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Waterers should
be rinsed daily and
scrubbed twice
weekly. Keep feeders
and waterers
adjusted so that the
trough position is
level with the back
height of the birds.
Layer
Housing
Small laying flocks
are generally floor
housed or allowed to
range rather than
kept in cages. Fly
control can be a
problem where layers
are caged. Housing
requirements for
floor and free-range
layers are simple
and easy to arrange
on most small family
farms. Provide hens
with 3 square feet
of floor space per
bird. Protect them
from adverse weather
conditions and
predators. The
structure must also
protect feeders and
be suitable for
nests and a roost.
Tube feeders and an
automatic waterer
are recommended for
floor layers.
There should be
one nest per four
layers. Nests should
be 24 inches above
the litter. Roost
width requirement is
8 inches per bird.
Poles should be 14
inches apart and 18
to 36 inches above
the litter.
The dropping pit
beneath the roost
should be screened
to keep the layers
out and minimize
internal parasite
problems. The manure
must be kept dry to
prevent fly
problems. The house,
including nests,
must be thoroughly
cleaned and
disinfected between
flocks. The
disinfectant must be
one labeled for use
in poultry housing.
An approved
insecticide should
be applied to the
interior to
eliminate external
parasites. Cover the
clean floor with 4
inches of fresh
litter before a new
flock is housed.
Layer Management & Nutrition
Increasing day length stimulates maturing pullets to lay. At
about 18 weeks of age, pullets should be placed on a 14-hour
day length. At 50 percent production the birds should be
given 16 hours of light and be maintained on this day length
the remainder of their productive lives. A time clock and
one 60-watt bulb per 200 square feet of floor space will
provide the necessary supplemental light. At the first egg,
the birds should be full fed a 16 to 18 percent protein
laying ration containing 3.5 percent calcium. Other feeds,
including corn or milo, should not be fed. Only healthy
pullets should be housed. Remove unhealthy hens from the
flock. Cannibalism, should it occur, can usually be stopped
by applying a commercially available anti-peck preparation.
Check layers monthly for mites and lice, and treat them with
an approved insecticide when necessary.
Eggs
Nesting material such as shavings or hay should be placed in
the nests and replaced frequently to keep eggs clean.
Collect eggs twice daily and cool them rapidly to preserve
egg quality. Store eggs small end down.
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