What are the reasons for eggshells turning white in laying hens
When raising laying hens, many farmers notice that eggshell color turns white and pale. Although eggshell color has nothing to do with its nutritional value, consumers prefer darker-colored eggs, so this still affects profits. So what are the reasons for eggshells turning white? Let's take a detailed look together.
1. Seasonal
In summer, with continuous high temperatures and intense heat, laying hens breathe faster and have more difficulty dissipating heat. To cool down, they drink large amounts of water, which leads to reduced feed intake. This causes nutritional deficiencies in the hens and makes white eggshells more likely to form. In addition, high temperatures can cause respiratory diseases in laying hens, raising carbon dioxide in the blood and lowering amino acids, which weakens eggshell formation in the reproductive tract and produces white eggshells. In the feed, oil can be added, amino acid levels in the water can be increased, ventilation can be strengthened, the flock's heat dissipation can be accelerated, stress can be reduced, and white eggshells can be reduced.
2. Nutritional
A lack of vitamins, minerals, and calcium and phosphorus in the feed of laying hens can all cause eggshells to turn white. When laying hens first start laying, calcium should be maintained starting half a month before laying, and the daily calcium intake of laying hens must not be less than 4.2 g. Vitamins can promote the absorption of calcium in laying hens, increase thyroid activity, cause calcium to be released from the bones, raise blood calcium levels, and thereby deepen eggshell color.
3. Disease-related
Many diseases can also cause eggshells in laying hens to turn white. Common ones such as chronic Newcastle disease, colibacillosis, and Pasteurella can all cause eggshell color to become pale and white. Besides infecting the reproductive system, after causing illness in laying hens, they cause digestive dysfunction. The hens' absorption of calcium, phosphorus, and nutrients is affected over time. When laying hens are undernourished, white eggshells appear, and in severe cases egg production may even stop. Therefore, diseases should be eliminated promptly. Add field nutrient solution to the feed to improve intestinal function and enhance immunity and disease resistance. After treatment of the disease, add vitamins and calcium and phosphorus substances to the feed as soon as possible, so that the laying hens can return to normal egg production as quickly as possible.
4. Other factors
When laying hens experience stress, it can also lead to egg production and be accompanied by pale eggshell color. At this time, adjusting the rearing environment, eliminating stress, and enhancing nutrition will eliminate the white eggshell phenomenon within a short period. Light also affects egg production in laying hens. Insufficient or irregular light can also cause white eggshells, so artificial lighting time should be used and kept stable. In addition, some laying hens also show white eggshells due to aging, so such laying hens should be culled promptly and the flock renewed.
The above is an introduction to what causes eggshells to turn white in laying hens. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.