of different wavelengths on laying hen production and egg quality. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 76(3), 443–458. Web.
Ezema, L. S., Ifediora, E. C., Olukunle, A. A., & Onuekwusi, N. C. (2021). Design and Implementation of an Esp32-Based Smart Embedded Industrial Poultry Farm. European Journal of Engineering and Technology Research, 6(3), 103–108. Web.
Fesseha, H. (2020). Vaccine Failure in Poultry Production and its Control Methods: A Review. Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 29(4), 22588- 22596. Web.
Litter Waste Management. (n.d.). Poultry Hub Australia. Web.
Najjartabar Bisheh, M., Chang, S. I., & Lei, S. (2021). A layer-by-layer quality monitoring framework for 3D printing. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 157. Web.
Production and Management. (n.d.). Penn State Extension. Web.
Willis, K., & Ludlow, R. (2020). Raising chickens. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Wu, D., Cui, D., Zhou, M., & Ying, Y. (2022). Information perception in modern poultry farming: A review. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 199. Web.