You have layers, but minimal eggs, why is that? What’s happening? It could be the environmental, nutritional, seasonal or just a particular breed of bird. Sometimes you aren’t even sure which hens are laying – or not.
This is how you can check to see and identify which of your hens are laying and those that not laying eggs. So as to remove them to minimize feed cost. The two main ways to check which hens are laying is: physical examination and nest trapping. physical examinations Pullets younger than sixteen weeks are not yet ready to lay. The point of lay (POL) can vary greatly from breed to breed. How can you know when a pullet is approaching her POL? Her comb and wattles will get larger and redder She may be restless and move from nest to nest looking for the ‘right spot’ A rooster will start to show her some attention She will start squatting when you attempt to touch She will seek out dark, quiet areas She will be active, with bright, alert eyes. vents will be large, pink and moist. There should be a gap as wide as three upright fingers between their pin bones either side of the vent, and the width of your hand sideways between the pin bones and the bottom of their keel bone, immediately below the vent. Any less than this and they are still maturing. The easiest way to measure the gap between the pin bones is to tuck a hen under an arm, with her rear end facing forward. Tip her up slightly, then use your other hand to feel for the pin bones through the skin on either side of the vent.
If 20mm (one finger width) apart or less, she’s not laying, 60mm-plus or so, she is. From the point of lay at approximately 18-30 weeks of age (depending on breed), egg production goes up very quickly to peak 6-8 weeks later. It then gradually declines over the next 12 months to about half of what it was at its peak.
Abubakar MD CEO FARMINCOM NIG LTD WHATSAPP 08057338919 Facebook Farmincom Agricnote.