COMMON MANAGEMENT PROBLEM IN LAYERS PRODUCTION

There are many problems that are associated with management of layers, which are encountered by poultry farmers will be discussed below.

Most of these problems can be averted when  farmers have good information about them. One thing about these problems if not addressed early is that they could result in critical economic losses in poultry farm.

These problem are :

1. Broodiness
Hens have a natural tendency to incubate their eggs. This trait is not found in commercial layers because it was bred out. Nonetheless, some hens still become broody occasionally. Any broody bird is always unproductive and it inconveniences other birds by sitting in the laying nest. Broody hens should be separated from the flocked and kept on a bare floor till broodiness is lost. After, they can be taken back to the laying house to continue laying eggs.

2. Cannibalism
Cannibalism is a situation where chicken pecks and injures another chicken. It begins when a bird is injured and other birds start to peck the injured area or part. Most times, an injured bird bleeds to death. Cannibalism can be prevented through beaks trimming. If any injured bird is sighted, it must be removed from the flock before it results in serious injuries. Overcrowding, underfeeding, proteins or amino acid deficiencies, and boredom are major factors that lead to cannibalism.

3. Egg Eating
This vice may occur when a bird lays soft-shelled eggs. It happens when birds are deficient of certain nutrients such as calcium. As a result of this, the layers mash must be of a balanced ration. A hen is tempted to peck at an emerging egg if it sees an egg coming out from the cloaca of another hen. When the egg is pecked, it breaks, and the hen starts to eat it immediately. To avoid this incidence, farmers must construct proper laying nests. Each nest should accommodate one bird at a time. The nests should be partially covered to become dark if the nests are the communal type.

4. Infertility
Due to infertility and a poor state of health, some birds stop laying eggs. This kind of birds must be culled (removed from the flock). All things being equal, all your birds should start laying eggs in their 25th week. After the 25 weeks, a farmer should start looking for unproductive birds, and any found should be culled to prevent feed and labour loss.