How to Increase the Laying Rate of Laying Hens? A Detailed Guide to Farming Methods

Chicken meat and its by-products have always held an important place in people's diets, and in response to this market demand, farmers also attach great importance to laying hen farming. So how can the laying rate of laying hens be increased?

1. Laying Hen Farming Management

Laying hen farming is mainly divided into three stages:

1. The early laying period with a laying rate below 85%

At this stage, attention must be paid to feed, lighting, parasitic diseases and preventing inflammation of the oviduct in laying hens. Starting from a laying rate of 5%, switch from pullet feed to laying feed, and stop once the laying rate reaches 30%. Supplemental lighting can be carried out at the same time as the feed switch. In autumn and winter, Qingwen Baidu San can be mixed into the feed, and Baidusha can be added to the drinking water to prevent infectious diseases. When the laying rate reaches 50%, a course of medication to prevent oviduct inflammation can be used.

2. The peak period with a laying rate above 85%

This stage is the most profitable period for raising laying hens, and the mortality rate of the hens must be reduced. Attention should be paid to a stable feed supply, with no interruption of feed or water, stable electricity in the chicken house with no power cuts, and no changes to the duration or intensity of lighting. In severe winter, prevent drinking water from freezing and provide a stable and comfortable living environment. Pay attention to timely ventilation and air exchange, and strictly guard against drafts.

3. The late laying period (laying rate below 85% until culling)

At this stage, the laying rate declines while feed intake remains unchanged, and the hens are prone to fatty liver due to obesity. The feeding amount should be limited or a lower-grade laying hen feed should be used, but be careful to supplement calcium, preferably shell powder. Lighting can be extended by 1 hour, that is, 17h/d, to obtain the maximum benefit.

2. Points to Note in Laying Hen Farming

1. Temperature control

The most suitable temperature environment for laying hens is 8℃-28℃. High or low temperatures will both affect the laying efficiency of the hens. Therefore, farmers who want to raise good laying hens must keep the chicken house temperature stable within the comfortable range throughout all four seasons, avoiding excessive temperature differences across the seasons that affect the chickens' growth and development, thereby affecting the laying rate.

2. Disease prevention

Farmers should regularly conduct viral antibody testing for the flock to avoid large-scale viral infections caused by antibody failure. Always pay attention to the flock's immunity level, do not blindly administer vaccines at random, and do not increase or reduce the vaccine dosage for the flock on your own. Once the flock becomes infected, control the condition promptly, and try to choose more highly sensitive drugs to control the disease.

3. Feed formulation

In different seasons, feeding should be improved according to the different nutritional needs of the flock. In spring and winter, some high-fat, high-energy nutrients should be appropriately added to the flock's diet to ensure the flock effectively gets through the low-temperature season. Farmers should not adopt the method of freely mixing feed themselves, for example adding extra corn to the feed ratio. Because without the ratio of multiple raw materials, there may be a lack of supply of protein, vitamins, minerals and other components. This leads to reduced laying performance in the flock, the appearance of soft eggshells and thin eggshells, and may even result in the flock having no peak laying period at all.

4. Lighting

Lighting plays a decisive role in promoting sexual maturity in the flock, so farmers must provide appropriate lighting for the flock. During the laying period, maintain 18 hours of light per day, and the most suitable light intensity is 5lx. Especially in winter or foggy seasons, be sure to turn on the lights in time for lighting, and do not let dimness hinder the hens' laying development.

Only by adopting correct feeding and management measures and providing the chickens with a comfortable and harmonious growing environment can laying hens be made to lay more and steadily.