Chickens are bred not only for meat: many farms are oriented on obtaining as many eggs as possible for their subsequent sale. Sometimes the following problem arises - laying hens do not give eggs. There can be many reasons for this. By eliminating the negative factors, it is possible to improve the situation and increase egg production.
Egg-promoting nutrition
One of the most common causes, which negatively affects the laying hens, is an unbalanced diet, lack of certain elements in food.
For the normal development of chickens and ensuring regular egg laying, it is necessary that the following components are included in the daily diet:
- a grain mixture consisting of corn (40%), oats (30%), wheat (20%), barley (20%); the daily amount of a grain mixture with this composition is 120 g;
- boiled potatoes - 100 g;
- mash mix - 30 g;
- oilcake - 7 g;
- chalk - 3 g;
- bone meal - 2 g;
- baker's yeast - 1 g;
- table salt - 0.5 g.
In the summer, in order to increase egg production, chickens are recommended to give finely chopped garden greens - feathers of green onions and garlic, parsley, dill. Also at this time of the year, the diet of laying hens can be varied with grated beets, carrots and chopped cabbage. But you shouldn’t lean on vegetables - there should be few of them: excess of fresh vegetables can cause indigestion of birds.
Feed the hens at the same time, in equal portions. There should be enough food for the chickens to eat it in half an hour.
Do not forget about mineral supplements, as the chicken body spends enough energy to form an egg. The laying hens are especially in need of phosphorus, calcium and potassium. Sources of these substances are limestone, small shells, and eggshell. The listed mineral additives must be thoroughly crushed and placed in a separate feeder.
Coop Lighting
Lighting is another important factor that affects the laying ability of chickens. The eyes of these birds are highly sensitive to the intensity of light radiation. By capturing light, the optic nerve is irritated and sends a signal to the hypothalamus, which releases substances that stimulate the production of hormones and affect the ovaries.
In the winter season, the chicken coop should be light from 7 am to 10 pm. Under such a light regime, laying hens will be carried normally without decreasing egg production.
Light must be turned on and off at the same time. The bird gets used to such a regime that favorably affects the metabolic processes in its body.
The duration of the daylight hours in the chicken coop is about 14-15 hours. It is not necessary to provide a lighting regime during the day: chickens also need sleep and rest.
To illuminate the chicken coop, fluorescent lamps of small power are used. The number of lighting elements depends on the area of the room in which the chickens are. At 6 square meters. m requires 60 watts.
If the daylight hours in the chicken coop last less than 14 hours, this affects not only egg production: in such conditions, the body weight of birds decreases, various diseases develop.
Temperature conditions
Laying hens feel good at certain temperature indicators, so their ability to lay eggs largely depends on them.
Keep in mind that heat, like hunger, negatively affects the ability of chickens to lay eggs. In this case, consider the following:
- The most comfortable temperature for layers is + 20-25 degrees.
- When the temperature rises to +28 degrees and above, the number of eggs decreases. To slightly improve the situation, you need to constantly monitor the water in the drinking bowls of chickens. It should always be fresh and cool. It needs to be changed up to 3 times a day.
- In winter, the temperature should reach at least +12 degrees.
- In the summer, chickens need to be regularly walked, as it can be very hot in the chicken coop.
- To prevent excess sunlight from reaching the layers in the summer, a canopy must be installed.
To ensure year-round socking of eggs, you need to take care of this even at the stage of construction and equipment of the chicken coop: it should be arranged in such a way that in summer and winter it is possible to maintain the required temperature indicators.
Room size and number of chickens
The size of the chicken coop and planting density is another important factor affecting the laying of eggs. A too tight fit reduces egg production and increases aggression among poultry.
For chickens to fully develop and lay eggs, they need free space. For one bird in the chicken coop should be at least 0.4-0.5 square meters. m square.
Age of chickens
If chickens began to lay fewer eggs, it may be at their age. The peak egg production is observed in the first year of life of poultry, in the warm season.
Most laying hens begin to lay eggs at the age of 22 weeks, representatives of some breeds - at 17. The egg production period in this case is 1.5 years.
Breed of chickens
If chickens are planted in order to get a large number of eggs, you need to choose a breed of egg orientation. They are characterized by such common features:
- small body size;
- average weight does not exceed 2.5 kg;
- instinct of incubation is completely absent or minimized;
- long plumage on the tail;
- mobility;
- large bright red comb.
The best of the egg breeds of chickens include the following:
- Leghorn. Chickens of this breed carry about 370 eggs per year. The maximum egg weight reaches 454 g, the average weight is about 60 g. Leghorn begin to lay eggs from 17-20 weeks of life. Representatives of this breed are especially sensitive to noise. That is why it is necessary to contain leggorn in conditions of sound insulation.
- Kuchinsky anniversary. Layers produce up to 220 eggs per year, each weighing about 60 g. In addition, representatives of this breed are a source of meat, which contains a large amount of protein.
- Broken brown. These chickens carry up to 320 eggs throughout the year. The average egg weight reaches 64 g. Representatives of the Loman Brown breed are stress-resistant, friendly, characterized by a calm temperament. After reaching reproductive age (5.5 months), they rush well for 20 weeks.
- Minorca. Layers of this breed lay up to 200 eggs per year, the weight of each egg is about 80 g. The productivity of chickens does not depend on the time of year. Minors do not tolerate dampness, low temperatures, and drafts.
- Russian white. Representatives of this breed are a hybrid of leggorn and Russian outbred chickens. Layers give up to 240 pieces of selected eggs annually. The weight of one egg on average is 56 g. The advantages of this breed are strong immunity, which prevents the risk of developing many diseases, and resistance to low temperatures.
Breed of hens "Leggorn"
Breed of chickens "Kuchinsky Jubilee"
Breed of hens "Broken Brown"
Breed of chickens "Minorca"
Breed of chickens "Russian White"
Representatives of all these breeds need to provide appropriate conditions.
Infectious and noncommunicable diseases
A variety of diseases affecting laying hens are reflected in the ability of chickens to lay eggs.
Typical symptoms of the disease are:
- lethargy of a bird;
- labored breathing;
- apathetic state, which is replaced by excitement and anxiety;
- unwillingness to move;
- mucous discharge from the eyes;
- inflammatory processes near the organs of vision;
- diarrhea;
- feathers falling out, their sloppy appearance.
The following diseases should be attributed to infectious diseases of laying hens:
- Pasteurellosis (or bird cholera). The causative agent of the disease is pasteurella, which is characterized by good survival under external conditions. This infection is expressed in the curvature and swelling of the joints, inactivity, fever, mucous secretions, refusal of food and intense thirst. Treatment of bird cholera is carried out with sulfamides. The drugs are mixed with food or water.
- Neuroleptosis (or Marek’s disease). The causative agent of the pathological process is a virus that affects the organs of vision and the central nervous system. With such a disease, the musculoskeletal system is disrupted, tumors form on the skin. An ill bird refuses to feed, practically can not move. Also, with neuroliftosis, a change in the color of the iris occurs, blindness occurs, and goiter paralysis is observed. Treatment in this case is ineffective, the livestock is subject to destruction.
- Mycoplasmosis. This disease is a chronic respiratory disease. Symptoms: digestive disorders, difficulty breathing, coughing and sneezing, fluid discharge from the nasal cavity. Unhealthy laying hens and cocks must be destroyed.
- Bird flu. With this pathology, damage to the respiratory system and the gastric region occurs. Avian influenza is severe and leads to mass death of the livestock. Symptoms of pathology: diarrhea, fever, lethargy, bluish earrings, hoarse breathing. There is no cure; all livestock must be destroyed.
- Infectious bronchitis. The respiratory system is affected in young laying hens, and the functions of the reproductive organs are impaired in sexually mature individuals. In infectious bronchitis, laying layers cough, breathing with difficulty. Mucous fluid flows from the nasal cavity, diarrhea begins. Birds refuse to feed and try to stay close to heat sources. The disease is incurable - after its detection, a quarantine regimen is prescribed.
Pasteurellosis (or bird cholera)
Neuroleptosis (or Marek’s disease)
Mycoplasmosis disease
Bird flu
Infectious bronchitis
Other diseases affect the ability of laying hens to lay eggs:
- Coccidiosis, a parasitic disease. Parasites can enter the body of a bird through water and food. The symptomatology of the disease is expressed in the appearance of diarrhea, in which feces become green. They observed bloody clots. For treatment, sulfonamides are used.
- Gastritis. With this disease, the bird begins diarrhea, feathers become tousled. The general condition of the layers is weakened. The basis of treatment is diet, as well as the use of a weak solution of manganese.
- Salpingitis - inflammatory processes of the oviduct. The main symptom of such a disease is an irregular egg shape or lack of shell. As the pathological process develops, the bird loses its ability to lay eggs. For treatment, they adjust the diet by adding the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Coccidiosis: a parasitic disease
Gastritis in poultry
Salpingitis in laying hens
At the first symptoms of an infectious or non-infectious disease in chickens, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian in order to take action in the early stages.
Seasonality
The ability to lay eggs also depends on the time of year. Egg production decreases markedly in the cold season. Peak egg laying occurs in mid-summer.
To increase this indicator, it is necessary to ensure normal laying conditions for hens. The temperature in the chicken coop should not fall below +10 degrees.
The chicken coop needs to be prepared for the cold in advance. In particular, it is required:
- disinfection: lime, walls, floor and ceiling should be whitewashed;
- warming the room: you need to pay special attention to the cracks and close them, as hens do not tolerate drafts;
- ventilation check;
- collecting warm litter - a peat layer 15 cm thick is suitable as it
In winter, to heal the air in a room with chickens, you can fumigate with fragrant herbs. On hot coals put oregano, caraway seeds, juniper branches.
Stress
External irritants also affect the ability of laying hens to lay eggs regularly.
Nervous tension in chickens occurs due to factors such as:
- Wrong diet. When birds lack some vitamins or nutrients, they suffer. Egg production falls, but they continue to rush at the expense of their own health. Because of this, the muscles quickly decrease.
- High chicken density. The lack of space not only causes the stress state of the laying hen: it increases the number of pathogenic microorganisms in the cells, which leads to the rapid development of infectious diseases and pathological processes of a different nature.
- Psychological factors. The struggle for food, water and space are processes that also cause stress.
- Injuries. Bruises, bruises, surgical interventions cause pain and stress.
- Preventive vaccination. If the introduction of sera is carried out by healthy individuals, then the stress is weak and passes quickly, but if the birds are weakened, serious complications can develop with the introduction of the vaccine.
- Stress due to loud noise. To protect the birds from adverse conditions, you should place the room away from places with loud sounds.
Other possible causes
Other factors also influence egg laying in laying hens. These include:
- Molting. This process is natural. At this stage in the life of the hens, a natural feather change occurs in chickens. It lasts 1-3 months. This usually happens in the fall. The longer the molting period and the sooner it begins, the lower the egg production.
- The appearance in the stock of a new rooster or layer.
- Moving livestock to another room.
- The appearance of predators. Foxes, rats, various rodents scare chickens, they are stressed and cease to rush against the background of such a state.
- Poor ventilation. If the air stagnates in the room, the state of health of the bird worsens: the ammonia emitted by the hens fills the airspace of the chicken coop, so they lack air, they suffocate.
- Chickens eating eggs. This happens if the bird does not receive enough vitamins and nutrients with the feed.
- Bad rooster. If the rooster is old and does not cope with its duties, then laying hens carry much less eggs.
- Poultry stop laying eggs if they become hens. This is a natural process: during this period, chickens take care of hatching offspring.
There are many reasons that can explain the decrease in egg production of chickens. To improve this indicator, it is necessary to assess the conditions in which the birds live, whether they are sick and do not experience stress due to external stimuli.