Correct Methods and Practical Tips for Calcium Supplementation in Laying Hens

The best time to supplement calcium for laying hens is from 12:00 to 20:00. When hens are allowed to eat calcium freely, they can self-regulate their calcium intake. For example, during eggshell formation, their calcium intake is 92% of normal, while outside of eggshell formation, their calcium intake is only 68%. Hens that are lighter in body weight and eat less feed should be given a moderate increase in calcium.

Chickens absorb animal-based calcium sources best and plant-based calcium sources worst, and sterilized eggshells are the best calcium source. When the calcium sources in the diet consist of 2/3 oyster shell and 1/3 limestone, eggshell strength is best. For B-4 hybrid chickens, when the broken-shell rate reached 3.5% at 61 weeks, adding granular oyster shell powder amounting to 2% of the total feed in the afternoon significantly reduced the broken-egg rate, and the eggshells became smooth; by 72 weeks of age, the average broken-egg rate was only 1.59%, showing a good effect.

For calcium deficiency in laying hens, the proportions of nutritional components in the feed should be adjusted, and attention should be paid to adding fish meal, bone meal, oyster shell powder, eggshell powder, or stone powder, etc., to ensure an appropriate calcium content. For laying hens, starting from around 18 weeks of age, oyster shell powder should be increased to 2%; after 20 weeks of age, when they enter the laying period, the bone meal content in the feed should reach 1.5%, and oyster shell powder should reach 5.5%; after 38 weeks of age, the oyster shell powder content can be increased to 6.5%. For laying hens raised off the ground, when the laying rate reaches 80%, the calcium content in the diet should reach 3.5%; when the laying rate is less than 80% or greater than 65%, the calcium content should be 3.4%; when the laying rate is less than 65%, the calcium content should be 3.2%.

In addition, multivitamins can be appropriately added to the feed, and if necessary, cod liver oil can also be added in an appropriate amount. Chickens can also be appropriately exposed to more sunlight or irradiated with ultraviolet lamps to increase vitamin D sources. Any factor that can increase intestinal acidity helps dissolve calcium salts and promote calcium absorption. Special attention should be paid to preventing excessive calcium when preventing calcium deficiency and supplementing calcium.