What are the precautions for calcium supplementation in laying hens?

Calcium is an important mineral element for ensuring high and stable production in laying hens. If laying hens do not take in enough calcium, they are highly prone to rickets and often lay soft-shelled and thin-shelled eggs, which is especially pronounced during the peak laying period, causing eggshell quality and laying rate to decline. So how should laying hens be given calcium supplements? What should be noted? Let's take a look together.

1. Pay attention to the quality of complete feed

Complete feed for laying hens sold on the market is generally formulated with calcium components, but some manufacturers, in order to reduce costs and seek higher profits, add large amounts of stone powder to the feed, making the calcium content of the feed exceed 4%. Therefore, when purchasing, be sure to identify it carefully, and be sure to choose high-quality complete compound feed produced by reputable and legitimate manufacturers.

2. Do not use raw bone meal for calcium supplementation

Raw bone meal refers to a poor-quality bone meal produced under crude equipment conditions: miscellaneous bones are simply rinsed, then boiled in a large pot without pressure and without degelatinization, and then sun-dried and crushed. This kind of bone meal is mostly black or dark gray, accompanied by a foul odor, and has an extremely high calcium content. If laying hens are fed this raw bone meal for a long time, because it has not been treated with high temperature and high pressure, the bone calcium is bound together with bone glue, and after the laying hens eat it, the absorption and utilization rate of calcium is relatively low. Moreover, over time it can easily cause an imbalance in the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in the chicken's body, leading to a decline in the laying capacity and egg quality of laying hens, causing huge economic losses to chicken farming.

3. Do not feed spinach together with calcium supplements

When supplementing calcium for laying hens, it is not advisable to feed spinach at the same time. Spinach contains large amounts of oxalic acid, which will produce calcium oxalate that cannot dissolve in water with calcium, hindering the body's absorption and utilization of calcium. Therefore, when feeding spinach, first avoid the time of calcium supplementation; second, limit the feeding amount, and do not feed large amounts continuously; third, before feeding, chop it up, then blanch it with boiling water or soak it in cold water for a period of time, and then feed it, which can destroy the oxalic acid in it.

4. Do not supplement trace elements excessively

In order to enhance the hardness of the eggshells of laying hens, elements such as manganese, zinc, and magnesium can be added to the feed, but they should not be added in excessive amounts. The feed must be mixed evenly, and vitamin D must not be destroyed, which would affect the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.

  The above is an introduction to the precautions for calcium supplementation in laying hens. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.