What preparatory work is needed before meat-type breeding hens start laying?
Preparations before meat-type breeding hens start laying
First, starting from 22 to 23 weeks of age, while feed restriction is being applied, switch the growing feed to pre-lay feed (containing 2% calcium; other nutrients the same as layer feed).
Second, hens from 23 to 25 weeks of age are in the pre-laying stage, so vaccinations, antibody monitoring, selection and culling, beak trimming, and even counting the number of chickens should be completed before this time as far as possible. At around 23 weeks, nesting boxes should be put in place as early as possible; it is best to place the nesting boxes in a darker, well-ventilated, and quieter place, and the bedding in the boxes should be clean, dry, and soft. At the same time, any hens that lay eggs randomly on the ground should be driven to lay in the nesting boxes as early as possible.
Second, hens from 23 to 25 weeks of age are in the pre-laying stage, so vaccinations, antibody monitoring, selection and culling, beak trimming, and even counting the number of chickens should be completed before this time as far as possible. At around 23 weeks, nesting boxes should be put in place as early as possible; it is best to place the nesting boxes in a darker, well-ventilated, and quieter place, and the bedding in the boxes should be clean, dry, and soft. At the same time, any hens that lay eggs randomly on the ground should be driven to lay in the nesting boxes as early as possible.