🥚 Care and Management of Layers

This lesson covers core livestock production and management concepts for practical farm application and exam-oriented preparation.

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Care & management -layers

28.Care and management of layers.

Layer Management: From the point of lay to one year it is called laying period.

When first egg laid – Pullet – pullet egg.

Floor space : 2 sq.ft.

Feeder space : 4 sq.ft.

Water space : 2 sq.ft.

Nest space : 1 box for 5 birds

Litter Depth : 6 box for 5 birds.

Feeding : Layer mash is fed during this period - 18% protein. Daily ration is decided and issued

two to three times in a day. This helps in lesser feed wastage and better balancing.

Choice feeding of calcium : Calcium is supplied to the birds in feed. Supply of calcium in the

feed assures a more uniform intake of calcium by all the birds.

For hens in very high egg production and in high environmental temperature

supplementation of extra calcium is necessary. This is given in the form of shell grit. 5-10

Kgs./100birds/Month.

Lighting : Layer birds has to be kept with a period of at least 16 hours a day. Twelve hours of

day light is supplemented with additional 4 hours night lighting. It is introduced as step up

programme.

20th week	6-6 ½ PM	5.30 – 6.00 AM
21st week	6-7 PM	5 - 6 PM
22nd week	6-7.30 PM	5 – 6 AM
23rd week	6 – 8.00 PM	5 – 6 AM
24th week	6 – 8.30 PM	5 – 6 AM
25th week	6 –9.00 PM	5 – 6 AM

Light stimulates anterior pituitary gland through brain and the liberation of F.S.H. helps

the follicles to mature.

A forty watts bulb at a height of 7 feet with 100 feet distance from another, will provide

the required intensity of light for 100 sq.ft. area.

General guidelines :

1. Provide balanced feed.

2. Use clean wholesome water

3. Never reduce the light during laying period

4. Supplement vitamins to relieve stress

5. Deworm once in 45 days.

6. Litter to be racked up once a week

7. Add Lime at 5-10 Kg/100 sq.ft. to keep them dry.

8. Cull-the unproductive birds/then and there.

Vaccination - refer disease

Culling

Cage layer fatigue

Calcium feeding.

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Summary Cheat Sheet

Topic	Key Point
Main lesson	Care and management of layers
Production goal	Maximize egg production with healthy birds and efficient feed use
Feeding focus	Balanced layer ration with adequate calcium and protein is essential
Housing need	Comfortable, clean, and well-ventilated housing supports laying
Light importance	Lighting management strongly influences egg production
Health care	Vaccination, sanitation, and observation are key flock practices
Layer management	Nesting, culling, and body-condition monitoring are important
Mineral need	Calcium is especially critical for shell quality
Economic focus	Layer enterprise depends on continuous egg output and low mortality
Exam trap	Layer management differs from broiler management because egg production, not rapid body growth, is the target