INTRODUCTION

AtKenchic,wearecommittedtoprovidingtechnicalassistancetoourfarmers.Such
assistancewillinclude,butisnotlimitedto,appropriateadviceonhousing,husbandryand
healthmanagement.Inthislight,wewouldliketoissuethismanualaspartofourtechnical
servicestoourcustomers.

Theinformationpresentedinthismanualisbasedonactualflockresultsobtainedunder
goodenvironmentalandmanagementconditionsinKenya.However,thisinformationdoesnot
constituteaguaranteeorwarrantyofperformanceinanywaybutshouldberegardedas
performanceobjectives.

Allprogramsoutlinedinthismanualaresuggestionsandshouldbemodifiedaccordingto
theindividualfarmer'ssolution.Ourtechnicalteamisavailabletoassistyouindeterminingthe
appropriatemanagementprogramforyouroperation.Theteamcanbecontactedonthe
followingcontacts:

HeadOffice,ExsanHouse,EnterpriseRoad
P.O.Box20052Nairobi
Phone:254(020)558102/555009/350809/350810
Fax:254(020)350080,651638,651631
Emailkenchic@swiftkenya.com

ALSOAT:

TechnicalandLaboratoryServicesDepartment,ExsanHouse,EnterpriseroadNairobi
Phone254(020)444812
MombasaDepotP.O.Box97067,Phone254(041)2490535
NakuruDepotP.O.Box7201,Phone254(051)2211978
KisumuOfficeP.O.Box4402,Phone254(057)2024255

KenchicLtdMarch2012

HOUSING

Theidealhouseshouldprovidethebirdswithacomfortableenvironmentandprotectthem
fromtheextremitiesoftheprevailingclimate(rain,wind,sunshineetc).Thehouseshould
provideadequatespacefortheflocktobekeptinthehouse.Theidealstockingdensityistwo
squarefootperbird(2ft/bird).

Inthetropics,theidealhouseisopensidedtoallownaturalventilationandhaveaneast
westorientationtominimizetheamountofsunlightenteringthehousedirectly.Itisimportant
thatthehouseberectangularinshapeandhaswallsnothigherthanthreefeetonthelonger
side.Thewallcanbemadefromoffcuts,ironsheets,silverboardsorbricks.Therestoftheside
tothewallshouldhaveawiremesh.Theroofofthehouseshouldhaveareflectingsurfaceand
bepitchedwithoverlaps(seediagram).Thesefactorsaidinensuringthatthehouseis
comfortableandwellventilated.

Cementfloorsarethebestfinishastheyareeasiertoclean.Thereshouldbeafootbathat
theentrancetothehouseforthoseenteringthehousetodisinfecttheirfootware.

Toreducetheriskofrodentsgainingentranceintotheflockhouse,clearallthevegetation
inanarea34metersaroundtheflockhouse.Thefeedstoreshouldalsobeseparatefromthe
house.

HYGIENEANDSANITATION

Incommerciallayersfarmsanallinalloutsystemisthebestmanagementpracticeasit
preventsthebuildupofdiseasecausingorganismsanddiseaseoutbreaks.Incaseswhere
farmerswanttokeepflocksofdifferentages,theneachflockMUSTbehousedinitsownhouse,
andhaveadistanceof10mbetweentheunits.

Theflockhouseshouldbeconstructedinisolatedareastodecreasetheriskof
contamination.Thehouseshouldbefencedtoexcludestrayanimalsandvisitors.Thedoor
shouldalwaysbelocked.
LAYERSHOUSEWITHDIMENSIONSFOR500LAYERS

Wire Mesh
with Curtains

Ridge with
Curtain

s
heet
ron S

12
8

5 0 ft
20 ft

two
Wall s High
c
lo
b k

Thewiremeshonthesidesofthehouseshouldbeofasmallgaugemesh,toprevent
entryofwildbirds,cats,dogsandrodents.

Onlyessentialstaffshouldentertheflockhouse.Whenvisitorsareallowedaccesstothe
flockhouse,arecordshowingname,purposeofvisitandpreviousfarmvisitedshouldbe
maintained.

Poultryworkersshouldalwayswearclean,disinfectedfootwareandclothing.Whenvisiting
birdsofdifferentages,startwiththeyoungestflockandalwaysvisitsickflockslast,irrespective
oftheirage.

Takemeasurestocontrolallrodents,wildbirdsandinsectsastheyareknownvectorsof
poultrydiseases.Suchmeasurescanbemechanical,biologicalorchemical.

Donotpermittheintroductionofmaterialsand/orequipmentintothepoultryhouse
withoutthoroughcleaninganddisinfectionastheseitemscanbecarriersofdiseasecausing
organisms.

PREPARINGTHEHOUSE

Assoonasthespentflockhasbeendepopulated,thelayerhouseandequipmentmustbe
thoroughlycleanedanddisinfected.

Itisimportanttoallowthehousetoremainemptyforatleast2weeks(afterthemanure
hasbeenremoved)beforethenextflockisplaced.Thisallowstimetoreducethebuildupof
diseasecausingorganismsandtopreparethehouseeffectivelyforthenextflock.

Afterthebirdshavebeenremovedfromthehouse,removealltheequipmentfromthe
houseanddampentheceiling,wallsandlitterwithwater.Thishelpstominimizedustduring
litterremoval.

Removealloldlitteranddisposeofitatleast1.5kmfromthefarm.Donotstoreiton,or
spreaditnearthefarmasitcanrecontaminatethecleanhousewhenthewindmightblowit
backintothehouseorviaworkersbootsiftheywalkoveritontheirwaytothehouse.


Allunusedfeedinthefeedersshouldbedisposedofandnotstoredforthenextflockto
minimizechancesofdiseasetransmission.Onlyfeedinbagsstoredinastoreseparatedfrom
thehousecanbekeptforthenextflock.

Washthehousewithwaterandsoapstartingwiththerooffollowedbythewallsandfinally
thefloor.Allowthehousetodrybeforesprayingthewholehousewithdisinfectantsolution
againstartingfromtheroof.Simultaneously,washanddisinfectalltheequipmentfromthe
house.Repairandmaintenancetothehouseand/orequipmentshouldbedoneduringthis
time.

Oncethehouseisdry,placefourinchesoflittermaterialandputbackallthecleanand
disinfectedequipmentintothehouse.Commontypesoflitterarewoodshavings,straw,rice
husksandcoffeehusk.Goodlittershouldinsulatethefloorandabsorbmoisturefromthe
chickendroppings.

Preparethebrooderareaatleast24housebeforethechicksarrive.
Dependingontheclimaticconditions,thebroodersMUSTbeturnedonatlease6hours
priortothearrivalofthechicks.Thisensuresthatthehouseenvironment,waterandfeedareat
therighttemperaturewhenthechicksarrive.

CHICKARRIVALANDBROODING

Oncollectingthechicks,ensurethatyouhavethecorrectnumberandthatthechicksare
uniform,alert,active,andfreeofanyobviousdeformities,unhealednavelsorsignsofinfection.

Chicksshouldbetransportedinawellventilatedbutnotwindyvehiclewithoutdirect
exposuretosunlightorrain.Thechickboxesshouldbeloadedsothattheaircirculationisnot
impedednorarethelowerboxessquashed.Thetransportshouldgostraightfromthesource
(hatchery/salesoffice)tothefarmwithoutanyunnecessarystops.

Onarrivalatthefarmcarefullyremovethechickboxesfromthetransportvehicleintothe
flockhouse.Carefullyremovethechicksfromtheboxesintothebrooderring.

Ideally,chicksshouldbeplacedunderthebrooderhovers6to12hoursafterhatching.The
longerthetimebetweenthehatchandplacement,themorethechicksbecomeadversely
affected.

Oncethechicksareinthebrooder,theyshouldbeprovidedwithwholesomedrinkingand
feed.ItisadvisabletoaddGlucose(orSugar),Vitaminsandliquidparaffin(notkerosene)tothis
water.Thisprovidesthebirdswithareadysourceofenergyandhelpsinovercomingstress
causedbythetravelingwhiletheliquidparaffinassistsinthepassageoffeces.

Duringthefirst48hoursspreadfeedonapaperplacedonthelitterorplacedintraysor
feederlidsthatareevenlydistributedinthebrooderarea.Thismakesthefeedmoreaccessible
tothechicksforabetterstart.
Duringbrooding,itisimportanttomaintainthepropertemperatureinthebrooder.Below
aretheguidelinesofthetemperaturestobemaintained:


AGE
(WEEKS)
1
2
3
4

TEMPERATURE (C)
AT CHICK LEVEL
33 - 35
30 - 32
27 - 29
24 - 26

TEMPERATURE (C)
IN THE HOUSE
30 - 32
27 - 29
24 -26
21 - 23

Temperaturesshouldbemonitoredbyinstallingmaximumminimumthermometersinthe
brooderareaattheheightofthechicks.Observingthechicks'behaviorisalsoagoodguideof
theambienttemperature(seediagram).

C hick Behavior U nder D ifferent Brooding C onditions

(Tem peratures)

To o D ra fty
and/ or
To o C o ld

To o C o ld

To o H o t

C o rre ct

Excessivechicknoiseduringbroodingisanindicationthatthechicksareuncomfortable.
Thisiscommonlyduetoimpropertemperaturesandsymptomsinclude:

Chilledchicks
Chickshuddletogetherespeciallyunderthebrooder.
Wateryintestinalandcecalcontentsleadingtowatery/wet,
droppingleadingtowetpastedvents.
OverheatedChicks
Chickslieprostratewiththeirheadsandnecksstretchedout
onthefloor.
Chickspant.
Increasedwaterconsumptionbythechicks,leadingtodistentionofthecropand
intestinesbytheextrawater.
Chicksmoveawayfromtheheatsourceandseekcoolerpartsofthehouse.Sometimes
crowedaroundthedrinkers.

Itisessentialtomaintainthepropertemperatureduringbroodingaschickswhichare
chilledinthefirstdaysoflifewillbestressed,haveincreasedmortality,dehydration,retarded
growth,pooruniformityandahigherincidenceofascites.Whileoverheatedchickswillbe
dehydrated,resultinginhighmortality,runting/stuntingsyndromeandpoorflockuniformity.

Thebroodingareashouldbeenlargedprogressivelytoavoidovercrowding.Thebirdsshould
beallowedtooccupythewholehousebythetimetheyarethree(3)weeksofage.

Duringbroodingitisessentialtomaintainproperventilationregardlessofthecostof
maintainingthebroodertemperatures.Ventilationisimportantinremovingtheammoniafrom
thehouseandensuringthatthelitterisdrytherebyreducingdiseasechallenge.Layersalso
requirefreshairtogrowandproduceeggs.

LIGHTINGPROGRAMS

Anappropriatelightingprogramisimportantbutnotcritical.Intheabsenceofelectricity
alternativessuchaskerosenelampscanbeutilized.

Layersaresensitivetochangeintheperiodofillumination,andtheseinfluencetheageof
sexualmaturityandfeedconsumption.

Duringrearingtheseprogramsencouragegrowthandcontrolthebird'ssexualmaturity
whileinproductiontheobjectivesistoencouragefeedintakehenceincreasedlay.

Longdaylengthsthroughouttherearingallowthebirdstoincreasetheirfeedintakeand
hencegrowth.Henceitisadvisabletouseslowlydecreasinglightprogramforthefirst7weeks
beforeleavingthebirdsonnaturaldaylength.Thelongdaylengthallowthebirdstoeatduring
thecoolerpartsoftheday.

Intheabsenceofphotostimulation,theageatthestartofproductionisdeterminedby
bodyweights.Weightvariesdependingonclimaticconditionsandthedaylengthexperienced
duringrearing.Oncephotostimulationhasstarted,ageatpointoflayisnolongerinfluencedby
thepullet'sweight.Itisthereforeimportantnottostartlightstimulationuntilthepulletshave
achievedthetargetweights.

Itisimportanttoachievethetargetweightsasalowbodyweightatsexualmaturitynot
onlyreducesthemeaneggweight,butcanalsolowertheoverallperformance(eggperhen
housed,eggshellqualityandlivability)oftheflock.

Irrespectiveoftheproductionsystemandthelocationofthefarm,threerulesthatMUSTbe
observedare:
NEVERincreasethedaylengthduringthegrowingstage(814.weeks)
NEVERincreasethedaylengthwhentheflock'saveragebodyweightisbelow
1250grams
NEVERdecreasedaylengthafterthestartoflay.

Belowisasuggestedlightingprogramfornaturallylithousedinthetropics:

AGE
(WEEKS)
1-2
3

LIGHTING PROGRAM
23 hours for 2-3 days then 22 hours
22 hours

20 hours

18 hours

16 hours

14 hours

8-16

Natural day length (12 hours)

17

14 hours (increase by 2 hours)

18

14.5 hours (increase by half hour weekly to 17 hours week 23

WATER

Distributedrinkersevenlythroughoutthewholehouse,alternatingthemwiththefeeders
sothattheyareeasilyaccessibletoallbirds.Nobirdshouldwalkmorethan1.5mtogetto
eitherfeedordrink.

Provideonechickfountfor50chicksduringthefirstweekandgraduallyreplacethemwith
theregulardrinkersallowingspaceasindicatedbelow:

TYPE OF DRINKER

RECOMMENDED WATER SPACE

TROUGH
BELL SHAPPED (35cms diameter)

2.0 cm per bird

10-13 per 1000 birds but not less than 4

NIPPLES

8-10 birds per nipple

Washanddisinfectchickdrinkersdaily.Ensurethedrinkersarefilledwithfreshwaterafter
washing.EnsurethatbirdshaveaccesstowholesomedrinkingwateratalltimesandNEVER
allowthedrinkerstogodry.Duringvaccinationsdonotdisinfectthedrinkersafterwashing,if
thedrinkerswillbeusedforvaccination.

Thetablebelowshowstheapproximatedailywaterconsumptionoflayersatdifferentages.

AGE
(WEEKS)

CONSUMPTION
(m/s / bird)

AGE
(WEEKS)

CONSUMPTION
(m/s / bird)

20-30

11

160-165

40-50

12

165-170

50-60

13

170-175

60-70

14

175-180

70-80

15

180-190

80-100

16

190-195

100-120

17

195-200

120-130

18

205-220

130-140

19

210-220

10

150-160

20

220-230

Theactualconsumptiondependsontheambienttemperatureandhumidity.Above20%,
consumptionincreasetoenablethebirdtomaintainbodytemperaturebyrespiratory
evaporation.

Inhotperiodsitisessentialtoprovidetheflockwithcoolwaterasthiswillimprove
productivity.Itisthereforeextremelyimportanttoprotectthewatertanksfromdirectsunlight
orensuretheyhaveareflectivesurface.

Alwaysadjustthedrinkersandfeederslevelsasthebirdsgrowtoensurethatthe
equipmentisalwaysslightlyabovethelevelofthebirds'back.Thisminimizesspillage.

Useareliablewatersanitizer(likechlorine)tocontroldiseaseproducingorganismsinthe
water.

FEEDING

Feedisthegreatestexpenseincommerciallayerestablishments,thereforeitisimportantto
purchasefeedfromareputablemillerwhocanassureconsistencyinthequalityand
performanceofthefeed.

Variationsinthenutrientcompositionandqualityoffeedingredientsresultinvariationsin
feedcompositionandtexture.Theseareduetovariationsinrawfeedingredientsfromseason
toseasonandevenshipmenttoshipment.

Itisimportanttoavoidmixingfeedsfromseveralmillers,addingotherproteinsources(fish
meal,etc)andmineralssalts(DCP)asthischangesthebalanceinthefeedtherebyaffecting
performance.Excessofsomeoftheseproductsalsonegativelyaffectsthefinalproductse.g.
fishytaintineggsduetomorethan5%fishmealinfeed.


Tostartaflock,feederlidsorplasticfeedertrays(oneper50chicks)shouldbeused.Feed
shouldalsobespreadonpaperplacedoverthelitter,covering40%ofthefloor.

Graduallyremovethefeederlidsortrays,replacingthemwiththeadultfeeders.Bythetime
thebirdsaretwoweeks(14)daysold,allthelidsandtraysshouldhavebeenremoved.

Raisethefeedersgraduallyasthebirdsgrow.Alwaysensurethatthetoplipofthefeederis
atthesamelevelwiththebirds'backs.

Provideadequatefeederspaceasrecommendedbelowforpropergrowthofthebirds.

TYPE OF FEEDER

RECOMMENDED FEEDER SPACE

TROUGH
PANS (33cm diameter)

5.0 cm per bird (minimum)

30 - 50 birds per pan

TUBES (42 cm diameter)

30 - 50 birds per tube

ChickandDuckMashshouldbefedinthefirsteightweeksoflifefollowedbyGrowersMash
uptotwo(2)weeksbeforetheexpectedpointoflay.TheflockisthenputonLayersMashuntil
theendofproduction.Duringthechangesoftherations,mixthetworationssothatthechange
isgradual.Anabruptchangeisstressfultothebirdandcanaffectperformance.Vitaminscanbe
providedduringthistimetoreducethestress.Theaveragefeedconsumptionexpectedwiththe
correspondingweightsofthebirdsareindicatedbelow.

AGE
(WEEKS)
1
2
3
4
5

TYPE OF
FEED
CHICK
AND
DUCK
MASH

FEED CONSUMPTION
(gms / bird / day)
12
18
25
31
36

AVERAGE LIVE WEIGHT

(grams)
40-60
95-120
150-200
220-300
380-400

41
45

470-500
560-600

49
52
60

650-690
740-780
830-870

70
75
80
85
92
100

920-960
1010-1050
1100-1140
1185-1230
1270-1320
1355-1410

107
114

1440-1500
1530-1600

120
120

1580-1680
1645-1750

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Gradual
Change to

GROWERS
MASH

Gradual
change to
LAYERS
MASH

EQUIPMENT OUT LAY FOR A LAYER HOUSE HOUSING 500 LAYERS

50 ft
Nest box
Nest box

20 ft

Nest box

Nest box

Nest box

6 nest boxes each with 20 slots on 2 levels @ 1 Slot for 4 birds

F= Fe eders 14 fe eders @ 30 birds / fee der)
D= Drinkers (7 drinkers @ 13 drin kers / 1000 bird s)

Nest box
Footpath

VENTILATION

Ventilationcanbedescribedasthecirculationoffreshairthroughtheflockhouse.Thisis
achievedbytheairpassingfromonesideofthehouseandexhaustingthroughtheopposite
side.

Ventilationoflayerhousesservesseveralfunctionsincluding

*
Removingexcessheatandmoisture
Providingoxygenwhileremovingharmfulgases
*
*Reducingdusthenceimprovingtheairquality

Inthetropics,wherehousesareopensided,ventilationismanagedbyopeningthecurtains
whenitgetswarm.Thisletsairfromoutsideintothehouse.Whenitgetscold,curtainsare
closedtorestricttheflowofair.

Curtainsarenormallymadefromused,cleananddisinfectedfeedsacksstitchedtogether,
orcanvasmaterial.Thecurtainsshouldbefastenedtothesidewallatthebottomandopened
fromthetop.Thiswillminimizewindordraftsblowingdirectlyonthebirds.

Toensureeffectiveventilation,everyeffortshouldbemadetoopenthecurtainsonboth
sidesofthebuildingtothesamelevelunlesswindisconsistentlyfromonesideoftheflock
housethenthecurtainonthissideshouldbeopenedlessthantheotherside.

Houseshouldbeconstructedtotakeadvantageoftheprevailingwindstoimprove
efficientlyofnaturalventilation.Narrowhouses(10meter[33feet]orless)withhighpitched
roofsprovidemorenaturalairmovement.Aneastwestorientationofthehouseonitslongaxis
reducesthesolarheatlevelinthehouse.

DISEASECONTROLANDPREVENTION

Infectiousdiseasesarethegreatestrisktoacommerciallayeroperationandattemptsmust
bemadetocontrolandpreventdisease.Inmostinstances,thecostoftreatingclinical
outbreaksofdiseaseisenormous.

Subclinical,mildorchronicdiseasealsoleadstolossesduetopoorperformanceofthe
affectedflocks.

Todetectdiseaseintheirearlystages,itisimportantfortheflockattendantstobeawareof
thedailystatusofthebirds.Theyshouldjudgethisbythebehaviorofthebirds,droppings,feed
intake,mortalityrates,etc.

Anysignsofillhealthshouldbereportedimmediatelytoaveterinarianwhocanmakethe
correctdiagnosisandprescribetheappropriatetreatment.Sincemostpoultrydiseasehavevery
similarmanifestationsdiagnosisbythefarmersisstronglydiscouraged.


Avaccinationprogramtomeetbothareaandindividualfarmneedsisessentialforflock
healthmanagement.Vaccinationprogramsneedtobereviewedperiodicallyandanychanges
approvedbyanexperiencedveterinarian.

Itisimportanttofollowthemanufacturer'sdirectionsonstorageandadministrationof
vaccines.Generallyvaccinesmustbestoredbetween2and8degreescentigrade,and
transportedinacoolboxandshouldnotbeexposedtodirectsunlight.

Whenvaccinatingthroughthedrinkingwater,thewatersupplysystemshouldbe
completelyfreeofchlorine,medicationand/orotherchemicalagentsfor48hourspriortoand
for24hoursafterthevaccination.Dependingontheambienttemperature,watershouldbe
withheldfor23hourspriortothevaccination.Thevaccineshouldbemixedwithwaterwhich
thebirdswillconsumewithintwohoursofbeingmixed.

Vaccinationsshouldbedoneduringthecoolerpartofthedayeitherearlymorningorlate
evening.Beforevaccinatingalwaysensurethat,therearesufficientvaccinedosestocoverthe
flockandthebirdsarehealthy.Alsoensurethatthevaccineshavenotexpired.

IneasternAfrica,layersshouldbevaccinatedagainstMareksDisease,InfectiousBronchitis
(IB),NewcastleDisease(NCD),InfectiousBursalDisease(IBD/GumboroDisease),Fowlpox,Fowl
TyphoidandFowlCholera.Belowisasuggestedvaccinationprogramforlayerspurchasedfrom
Kenchic:

AGE

VACCINATION

METHOD

DAY 1 (Done
By Hatchery)
DAY 10-14
DAY 14-18
DAY 24-28
DAY 28-32
WEEK 6-8

MAREKS
IB + NCD
GUMBORO
IB + NCD
GUMBORO
IB + NCD
NCD killed / IB + NCD - Live

INTRA MUSCULAR
SPRAY
DRINKING WATER
EYE DROP
DRINKING WATER
EYE DROP
IM / SPRAY

FOWL TYPHOID
FOWL POX
FOWL CHOLERA
FOWL TYPHOID

INTRA MUSCULAR
WING STAB
SUB CUTANEOUS
INTRA MUSCULAR

WEEK 8-10
WEEK 12-14
WEEK 16-18

NCD + IB + IBD (K) / IB + NCD (L)

FOWL CHOLERA

IM / SPRAY
SUB CUTANEOUS

DuetothehighmaternalantibodiesinthechicksobtainedfromKenchicitisimportantthat
thefirstGumborovaccinationisnotdonebefore10daysofageasthematernalantibodies
neutralizethevaccine,leavingthechicksunprotected.

Itisimportanttopurchaseyourchicksfromahatcherywherethevaccinationhistoryofthe
parentsisavailableasthisdeterminesthelevelofprotectionthechickshaveacquiredfrom
theirparentsandthevaccinationprogramtofollow.
Suchhatcherieswouldalsoensurethattheappropriatedayoldvaccinationsaredone
effectively.
Itisalsoimportantthatvaccinesarepurchasedfromreputablevaccinemanufacturesor
theirappointedoutlets(pharmacies,Agrovetshops,etc)
Suchoutletsarecapableofensuringthatthevaccinecoldchainismaintainedandnormally
offerprofessionaladviceonvariousaspectsofvaccinations.

BEAKTRIMMING

BeakTrimmingisdonefortwomainreasons:Topreventfeatherpecking,cannibalismand
toreducefeedwastage.Theoperationisdelicateandshouldbeperformedbyspeciallytrained
personnelonly.Poorbeaktrimmingoftenleadstounevennessofthebeaksandinsomebirds
causedifficultiesinfeedinganddrinkingthuslowbodyweight.

Incommerciallayingflocksbeaktrimmingshouldbedonetwice.Alighttrimmingat10days
andthesecondoperationbetween8and10weeksofage.Thisisbecausetrimmingonlyat
around10dayswillnotpreventpeckingentirelywhileifdonetooseverelyatthatagewilllead
toareductioningrowthrateanduniformity.

BeforeBeakTrimming
Ensurethatthebirdsarehealthyandhavenotbeenvaccinated.
recently
Addvitamins(especiallyvitaminK)tothedrinkingwaterto prevent
hemorrhages.
Ensurethatthetemperatureofthetrimmingbladeishighenough.To
preventhemorrhagesbutnotsohighastoburnthebirds.

Beaktrimmingatabout10days
Holdthechickinonehandwiththethumbbehindthehead
Holdtheheadfirmlyinpositionrestingonthethumb
Cauterizeorcutthebeaktipandthelateraledgesatleast2mmfromthenostrils(see
diagram).

Beaktrimmingat8to10weeks

Itisnecessarytocutthebeakperpendicularlyatarightangletoitslongaxis,sothatafter
cauterization,abouthalfofthebeakbetweenthetipandthenostrilsisleft.

Tobeaktrimcorrectlyat10weeks,insertafingerbetweenthe2mandiblesandthenbeak
trimandcauterizeeachmandible.Forday10debeckig,putbothmandiblesthroughthemiddle
holeofthemachine.Thebladeshouldbeattherighttemperature.Cauterizewithcare,

particularlyatthesideofthebeaktoensurethatthesidesareroundedofftoavoidlateralre
growths.

Itisadvisabletocheckthestateofthebeaktrimmingjustbeforepointoflayand,if
necessarydoaretrimoftheovergrownbeaks.

Properly Trimmed Beaks

Afterbeaktrimming
Makeiteasierforthebirdstodrinkandeatbyincreasingthelevelofwaterinthedrinkers
andprovidinganadequatedepthoffeedinthefeeders.

DEWORMING

Layersaresusceptibletoinfestationwithavarietyofspeciesofworms,especiallyifraised
ondeeplittersystem.Theseparasitesreducefeedconversionefficiencycausingareductionin
weightgainduringthegrowingperiodandadropineggproductionintheproductionperiod.

ThemostcommondrugsfordeworminglayersflocksarePiperazineorLevamisolebased
andshouldbeusedaccordingtomanufacturer'sinstructions.Thesedrugscauseproduction
dropsifusedduringproductionandshouldonlybeusedonaveterinarian'sadvice.

Layerflocksareroutinelydewormedataround8weeksofageandagainataround
1820weeksofage,justbeforeproductioncommences.Theflocksarenotdewormed
againuntilafterpeakproduction,unlessthereisaseriousworminfestation.Thisisbecausede
wormingduringthistimewouldleadtotheflockNOTattainingpeakproduction.

Subsequentlytheflockisdewormedevery23monthsorwhenwormsaredetectedor
identified.

EXTERNALPARASITES:

Layerflocksareattimesinfectedwithredmitesandfleaswhichsuckbloodandaffectthe
performance.Thebirdsshouldbedustedwithanapprovedpoultryinsecticideandalsothenest
boxesandperches.Afterdepletingtheflockuseaninsecticideinthefinaldisinfection.

RECORDKEEPING

Keepcompleteandaccuraterecordsofdailyfeedintake,mortality,cullsandegg
production.Thesewillhelpyoudeterminethelevelofprofitorlossthesystemismaking.
Samplesofrecordcardsareattachedattheendofthemanual.

Itisalsoimportanttoweightheflockeveryweekduringitsgrowingperiod.Itisimportant
thattheweighingbedoneonthesamedayandtimeeachweek.Thisgivesthefarmeranideaof
thegrowthrateoftheflockandanindicationofwhenthefirsteggisexpected.

Vaccinationandmedicationrecordsarealsoimportant.Thisshouldincludetheageofflock
whenvaccinated/medicated,vaccine/drugtypeused,methodofadministration,batch
numbers,expirydatesandwhohasgiventhemedication.Theseareimportantinadisease
situationasitguidestheveterinariantotheprobablesourceoftheproblemandthebest
managementprotocol.

GENERALMANAGEMENTTIPS

Thefollowingfactorsmaypredisposelayerstodiseaseorpoorproductivity
Overcrowdingoroverstocking
Highenvironmentaltemperatures
Poorventilationandsanitation
Inadequatedrinkersand/orfeeders
Poorfeedqualityorinadequatefeed
Changesinfeedtexture
Diseaseoutbreaksinthesurroundingareas
Improperlightingsystem/program
Somemedicationsorvaccinationsduringproduction
Stressduetosuddennoise
Stressduetopoorhandlingofbirds
Changesinclimaticconditions

CONCLUSION

Thecompanyhopesthatthismanualhasmetitsmainpurposeforprovidingourcustomer
withthebasicmanagementideasandpracticesthatwillhelpinmaximizingtheperformanceof
theflockshencemaximizingthefarmers'returns.

However,thefarmersareadvisedtoseekassistancefromthecompanyonanongoingbasis
inordertoenhancethebenefitsfromthispartnership.

DATE PLACED ................................... NUMBER PLACED ................................

AGE
(WEEKS)

WEEK
ENDING

WEEKLY
FEED
AVERAGE
WEIGHT
(gms)
MORTALITY (gms/ bird/ day)

COMMENTS

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

DATE

AGE

VACCINE

BATCH

EXPIRY

COMMENTS

WEEK OF
PRODUCTION

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

AGE
(WEEKS)

WEEK
ENDING

TOTAL
EGGS

% HEN DAY
PRODUCTION

COMMENTS