Layer Farming

Layer production business is only for passionate growers. At Feedmix we often call laying hens “mobile egg making machines” because of their nature of dropping fresh eggs every day for at least 6 days in a week. Likewise one gains more profit with large numbers.

Layer Farming Products

Layer Farming Information

An ideal poultry house should have an East to West orientation. The house should be open sided, 100m long and 10m wide. A height of 2.8m under strong roofing sheets, eaves with 30 – 45 cm should be supported by strong bird mesh. A storeroom for stock feeds is important. The foundation should be strong with 50cm wall height on the lengthy sides. The floor should be concrete.

Stocking density should be 30 – 33 chicks per square metre and 5 – 6 mature laying birds per square metre

Battery cage  

Deep litter 

The Layer Feed Specifications and Feeding Rates per period 

 

Feed type

Crude Protein %

Metabolisable Energy MJ/Kg

Feeding Period

Feed /bird/phase or (day)

Chick Pullet Starter Crumbles 

        20.0

        12.0

          0 – 8   weeks

  2.0 kg/Chick/Phase

Pullet Grower Mash

        15.0

        11.6

          9  –  16  weeks 

  4.5kg/Chick/phase

Pre-Lay Mash

        16.0

        11.6

        17  –  18 weeks

  0.110 – 0.115kg/Hen/day

Early Lay Mash

        15.1

        11.3

19 weeks to upto ± 65weeks of age or end of peak production

  0.12 –0.125kg/Hen/day

Late Lay Mash

        14.1

        11.5

±65 weeks to end of production cycle 

  0.120kg/Hen/day

Standard Layer Mash

14.8

11..0

19 weeks to end of production

  0.12 –0.125kg/Hen/day

  • Choosing quality layer feed from Feedmix
  • Correct daily feeding rates
    Feeding ad libitum basis at each stage of growth
  • Good brooding management (temperature, ventilation, litter, water management)
  • Records for the daily/cumulative mortality rate, average daily/ weekly gain, PEF, FCR, slaughter weights, batch number, number of feed bags used
  • Manage feed spillages to improve FCR.

Use your God given five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste)
Pay particular attention to details – weights, age, spillages, mortality, sensitivity of the birds,

Follow the hatchery broiler vaccination program to prevent disease outbreaks.
  • Practice good biosecurity management 
  • Shower room
  • Boundary fence
  • Wheel bath and foot baths on all entry points 
  • Hand sanitizers 
  • Log book
  • Protective clothing 
  • Houses put under lock and key 
  • Manure disposal management 
  • Biosecurity standard operating procedures
  • Farm gate sales for live birds at 16 weeks as point of lay

The commercial layer can achieve 1 cycle per year but 3 cycles when producing point of lay pullets (POL)

Removal of manure from the poultry houses and disposal after a batch should be carried out immediately to allow the houses to be cleaned, washed and disinfected. This process should not take more than 5 days. Rest the houses for a minimum of 14 days before the next batch.

Order chicks from renowned suppliers like Charles Stewart Day Old Chicks

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