Winter management of laying hens
Winter temperatures are low, sunshine hours are short, laying hens have significantly reduced egg production, and some even stop production. So, what should we pay attention to in feeding and management?
1. Insulation Ventilation The temperature in the winter house must be kept above 5°C. For this reason, the chickens should be put early and late; put 5-6 cm thick rice husks or sawdust on the ground; let the chickens drink warm water when conditions permit; and clear the snow on the playground after snowing. Ventilation holes are required at the top of the house, and ventilation and ventilation are frequently performed to prevent harmful gases from harming the flock.
2. Increased light Increased light in winter can promote the secretion of hormones in the anterior pituitary of laying hens, thereby increasing egg production. Therefore, laying hens need 14 to 16 hours of light each day. The methods of supplementing light include light in the morning, light in the evening, and light in the morning and evening. In general, a 20 to 24 square meter chicken house can be equipped with a 10 to 60 watt incandescent lamp. The lighting system must be stable and cannot be arbitrarily changed.
3. Strengthen Feeding The winter diet should increase the metabolic energy content and appropriately reduce the protein to energy ratio. To do this, feed more corn. Because there are few green and green vegetables in winter, carrots and multivitamin additives should be supplemented to prevent vitamin deficiency and affect egg production. In addition, for hens of different ages, some irritating substances may be properly added to the feed to increase the egg production rate. According to reports, laying hens aged 150-200 days add 55-60 grams of succinic acid for every 10 kilograms of bran feed; for layer chickens over 340 days of age, add 3.5-4 calories for every 10 kilograms of bran feed. Vitamin B2 and 25-30 grams of vitamin B12 can increase chicken egg production by about 11%.
4. Strengthen the exercise by spreading some grain on the mat grass or suspending the vegetables in the house. The height of the hanging dish is 3~4 cm higher than the level reached by the hen's chin, not too high to promote the flock. activity.
In addition, the feces in the house should be frequently cleaned and kept dry; every morning, the children should be disinfected with 2%.