Be taught extra about Hy-Line’s help with cage-free programs
27 August 2024
4 minute learn
In lots of elements of the world, farmers are responding to the rising demand for eggs produced from cage-free layers. Whereas this can be a frightening prospect for these producers with their roots in additional intensive housing programs, the outcomes from cage-free flocks display that with the suitable administration, manufacturing ranges can match the outcomes achieved in cage programs.
The administration course of begins with the rearing cycle. It’s necessary to match the rearing system as intently as attainable to the setting the birds will expertise within the laying home. Many cage-free layers might be housed in aviary programs; due to this fact, it is crucial that pullets have learnt from a younger age to navigate by way of the overhead gear. This might be finest achieved by rearing the flock in an aviary rearing system, however the place this isn’t obtainable, flooring rearing programs must be fitted with aerial platforms and perching, with a proportion of the feed and water raised off the ground.
Feeder and drinker kind must also match these within the laying home. Whereas this idea appears easy, it’s one that’s typically neglected, making the transition from rearing to laying farm much more difficult for the pullet. A poor transition to the manufacturing home could result in a physique weight lack of as much as 10 p.c, and it’s estimated that it could take the fowl 5 weeks to completely get better the loss.
In a light-controlled setting, pullets could have typically been reared on a 10-hour day. On switch, which is often at 16 weeks, the addition of 1 hour to 11 hours of complete mild will stimulate feed and water consumption and can assist the method of regaining that misplaced physique weight. How and when extra hours of sunshine are added will depend upon a number of components, together with the management over pure daylight, the physique weight of the pullets, and the goal egg weight. In distinction to cages the place 14 hours of sunshine is commonly the norm, birds in various programs might have an extended day size (as much as 16 hours) because of the additional exercise concerned and to offer them time to devour adequate feed. One of the essential facets of profitable cage-free manufacturing is encouraging the birds to make use of the nests, and that course of should begin instantly after housing. The three-week interval after housing and earlier than first egg is an efficient time for the birds to seek out and discover the nests. With that in thoughts, quickly after housing, the birds must be given entry to the nests which will encourage the birds to seek out and discover them. Briefly lifting some nest curtains will assist this course of.
Throughout this “pullet coaching,” nests must be closed two hours earlier than lights-out, timing it with the final run of the feeder. One other necessary facet is making certain that the birds be taught to go up onto the slats or system to roost. In the event that they have been reared in an acceptable setting, this could come naturally; nevertheless, any birds which might be nonetheless on the flooring at lights-out must be lifted up onto the slats. Whereas this could appear to be an amazing job, the birds will in a short time be taught.
By making certain that the birds are ‘going up’ at evening, this signifies that they get up subsequent to the feed, water and, crucially, the nest packing containers. As soon as laying commences, birds must be “walked” recurrently, whereas taking care to not disturb them within the nests. “Strolling the birds” means having a employee enter the barn and stroll by way of the flock to maintain birds from settling in areas the place they might be tempted to put eggs, notably in opposition to the perimeters of
the constructing, in corners, or in any darker areas. Flooring eggs must be collected continuously to discourage different birds from imitating this habits.
Birds will want ample alternative to feed, which implies operating feeders 5 or 6 occasions a day. The primary feed must be at lights-on, or shortly after, then a niche of 4 hours must be left earlier than an extra feed. That is executed to keep away from the feeder disturbing birds which can in any other case be in (or heading to) a nest.
The remaining feeds must be unfold all through the day, conserving in thoughts that nearly all of a fowl’s consumption might be within the second half of the day.
With regards to sustaining well being standing in cage-free flocks, the rules utilized to extra intensive manufacturing programs are precisely the identical:
- Strong biosecurity;
- Complete vaccination program tailor-made to any particular challenges on the manufacturing website; and
- Sustaining good air high quality inside a thermally comfy setting.
There might be extra concerns, nevertheless, such as implementing a daily program in opposition to inner parasites.
For additional data on cage-free administration, seek the advice of the Different Techniques Administration Information.
Glorious Cage-Free Efficiency for UK Producers
Producers Daniel and Trudi Bates of Wales, UK, had a high-performing flock of 32,000 Hy-Line Brown Plus birds.
The flock peaked excessive and early, with wonderful persistency. The flock spent 54 weeks over 90% manufacturing (29 of which have been 95% or above). As a result of Bates’ wonderful administration, livability to 77 weeks was 97.52% vs. the breed commonplace of 95.5%. Whole hen-housed eggs have been 378, which is 20 above the midrange commonplace! Egg mass was 1 kg higher than the usual. The flock was very feed environment friendly for a free vary flock, making an egg per 131 g of feed consumed.
