Poultry: Basic Husbandry for Layers


Factsheet - ISSN 1198-712X   -   Copyright Queen's Printer for Ontario
Agdex#: 458
Publication Date: 02/93
Order#: 93-031
Last Reviewed: 06/00
History: Original Factsheet
Written by: Diane Spratt - Poultry Specialist/OMAFRA

 Criteria Norms During Growth Norms After Maturity Trouble Shooting Checklist

Temperature

(At birds height)

Day Old: 28°-32°C

Lowered:

2°-3°C per week

to

21°C at 6 weeks

Breeders:

21°C for bird's comfort
Too High: pasted vents, frequent wing spreading and flapping, panting, crowding away from heat source

Too Low: feather ruffling, rigid posture, huddling and piling near heat source
Ammonia (P.P.M.) Maximum

25 ppm (see next page)
Maximum

25 ppm
Too High: eye burns - higher incidence of respiratory problems, blindness
Air Movement 0.11 m3 per minute per kg bird

or

2.75-3.0 cfm per kg live bird
 0.11 m3 per minute per kg live bird

or

2.75-3.0 cfm per kg live bird
Poor: high ammonia levels, caked litter, increased respiratory problems, increased health problems(see next page)
Lighting First 7 Days: 20 lux

After 1st week adequate light for feeding and activity preferably using light dimmers and lower wattage bulbs
For Production:

Minimum 14 hours daylight interval intensity must be 10X greater than dark to ensure good production level
Too High: cannibalism, flightiness, more egg cracks

Too Low: poor growth and poor egg conversion

(see Figure 1)
Feeder Space
(per bird) - ad lib

Water Trough
(per bird)
0-6 wks: 2.5 cm
6-18 wks: 7.5 cm

0.6 wks: 1.0 cm
6-18 wks: 2.0 cm
18 weeks - mature:

Feed - 10.0 cm
Water - 4.0 cm
Not Enough Space: poor intakes, poor growth and poor egg production

Density - Floor or Cage Space

(per bird)

0-6 weeks: 0.05 m2

6-18 weeks: 0.14 m2
18 weeks - mature:
0.2 m2

If 'free range' needs protective fencing
Too Dense: feather picking, cannibalism, egg production levels drop, higher mortality

Free Range: greater incidence of disease, parasites - problems with predators.

See Factsheet 88-095 Control of Extenal Parasites on Poultry

Handy Hints

Humans can detect the smell of ammonia at 7 p.p.m.

When human eyes are affected (watering/burning), ammonia levels are at least 20 p.p.m.

Fan Diameter in Inches Fan Capacity, CFM
 8 200
10 400
12 1000
14 1500
16 2000
18 3000
20 4000
24 5000
30 7000
36 10000

 

Figure 1. Guideline: Lamping Requirements for Poultry Chart Shows Number of Square Feet per 60 Watt Bulb. By Peter Nicholas, Energy Advisor - Agriculture, Ontario Hydro. (Text Equivalent of Figure 1)

Example (Real Barn)

A maintained light level of 20 lux may be achieved by using one standard 60W/120V incandescent bulb for every 200 square feet of floor space, or by using one long-life 60W/130V incandescent bulb for every 120 square feet of floor space in a dark barn.

Example (Research Lab)

A white clean room will have 40 lux with about one lamp per 280 square feet, or about 20 lux if one bulb per 560 square feet is used.

Save Energy: Use 9 Watt to 11 Watt compact fluorescent lamps instead of 60 Watt/130 Volt incandescent bulbs

Save Energy: Use 13 Watt to 15 Watt compact fluorescent lamps instead of 60 Watt/120 Volt incandescent bulbs


For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca