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I. Chicken House Construction and Environmental Control
The chicken house is the place where laying hens grow and lay eggs. Its design and environmental control are crucial to the health and production performance of laying hens.
1. Types and Layout of Chicken Houses
• Cage farming is currently a common farming method, with advantages such as high space utilization and convenient management.
• The layout of the chicken house should be reasonably planned to avoid mutual interference between chicken houses. At the same time, it should be convenient for ventilation, lighting, and manure cleaning. The orientation of the chicken house should be adjusted according to local climate conditions and geographical location to ensure good ventilation and lighting.
2. Environmental Control
• Temperature: Laying hens have different temperature requirements at different growth stages. During the brooding stage (1-14 days), the light should be on for 24 hours, and the temperature should be controlled at around 32℃. As the age increases, the temperature gradually decreases, and by 5-6 weeks, it can be reduced to 24-28℃.
• Humidity: The humidity in the chicken house should be maintained between 55% and 65%. Both high and low humidity can affect the health of laying hens.
• Ventilation: Good ventilation can remove harmful gases and excess heat from the chicken house, keeping the air fresh. The design of the ventilation system should be optimized based on the size of the chicken house and local climate conditions.
II. Feeding Management
Scientific feeding management is the key to improving the production performance of laying hens.
1. Stage-based Feeding Management
• Brooding stage (0-6 weeks): The goal of this stage is to ensure the healthy growth and development of chicks. The immune system of chicks is not yet fully developed, so special attention should be paid to disease prevention and control. At the same time, high-quality feed and sufficient water should be provided.
• Growing stage (7-20 weeks): The focus of this stage is to accelerate the growth of chickens, improve feed digestion and utilization, and enhance disease resistance. Feed formulas and stocking density should be adjusted in a timely manner based on the weight and development of the chickens.
• Laying stage (21 weeks and beyond): The management goal of this stage is to extend the peak laying period and improve egg quality. A balanced diet should be ensured, and attention should be paid to lighting management and disease prevention and control.
2. Lighting Management
Lighting time has an important impact on the laying performance of laying hens. During the brooding stage (1-14 days), the light should be on for 24 hours. From 15 to 28 days, it should be 16-18 hours, and from 29 to 49 days, it can be shortened to 12-14 hours. During the laying stage, the lighting time should be stable, generally around 16 hours, to stimulate the development of the sex glands and egg production of laying hens.
III. Feed Nutrition
Feed is the material basis for the growth and egg production of laying hens. Its nutritional components directly affect the production performance and egg quality of laying hens.
1. Protein Supply
The protein requirements of laying hens vary with growth stages and laying rates. Studies have shown that low-protein diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids can effectively suppress the appetite and lipoprotein synthesis of laying hens, thereby improving feed utilization.
2. Fat and Energy
Fat is an important source of energy for laying hens and can also affect egg quality. Different sources of fat have different effects on the production performance and egg quality of laying hens. For example, adding Schizochytrium to the diet can increase the DHA content in eggs, thereby improving the nutritional value of eggs. 3. Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients for the growth and egg production of laying hens. Research has found that adding an appropriate amount of manganese to the feed can regulate the eggshell formation mechanism of laying hens during the egg-laying process, thereby improving eggshell quality. Additionally, the addition of selenium and vitamin E can enhance the antioxidant capacity of laying hens and improve the quality of eggs.
IV. Disease Prevention and Control
Diseases are one of the important factors affecting the economic benefits of laying hen farming. Scientific disease prevention and control measures can effectively reduce the incidence and transmission risk of diseases.
1. Vaccination
According to the immunization schedule, laying hens should be vaccinated regularly to prevent common infectious diseases such as Newcastle disease, avian influenza, and infectious bronchitis.
2. Biosecurity Measures
Strengthen the disinfection and hygiene management of chicken houses, and restrict the entry of outsiders and vehicles into the breeding area to prevent the introduction of pathogens.
3. Antibiotic-Free Farming
With the increasing concern of people about food safety, antibiotic-free farming has become a development trend in laying hen farming. Studies have shown that adding green additives such as enzymes and probiotics to the feed can maintain the intestinal balance of the flock and improve feed efficiency.
