What are the key points to note when raising laying hens in spring?
In spring, the climate warms up, temperatures gradually rise, and daylight hours gradually lengthen, making it a good time for laying hens to lay eggs. However, because the warmer temperatures can lead to lax management, combined with the massive reproduction of bacteria and microorganisms, it is very easy to bring adverse effects to laying hens. Therefore, when raising laying hens in spring, special attention should be paid to the following points. Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.
1. Pay attention to cold protection
Although temperatures gradually rise in spring, the climate is not stable, and there may be sudden warm spells followed by cold, with day-night temperature differences still relatively large. So when gradually removing cold protection facilities, be careful to avoid the flock catching cold. Never, for the sake of temporary convenience, suddenly remove the insulation facilities, causing too great a temperature difference and making the flock catch cold or other diseases, which in severe cases may lead to death.
2. Pay attention to ventilation
As temperatures rise, the respiration and metabolism of the flock speed up. If the chicken house is not well ventilated, it is very easy for the flock to develop respiratory alkalosis, causing sudden death. Therefore, ventilation is essential to keep the air in the chicken house fresh. When ventilating, in addition to keeping warm and preventing cold, the number, size and direction of windows opened should also be determined according to the temperature, wind direction and wind strength. Open the upper windows first, then the lower windows; open more windows during the day for ventilation and cooling, and do not open windows at night to keep warm; open more windows when temperatures are high, and open fewer or no windows when temperatures are low. In this way, respiratory diseases in the spring flock can be avoided, and the egg-laying rate and profits can also be increased.
3. Pay attention to disease prevention
The rise in temperature in spring is also a period when bacteria and microorganisms reproduce in large numbers, and the rainy and windy climate in particular is extremely conducive to their growth, so the sanitary environment and disease prevention work of the chicken house must be strengthened. After the beginning of spring, the chicken house should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected once to reduce the threat of disease. At the same time, sick, weak, injured and disabled chickens should be picked out from the flock and culled. Clean and disinfect frequently, vaccinate with relevant vaccines in time, and promptly prevent and treat diseases when discovered.
4. Strengthen feeding with comprehensive nutrition
After the weather warms up in spring, if high-energy feed continues to be fed, it will increase the chickens' body weight and affect the egg-laying rate, so feed such as corn and other grains should also be reduced. In addition, laying hens consume more protein when laying eggs, so the crude protein content in the feed should be increased; at the same time, the demand for calcium also increases, so the calcium in the feed should be increased. When laying hens lay more eggs, vitamin consumption also rises, so vitamins should be supplemented in time.
The above is an introduction to the key points to note when raising laying hens in spring. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.