Improving Egg Production in the Old Chicken

Improving Egg Production in the Old Chicken

The egg production in the hen is complicated as it is involved with many system, including the Reproductive system and the Endocrine system. Today’s poultry industry has been dominated by the white leg horn breeds especially in the tropical countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan for their commercial benefits of the optimum hen house production.

Author pic
Dr. Ram Moorthy D
CEO, Geenat
rammoorthyd@gmail.com
W: www.geenat.co.in
Phone: +91 93446 42382

Achieving the desired egg production in the old hens after 50 weeks is the real challenge in both the open and the Environmentally Controlled (EC) sheds, as the age advances, the breeding efficiency gradually slows down.

The ‘egg Production time’ in the Hen

The duration of the egg production in the commercial chicken is the deciding factor of each egg produced.

In young flock, it is lesser than 25 hours and in the old flocks, it is more than 25 hours. This duration decides the layer farm’s egg production.

Young flock <25 hours> Old flock
Young flock <25 hours> Old flock

How Chicken’s Oviduct makes eggs

Chicken’s Oviduct makes egg in the following steps:

  • Egg making Steps in Chicken’s Oviduct Infundibulum the mouth of the hen’s oviduct lengths about 9 cm receives a yolk within 10 to 30 minutes; the egg is fertilised if the sperm is present, otherwise the egg remains unfertilized.
  • Magnum the center portion of the hen’s oviduct lengths about 33 cm secretes albumen (egg white) and it’s layered around the yolk in and around 3 hours.
  • Isthmus the mid lower portion of a hen’s oviduct, length about 10 cm ; adds inner and outer cell membranes around the egg white in and around 1 hour.
  • Shell Gland is the real uterus of a hen’s oviduct positioned in the lower portion, length about 10 to 12 cm , adds sheel material to the egg. Pigments are added here to make the brown shell. The process takes about 20 hours.
  • In the Vent at the end of the oviduct, the egg passes through, before it was laid down.

Factors involved in the Egg production

  • Egg production factorsAge – High production in Young Flock and it gradually declines when the age advances.
  • Genetics – ‘Controlled Traits of a breed
  • Micro-Pathogen load– Viral, Bacterial & Fungi etc.
  • Disease Outbreak
  • Stress
  • Nutrition

Among the above factors we have a complete control on Nutrition especially through feed to improve the production in the old flocks that are above 48 weeks.

Nutrition for the old Chicken

We can tune the commercial Layer Feed Formulation above 48 weeks (Phase 2 – 48 to 65 weeks & Phase 3 – 65 weeks & above) with the following guidelines to achieve the maximum egg production and to improve the farm average egg production %.

Optimum CP – Crude Protein

In the layer feed for the old flcok (Phase 2 & 3) we need to give high energy diet to meet the bird’s BMR. However, we need to emphasize the optimum Crude Protein level 4% higher than the routine CP level irrespective of the breeds.

Optimum Amino Acids

We can maintain the Optimum Amino Acids level in the Phase 2&3. Optimum Methionine level can be not lesser than 0.4 & Lysiene level can be not lesser than 0.75. The above values are for 1 MT of feed.

Feed Additives

Vitamins & Minerals

We can top up the Vitamin & Trace Mineral premixes 10% higher than the regular dosage.

Emulsifier & Choline Chloride

Fat deposition in the old flocks will hamper the breeding efficiency and the egg production which is a natural and Adding Emulsifiers along with choline chloride can reduce the overall body fat and lean birds tend to yield more eggs. Dosage can be adjusted as per the local vet’s advice and brand claims.

Chromium Picolinate

There are studies and references available that chromium Picolinate improves the breeding efficiency in the laying hens. Chromium Picolinate a non-toxic chromium can be added in the layer feed for Phase 2 &3 as per the manufacturers’ label claims.

Anterior Pituitary – The Key Organ of a Laying Hen.

There are two Gonadotropin hormones ‘secreted in the Anterior Pituitary gland of the chicken which decide and determine the egg production of the chicken as the hormones link ovary & oviduct.

  • FSH – Follicle Stimulating Hormone.
    FSH maintains the matured follicles in the ovary which ensures the ovulation (egg production) at the chicken’s old age of 80+ weeks
  • LH – Luteinizing Hormone
    LH ruptures the matured follicles in the ovary and releases the ova.

Phytochemicals

    • There are many references that a few specific phytochemicals that are discussed here which can induce the endocrine system (Anterior Pituitary) of the Chicken and releases the Gonadotropin Hormones to improve the egg production. We can include the dry powder of these phytochemicals in the Phase 2- & 3-layer feed.
    • Asparagus racemosus – roots
    • Asparagus racemosus - rootsPueraria tuberosa
    • Pueraria tuberosaGlycyrrhiza glabra

Glycyrrhiza glabra Summary

Egg is an economical and affordable protein commodity, rich in nutrition. Moreover, egg can be consumed by all the age groups which is easily available for all the economical classes and it is without adulteration.

We need to ensure a high farm average of the egg production of every layer farm by implementing the nutritional guidelines discussed here by improving the production performance of the old age chicken.

The money invested for the value-added nutritional benefits discussed here will certainly ensure a high return through additional egg production and low egg breakage and the farmer can relish hassle-free farming.

We can use similar guidelines to the breeding farms to make the non-laying hens yield eggs which can improve the farm average of the egg production & better hatchability.

Author: Dr. Ram Moorthy D, CEO, Geenat

Previous article by same author: Pin Bone Syndrome in Commercial Chicken

Pin Bone Syndrome in Commercial Chicken

Pin Bone Syndrome in Commercial Chicken

In poultry, “pin bone distance” refers to the distance between the pelvic bones (pin bones) located near the hen’s vent. The pin bone distance is one of the key indicators of hen’s sexual maturity and the indication of when she will start laying eggs.

Dr. Ram Moorthy D, , Author Pic_EB
Dr. Ram Moorthy D
CEO, Geenat
E: rammoorthyd@gmail.com
W: www.geenat.co.in
Phone: +91 93446 42382

Pin Bones location, significance and interpretation

The pin bones are located on either side of the hen’s vent and the significance of the Pin bones’ distance indicates a hen’s approach to laying stage.

Closed pin bones or narrow space between the pin bones Indicate that the hen is not yet sexually mature or is not at the laying stage.

The distance of the two pin bones is wider apart indicates that the hen is sexually mature and likely to start laying eggs.

Pin Bone distance of a hen and the determination of laying stage

  • The right distance of the ‘pin bones’ in commercial white leg horn breed of the breeder and commercial layer should be about 3 fingers wide. This will indicate that the hen is at the laying stage.
  • Pin bone distance of between 2 and 2½ fingers indicates at about10 days prior to lay the first egg.

Variation in pin bone distance and the solution

If the variation in pin bone distance within a flock is above 70% it indicates the problems with flock’s uniformity in body weight, egg production, and egg size.

Body weight

Birds are less sexually mature than expected for age if the Pin bones are closer together. In this case we should check the birds’ body weight according to the age and can adjust the feed nutrition and qty in-take which will help the birds gradually return to the laying standards at the right age.

Light stimulation Adjustment

If the variation of ‘pin bone distance’ between the birds of the same age is more than 70% of the flock it’s better to adjust the light stimulation by increasing or decreasing based on the weather conditions to bring the ‘pin bones distance’ similar and correct it to 80 to 85% of the flock to have the uniformity in egg production & egg size.

This lighting adjustment will allow the flock to reach the same level of pin bone distance naturally.

Egg- grading techniques will help to improve uniformity of the flock.

Birds are more sexually mature than expected for age if the ‘pin bone distance’ is wider than expected for age; in this case we should monitor and adjust the feed nutrition & feed Qty. uptake to control the body weight gain to have an optimum egg production & egg size. Reducing or delaying the lighting would help to have the optimum egg size and production.

Herbal Extracts through feed

Adding any of the herbal extracts combination of product that claims to ‘balance the hen’s reproductive system’ would help to have the right pin bone distance and help the birds to bring to the laying stage. However, we should follow their recommended dosage as high dosage of inclusion will result in over-sized eggs.

Equipment in measuring Pin Bone distance

There is no equipment available for measuring the pin bones’ distance.

Physical measurement BY using one’s fingers is the only way to measure the pin bone distance.

The measurement ‘finger’ is relative to the operator’s hand size and so will vary from person to person; hence, ideally the same person should measure the pin bone distance periodically by every week. ‘Pin bone distance’ should be measured regularly from 15 to 16 weeks (105 to 112 days) of age until the last stage of laying period.

Summary

Routine measurement of pin bone distance helps determining the hen’s laying stage and will help to identify to resolve the issues with flock uniformity in body weight, egg production and egg size as well as the sexual maturity. Pin bone distance should ideally be measured every once a week to have uniformity. This exercise will certainly help to increase the farm average of egg production% especially by bringing non layers into laying stage in breeder and commercial layer flock.

Egg is a great protein source packed with energy, vitamins and minerals. Egg is a biotech and affordable solution to the food needs of the rising human population in the globe.

Hence, every egg ‘produced is every egg ‘served!

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