Key Points for Feeding and Management of Laying Hens During the Onset of Lay

Principles of feeding and management for laying hens during the onset of lay: Before the onset of lay, complete all routine vaccinations for the laying hens, and at the same time carry out deworming, so as to make full preparations for maintaining good body condition, a higher antibody level and body resistance, and improved feed conversion rate when entering the laying period; adjust feed nutrition and manage lighting to meet the production needs of laying hens.

1. Feed nutrition should transition from grower feed to layer feed, but the principle of gradual progress must be adhered to, making a scientific transition from the growing period to the laying period. The method is: feed 2/3 grower ration + 1/3 layer ration for two days, then 1/2 grower ration + 1/2 layer ration for another two days, then 1/3 grower ration + 2/3 layer ration for another two days, after which switch to the layer ration; the entire transition period takes about one week to complete. After that, the increase in feed nutrition should gradually rise along with the increasing laying rate, and it is essential not to increase it too abruptly. Excessive protein increase will increase the chances of difficult laying and prolapse of the cloaca due to overly large eggs, and once it is not detected in time, it can cause death from severe cloacal pecking. If shell or limestone powder is added too abruptly or in excess, the laying hens cannot absorb it and can only maintain balance by increasing water intake and strengthening systemic circulation to promote excretion of excess minerals; this not only increases the burden on liver and kidney function but also often easily leads to diarrhea. Therefore, the increase of soybean meal and shell should be adjusted by 1%-2% each time.

2. Two weeks before the onset of lay, 2% shell or limestone powder can be added to the feed to promote the storage of calcium and phosphorus.

3. Attention should be paid to the balanced supply of the daily ration. In particular, consideration should be given to details such as the energy-to-protein ratio, the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, the synergy between calcium and sodium, and the coordination and balance among various essential amino acids. Usually, the energy-to-protein ratio of layer feed is preferably 17:1.

4. Start laying at the right time. An important basis for judging whether laying hens can start laying is body weight and shank length (height). If body weight is too light or shank length (height) is insufficient and laying begins, it easily leads to small eggs, a short peak duration, and low total egg production, and in severe cases causes unnecessary losses due to difficult laying. Therefore, the timing of the onset of lay should be determined according to the requirements of the breed, and laying should begin only after the body weight and shank length (height) standards are met and the flock is confirmed to have reached sexual maturity and physical maturity.

5. Supplemental lighting and feed switching must be carried out simultaneously. Once growing laying hens reach the breed's standard body weight and shank length (height) for the onset of lay, they can be transferred to laying-period management. In the first week, provide 0.5 hours to 1 hour of supplemental lighting first, then increase by 0.5 hours to 1 hour each week thereafter, until the photoperiod reaches 16 hours and is kept constant.