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.
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 |
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,
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