Most breeds of chickens are kept for the sake of getting eggs. Of course, farmers and poultry farmers are interested in high rates of egg production of their wards. For reality to live up to expectations, you need to know the many nuances of poultry farming. And there are often cases when the breeder is faced with a decrease in egg production. The question arises, how to determine if the chicken is laying eggs, and is it possible to improve the performance of laying hens?
Egg laying in chickens
The most important indicator of a laying hen is its egg laying. It is calculated by the number of eggs laid by the chicken during the year. Most breeds of poultry bring about 200-300 eggs, the maximum value is close to 400 pcs. Indicators of meat breeds are somewhat more modest: from one layer, one should expect from 100 to 200 units of the product.
Over its entire life, a bird is able to lay about 4 thousand eggs. With approximately this supply of eggs, it hatches into the light. The ability to reproduce in chicken can last longer than 10 years, but already in the second year of life, this indicator begins to gradually decrease.
In order for the poultry maintenance to justify the costs, it is necessary to monitor the egg production, and the question: how to determine whether the chicken is carried or not, is relevant for farmers. So, in a poultry farm, egg breeds of chickens are kept for only 1 year, after which the livestock is completely replaced. In households, the bird is changed after 2-3 years of keeping.
When do chickens start to rush?
Several factors affect the onset of egg production. First of all, this is a breed of chicken, but not the least importance is its diet and conditions.
In most cases, the first clutch of poultry should be expected at 5-9 months of its life. Important is the fact at which time future hens hatched. Chickens born in the early spring or winter begin to hatch earlier than those that hatched later.
By the weight of the chicken, the timing of the onset of egg laying can be predicted. You can get the first clutch from a bird, whose mass is 75% of the mass of adults.
What does productivity depend on?
The process of egg maturation on average takes about 20-22 hours. Therefore, no more than 1 egg per day is expected from a laying hen. But it is worth considering that not every bird is able to observe such a frequency.
Before you know if a chicken is flying or not, you should familiarize yourself with the factors that affect its productivity. These include:
- breed of bird;
- her age;
- health status;
- diet
- conditions of detention;
- current time of year.
It is also known that if the eggs are large, then the bird flies less often. At home breeding, when a breeder tries to create all the necessary conditions for laying hens to improve egg production, a good result is getting 1 egg from a chicken every 24-48 hours.
Determination of laying hens by palpation
There are several ways to find out if a chicken is flying or not. The most accurate of them is palpation. The procedure should be carried out in the morning immediately before feeding. Each bird is subjected to visual inspection.
The process of defecation and laying of eggs occurs in birds from the same hole, which is called cesspool. The chicken should be picked up, while fixing its front part, after which it is necessary to slightly press the cloaca. In the event that the egg is formed, it is quite well palpable.
The distance between the pubic bones is another sign of whether the chicken carries eggs. How to determine? A bird that rushes has more than 2 fingers between its bones. If the distance is much less, then you should not expect eggs from it.
An important point: even in the most exemplary and productive layers, so-called “rest periods” sometimes occur, during which productivity decreases markedly. But at their end, reproductive function is restored.
External signs of a laying hen
Despite the fact that palpation allows you to more accurately determine the laying hen, often farmers are interested in how to find out if the chicken is flying or not, according to external signs. Indeed, in certain conditions, such an option may be useful.
First of all, attention should be paid to the state of the non-feathering part around the orbits, comb and earrings. If they are pale in color, look shriveled and tough, and to the touch are colder than the rest of the bird's body, then it obviously does not rush. In the laying layer, from the rush of blood, the earrings and crest will be enlarged, bright scarlet, and soft and warm to the touch. It is also believed that chicken preparing for laying or having just laid eggs has a tendency to clatter loudly.
Another way to determine whether the chicken is racing: a characteristic condition is the condition of the cloaca. Before inspection, the bird must be fixed upside down between the knees. Gently pushing the feathers around the cloaca, inspect its appearance. In rushing chicken it is quite wide and slightly swollen. Also, it should be moistened with a special secret. In a non-egg-bearing bird, the hole is dry and compressed.
Other definition methods
There are several more ways you can determine if a chicken is flying or not. True, they are less convenient and will require significantly more time. One of them is isolation. To do this, you need free space or the ability to fence off part of the main. Each bird should be planted for 2-3 days to see if it lays eggs or not.
The only drawback of this method is the possible stress for the animal due to a change in environment. Sometimes this can lead to a complete cessation of masonry. So that the layer does not get scared, you can fence off the corner with a grid. This will allow the bird to see the rest of the livestock and feel more comfortable.
The second way to determine if a chicken is flying or not is by tags. Not the most convenient option, but quite effective. For its implementation, it is necessary to visit chickens as often as possible and mark with ribbons or with paint those individuals that sit on the nests. In a few weeks it will be possible to evaluate the result. Hens that do not rush will walk without tags.
Reasons for reducing masonry frequency
There may be several reasons why chickens stop giving eggs or even hatch at all:
- The disease. With certain pathologies of the ovaries, which are most often caused by inflammatory processes, the bird ceases to trot. It is important to carry out preventive treatment of the chicken coop from parasites in a timely manner.
- Molting period. Since the change of plumage requires energy costs, egg production of individuals can significantly decrease. The molting period begins in the fall and lasts no more than 2 months. The first molt occurs in the 3rd year of bird life. At the same time, it must be fed nourishingly.
- Stress. It has a strong effect on the ability of the chicken to give eggs. It can be caused by anything: from the appearance of a new rooster to the presence of a predator.
- Conditions of detention. Sudden changes in temperature and poor lighting contribute to poor egg production. Chickens are especially sensitive to these parameters in the winter.
- Feeding. Excessive fat content in the feed negatively affects birds. Also, chickens can cease to be carried with insufficient nutrients or poor feeding patterns.
It should be remembered that the age of the bird is important. The first 6 months, the chicken does not give eggs. The next year of life is considered the most productive in terms of egg production.
Ways to improve performance
Every farmer needs to know not only how to determine if a chicken is flying or not. It is also important to be able to improve the masonry. A few time-tested tips will help you achieve the best results.
The most effective way is to increase daylight hours in a room where birds are kept. To do this, using an artificial light source, the day is extended to 14 hours a day.
It is equally important to properly organize the feeding process. It is necessary to strictly monitor that each individual receives the necessary amount of nutrients. At the same time, food should be enough so that the birds do not compete for food. The feeding regimen involves two or three meals a day. The first feeding should be done immediately after turning on the light in the house. Last - an hour before it is turned off.