how to Layer Poultry Farming In India

 

The poultry birds which are raised for egg production are called layer poultry

They start laying eggs commercially from 18-19 weeks of age. They remain laying eggs continuously till their 72-78 weeks of age. They can produce about one kg of eggs by consuming about 2.25 kg of food during their egg laying period. For the purpose of producing hybrid eggs layer, consider the various characteristics  of cock and hen before breeding. There are various types of highly egg productive layer breeds available

For commercial layer farm, producers generally keep the hens for 12 months from their first laying period. And then sell them for slaughter purpose.

Although chickens naturally survive for more than 6 years. For re-invigorating egg laying, the hens are force moulted in some countries.

For commercial egg laying poultry farming systems, the environmental conditions are often automatically controlled by the producers.

For a simple example, presence of light helps the bird for laying eggs earlier. So, the producers should provide more lightening period to increase the probability of beginning laying eggs.

The egg-laying birds lays more eggs in warmer months than the cold months. So, keeping the temperature of the room moderate will be very helpful for better egg production.

Some commercial egg laying chicken breeds can produce more than 300 eggs a year. Layer poultry are raised in various methods. The common and most popular layer poultry farm

Free Range Farming: Free range poultry farming means providing freely roaming facilities to the poultry birds for a certain period of a day. Although they are kept inside the house at night to keep them free from predators and adverse weather. In free range farming method the poultry birds generally roam freely throughout the whole day. Which means they spent half of their life outside the house. For free range poultry farming system select a suitable land which has the facilities of adequate drainage system, good ventilation, appropriate protection from prevailing winds, good protection from all types of predators and free from excessive cold, heat or dampness. Excessive cold, heat and damp is very harmful for poultry birds and reduce their productivity. This system also requires less feed than cage and barn systems. The poultry manure from free range farming used as fertilizer for crops directly. Although free range farming method is very suitable for poultry birds but it has some difficulties too. In this system the poultry birds can be victim of predators easily and may caught by various type of diseases.

Organic Method: Organic layer poultry rearing system is also one type of free range farming system. But the main differences between the two systems are, in free range farming method a large numbers of poultry birds are raised together but in organic method a certain species of poultry bird are raised in small group with low stocking density. Organic laying system has some restrictions in the routine use of synthetic yolk colourants, water, feed, medications, other feed additives and obviously a smaller group size with low stocking density. In organic laying system the producer should keep highest 1000 poultry birds per hector and maximum 2000 birds in each house.

Battery Cage Method: Battery cage layer poultry rearing method is one of the very common methods used in many countries. In this system usually small sized metal cages are used. Every cages can accommodate about 3 to 8 hens. The walls of the cages are generally made of mesh or solid metal and the floor is made of sloped wire mesh which allow the faeces to drop down. When the hens lays eggs, then all the eggs gather in the egg collecting conveyor belt of the cage. In this system food is provided in front of the hens by a long bisected metal or plastic pipe and water served to them by using overhead nipple systems. The cages are arranged in long rows in one above another system. There may have several floors in a single shade which can keep many even thousands of hens together. For reducing feather and vent pecking, the light intensity is generally kept lower than 10 lux. The battery cage method has some benefits. The main benefits of battery cage are listed below.

1. It is very easy to care for the birds.
2. Very easy to collect eggs.
3. Cleaner eggs.
4. Requires less feed to produce eggs.
5. Thousands of hens may be housed in a specific floor space of the house.
6. The birds suffers less by internal parasites.
7. Labor cost is very low.

Vaccination and it’s Importance for Layer Poultry Farming:
Vaccination program is a must for chicks for keeping them free from all types of diseases. The main advantage of poultry vaccination are listed below.

• Timely vaccination makes disease resistance power in the body of chick.
• Help to keep the hen free from infective poultry diseases.
• Disease prevalence will be less.
• Mortality rate will reduce.
• And low mortality rate = more production = more profit      

Egg Production for Layer Poultry Farming: Egg production from a Layer Poultry Farmingdepends on the care and farm management. If you take good care of your birds and manage them properly, then the production and profit will be high.

• Withing the first 20 weeks of age, about 5% of hens start laying eggs.
• About 10% birds start laying at their 21 weeks of age.
• When they reach 26 to 30 weeks of age, they produce highly. Although, it may be different depending on their strain.
• After laying a maximum number of eggs, they usually stop laying for a few days.
• And after this period, their egg production might reduces slowly.
• Egg laying rate and size of eggs increases gradually.
• The hens grow till their 40 weeks of age.
• Weight and size of eggs increases till their 50 weeks of age.

5.  Feeding for Layer Poultry Farming: There are many companies available throughout the world, which are producing commercial feed  and feed supplements for layer chickens. You can buy feed from your local market or make the feed at your own house. You have to be sure that the feed  and feed supplements you bought are enriched with essential food value. Protein,Vitamins and Mineral are very important for laying hens which is affecting the quality of eggs , layer poultry fertility and layer bird’s health

6. Water Management for Layer Poultry Farming: Chickens health depend on the supply of pure, clean and fresh drinking water. You have to provide adequate water according to the demand of your laying hens. For purifying the water, mix Aquacure. Determine a suitable place to keep the water pot inside the poultry house. Supply cold water during summer season and hot weather, and slightly hot water in cold weather or winter season.

Marketing for Layer Poultry Farming: Eggs are stored in a cool room at about 13oC and transported in an insulated truck. Unfortunately, many shops selling eggs do not store them under ideal conditions. In the home and shop situation it is best to store them at normal refrigerator temperature (4-6oC). Marketing involves a range of prices, depending on the different sizes of egg, different brands, or other differences which attract particular buyers. Free-range and fat modified eggs are among the varieties available.