Week 10

Poultry

Layers

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Laying Hen Production Cycle

• Pullet Starter Diets
  • Day old (40g) to target weight (1,400g)
  • High protein 18-19%
  • Moderate Energy (2,750-2,900 kcal/kg)
  • Sexual maturity ~ 5 month
• Pullet Grower Diets
  • ~ 6 week to mature body size (often 18 weeks of age)
  • Lower protein (15-16% CP)
  • Moderate Energy (2,850-2,900 kcal/kg)
  • Optimize body weight and reserves at the beginning
  • Less prone to subsequent problems
  • Need appropriate body weight/size before sexual maturity
• Pre-Lay Diets
  • Mature body wt: to first egg (18-20 week)
  • 17% CP, 2,900 kcal/kg
  • Body Weight is the MAJOR Factor Controlling Egg Size
  • Obesity Not a Problem
  • Condition Ca metabolism and prepare bird for egg production (>2.5% Ca)
  • Huge amount of Ca turnover once egg lay begins
  • Little nutrients for growth
  • Cage Layer Fatigue and Bone Breaking
    • Impaired Ca Metabolism

Feeding Laying Hen

• Goal: Egg Production/ Quality (Internal/ External)/Shell Quality
  • Under consumption
  • Low appetite
  • Ad libitum feeding (80-120 g/day)
  • High Energy diets (2700-2900 Kcal/kg)
  • Prefer large particle size (not too fine)
• Feeding program according to feed intake
• Ca 3.5%
• P (Available) 0.4%
• CP 15.5%