Source: http://www.livestocking.com/7-causes-decline-egg-production
It is obvious that poultry farming have become so popular in different parts of the world. It is a promising agribusiness enterprise but poultry farmers must equip themselves with the right poultry farming information to optimize their yields. I want you to know that poultry farming is a bit tricky. Poultry farmers are faced with many challenges but disease outbreaks are the most dreaded problem.
There are times when everything is going right but you may observe that your birds’ daily egg production is declining. This is a very serious issue that shouldn’t be taken with levity because it affects profits.
Normally, a healthy hen starts laying eggs at 18-22 weeks of age and such hen should peak her egg production at about 6-8 weeks later. If there is a drastic change in this expected egg production peak, then something is responsible. The various factors that cause a decline or reduction in egg production and the possible fixes or solutions will be discussed in this article.
Causes of Egg Production in Poultry Production
1. Stress and Change
These two are one of the primary reasons for a drop in egg production. Most laying chickens are usually affected by sudden changes in their usual pattern such as a change of pen or nesting box’s position usually throws layers off-balance, hence reducing their egg production. Therefore, poultry farmers should avoid handling or moving their birds as soon as they start laying eggs.
2. Removal of Roosters or Introduction of New Birds into the Flock
If you introduce a totally new chicken into your flock or remove the roosters from a particular flock, you’re actually giving the layers an impression thst their keeper is up to something (a sort of coup d’é·tat). So you should avoid this wherever possible.
3. Overcrowding, Change in Weather, Feed composition and Time of Feeding
When you overstock, when the weather changes or when there is a change in feed composition or the time you normally feed laying chickens, then expect a reduction in egg production. Poultry farmers should look out for drastic changes in temperature like too hot or cold condition in pens or nesting boxes. In this case, the litter lining of the litter should be changed everyday. Likewise, avoid any sudden change in the time you feed your laying birds and avoid changing their feed composition unnecessarily.
4. Noise and Decreased Lighting
Birds are always frightened by noises or a sight of predators. It is obvious that hens don’t want any other form of noise except the loud characteristic cooing noise made when they are about to lay. Additionally, decreased time of lighting adversely affect the perceived day length by hens. Scientifically, egg production is affected by the length of exposure to daylight. This means that increased lighting stimulates egg production. Laying hens should enjoy adequate lighting for at least 14-16 hours.
Also Read: How to improve the egg-laying performance of laying chickens
5. Poor or Unbalanced Diet
Improper diet detrimentally affects egg production. Hens need energy-, protein- and calcium-rich diets. Don’t allow these three nutrients to be lacking in the feed of your laying birds. Also, they should be provided with a nutritionally balanced feed. You may also add egg-production boosters to the drinking water. These boosters contain necessary minerals and amino-acids required during the laying period.
6. Broodiness
Broodiness often triggers a decrease in egg production. Exhibiting broodiness is a normal in laying hens and it is an innate condition. However, this behavior can be discouraged by increasing artificial lighting in the laying pen.
7. Diseases and Parasitism
When laying hens are disturbed by parasites such as worms or diseases such as Newcastle Diseases, their egg production are often affected. If you noticed a drop in egg production, try to see if the birds are healthy or have been infected with diseases, and take the necessary step after. Deworm your birds regularly and dust them to get rid of ectoparasites such as lice and fleas.
Also Read: Signs of Good Health and Illness in Farm Animals
As the egg production performance of your flock improves, your profits will also improve. This is the reason why you must take action whenever you notice a decline in your flock’s egg production.
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When getting into livestock farming there are a great number of things to consider before you leap into production. There are various types of livestock you can keep, which are chickens, rabbits, cows, ducks, lamb, goats, pigs or horses, and are all cared for in a different way.
To be successful in animal farming you need to know your options, goals and resources. Being aware of what you want to accomplish will help you in shaping up your farm so that it is successful.
– Your Goals
And so why do you want to get into animal farming? It’s very essential that you identify and evaluate what your goals are.
Do you want to raise livestock because you want to provide your family with healthy food? You may just want to raise livestock to manage forage? Or else you want to produce your own livestock products and sell them for extra income? Either way placing goals is incredibly important before you pursue your project.
After you have made your decision on what type of animals you want to raise, consider the land in which you are going to raise the livestock. Consider the size of your land, the laws regarding keeping livestock and property zoning. If your land is small you may consider raising birds but if you have large land you can raise, cows, lamb and other large livestock.
Also determine the sort of operation you want. If you want to raise cattle determine if you need to raise cattle for meat or cattle for milk or if you need to raise laying chickens and meat birds. For milk creation you can choose between goat milk, sheep milk or cow milk. You can just raise all of them.
The type of breed is also important so make certain you get knowledge of the different types of livestock. For example if you need to raise beef production cows that graze on pasture the cows that strives well on pasture is the Belted Galloway. This goes for the other animals, certain breeds will produce better than other breeds.
– Your Resources
Ask yourself if you have enough resources to start out your project? Are your finances okay to invest in livestock farming? Do you have the equipment and facilities? Rearing livestock requires that you have enough resources and are prepared to make investments of some money.
