Layer poultry farming means raising egg-laying poultry birds for the purpose of commercial egg production.

Layer chickens are a special species of hens, which need to be raised from when they are one day old. They start laying eggs commercially from 18-19 weeks of age. They keep at it continuously till they are 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 throughout the world.

Layer Breeds:
According to the nature and colour of their eggs, layer hens are of two types. A short description of these two types is listed below.

• White Egg-Laying Hens: These types of hens are comparatively smaller in size and eat relatively less food. The colour of their egg shell is white. Isa White, Lehman White, Nikchik, Bab Cock BV-300, Havard White, Hi Sex White, Sever White, Hi Line White, and Bovanch White are some popular white egg-laying chickens.

• Brown Egg-Laying Hens: Brown egg-laying hens are relatively larger in size. They eat more food compared to white egg layers. However, they also lay bigger eggs than other laying breeds. The shells of their eggs are brown coloured. There are many types of brown layers available. Among them, Isa Brown, Hi Sex Brown, Sever 579, Lehman Brown, Hi Line Brown, Bab Cock BV-380, Gold Line, Bablona Tetro, Bablona Harko, Havard Brown etc. are very suitable for commercial layer poultry farming.

Layer Hen Selection:
You have to keep in mind some essential information before selecting the layer hens for your poultry farming business. You have to select those breeds which are suitable for your layer poultry farming business and can produce well in your area. Read below for selecting proper breeds for your business.

• For commercial eggs production, you have to choose highly productive laying hens correctly.
• All types of hens do not produce an equal number of eggs.
• The chosen breeds must have to have good production capability.
• If your chosen breed contains the desired characteristic and has a reputation for egg production, then that breed is suitable for your business.
• Always purchase healthy chicks from a famous and popular hatchery. You can see their catalogue before purchasing.

Keeping Chicks for Layer Poultry Farming:
During the first weeks after birth, many chicks do not want to drink water because they are continuously transported from one place to another. So you have to make adequate water drinking systems in their brooder house, and you have to train them for drinking water. Mix 5% glucose with water, so that they can easily get energy. Provide them with any type of high-quality multivitamin by mixing it with water. Multivitamins and electrolytes are very effective when you transport chicks from a long distance. They reduce tiredness and lack of water, and help to make the chicks normal.

Vaccination and its Importance for Layer Poultry Farming:
A vaccination program is compulsory for chicks. It keeps them free from all types of diseases. The main advantages 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.
• The mortality rate will reduce.
• And low mortality rate = more production = more profit.

There are many types of poultry vaccines are available for layer hens. Marex, Ranikhet, Gamboro, Bruchaities, Bosonto, Salmonella etc. are used for layer chickens.

Before Vaccination:
You have to maintain some rules before vaccination.

• Hold the chickens very carefully.
• Vaccinate the chickens without any strain.
• There is no need to vaccinate the ill hen.
• Wash the vaccination equipment with hot boiled water or germicide medicine/antiseptic.
• Do the vaccination program in cold weather conditions.
• Preventive vaccine is always applicable to healthy bird. Never vaccinate an infected bird.

Keeping Growing Chicks:
You have to maintain the suggestion listed below for keeping growing layer chickens.

• You have to provide the growing chicks with special care until they reach 4-5 weeks of age.
• After brooding, serve them good-quality pellet feed. It will produce good results in the future. The chickens will produce eggs at an increased rate.
• High-quality pellet feed will also make them healthy and increase their body weight so it is very important to provide them with quality pellet feed during their growing period.

Egg Production for Layer Poultry Farming:

Egg production from layer poultry farming depends on care and farm management. If you take good care of your birds and manage them properly, then the production and profits will be high.

• Within the first 20 weeks of age, about 5% of hens start laying eggs.
• About 10% of birds start laying at 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 reduce slowly.
• The egg-laying rate and size of eggs increase gradually.
• The hens grow till they are 40 weeks of age.
• The weight and size of eggs increase till they are 50 weeks of age.

Method and Importance of Lip Cutting:

Cutting the lip of laying hens is very important. Lip cutting helps to reduce mutual fights, and it also helps to prevent food waste.

Here are the necessary guidelines:

• You have to cut the lips of your chicks at the age of 8 to 10 days.
• Cut the lips of growing chickens at 8 to 12 weeks of age.
• Cut the lips of chicks 0.2 cm from their nose.
• Cut 0.45 cm in case of growing chickens.
• Cut the both upper and lower lips.
• Don’t cut both lips together. Cut one after another.
• Use a block chick trimming machine to cut the lips.

Don’t cut their lip two days after or before vaccination, and don’t cut them before or after using some medicines like sulfur. Don’t cut the lip if the hen is in a strain, during adverse weather conditions or if the hen starts laying eggs.

Serve the chicken water mixed with vitamin “K” three days before cutting lips. Wash the lip-cutting instrument with antiseptic. Test the edge and temperature of the blade. You have to be careful so as not to damage their eyes and tongue. Try to cut their lips in cold weather.

Also, the lip-cutting process should be observed by an experienced technician. After you are done, serve them water in a deep pot. Then, provide them with some extra energy-enriched feed.

Source: growelagrovet.com