Techniques To Increase Egg Production By Local poultry

    Eggs produced by local poultry are often seen as money
lying loose that needs to be collected to prevent losses.
However keeping local chicken should be to make profit
hence it is necessary to increase the egg produced as

much as possible. The bulk of local poultry lay eggs
only for a short period in the year and this need not be
the case. With a little more attention local birds can be
made to yield eggs throughout the year.
The measures discussed here are also applicable to
exotic layers on extensive systems of production.
Determine the egg laying percentage
Egg laying percentage is always the best measure of
egg-producing capacity and has the advantage in
calculating the value of the hens. Relying only on the
actual number of eggs produced may not be very
valuable as it does not reflect the efficiency of the birds
in producing the eggs.
Calculate the egg laying percentage by dividing the
number of eggs laid by the number of layers and
multiplying by 100. Obtained this figure on a daily basis
and compute the average for the week or month. This
will help in assessing the performance and setting
targets for improvement. Averages below 70% means
the feeds are going to waste. Always strive to achieve
percentages above 80%.
Select Layers
Laying hens are nearly always noisy. They work and
hunt for food all day, and are the first off the roost and
the last to go to roost. They are nervous and very active,
keeping themselves up to the greatest possible pitch.
An indication that the hen is laying is when the pelvic
bones are soft and pliable, and spread sufficiently to
allow three fingers to be placed between them.
Experience has shown the hen is not laying at the time
of examination if the pelvic bones are hard, bony and
close together.
Select hens that are healthy; comb, wattles and face
red; eyes bright and lustrous; neck not short, but
medium to long; breast broad and long, sloping upward;
back, long and broad; abdomen, wide and deeper than
breast; shanks, well spread and rather long; well-spread
tail
Only mature pullets should be selected for laying. All
birds that are stunted, undersized, lazy, weak or
otherwise undesirable should be weeded out and sold,
especially those that are inferior to other stock hatched
at the same time.
Only hens that have proved their worth in the previous
year should be kept over for a second or third year.
They usually make good breeders and the breeding flock
should be selected from them rather than from pullets.
Too often the reverse practice is followed whereby hens
that are in best condition are sold and inferior ones
used for egg production. This is suicidal to profit and
should be reversed.
Improve Laying Ability
Hens should be brought into laying as early as possible.
Pullets that delay in coming to lay are naturally poor
layers and soon burn out. Such fowls should not be
used for breeding and the sooner they are taken out of
the flock the better. In the long run such control helps in
improving the flock and it is better to have some system
of selection than to have none at all.
Put everything in readiness for egg production. Pullets
and hens should be placed in their separate quarters
early enough and special care taken to prevent
overcrowding. This way the flocks get accustomed to
their quarters and there is less danger of upsetting them
when they begin to lay.
Manage Laying Stock
It is just as important to feed well for eggs as it is to
breed well. Fowls do best when given plenty of space to
forage in. At all times there should be abundant clean
water available to the hens.
During cold weather increase the energy content of the
feed by adding carbohydrates to the normal ration. As
the weather grows colder larger quantities of energy are
used to maintain the body heat. Egg production can
continue without interruption even during extremely cold
weather if the hens are fed well.
Plenty of shade should be provided during hot weather
and the houses kept as open as possible so as to be
cool and comfortable for roosting. Reduce the energy
content of the feed by reducing the amount of
carbohydrates in the ration.
Hens that are molting should be fed well but should not
get a ration too rich in protein because they are not
laying. They do better when given a ration richer than
usual in energy content. By proper management, many
good laying hens can lay an occasional egg even while
going through the molting.
Hens that have stopped laying should be culled out and
managed differently from the rest of the flock. A layers
ration and reduced exercise can start them laying again.
Those that do not go back to laying within a reasonable
time or lay for only a few weeks and then stop should be
sold.
Manage pullets
Pullets can be fed more highly than hens during the
early months of growth. At this time, they need
abundant protein, because they are not only growing in
flesh but are filling out their bones and either preparing
for, or actually laying.
A pullet is by no means fully mature when she starts to
lay. It needs ample food to complete its development.
Pullets should neither be forced to begin laying early nor
to delay laying.
Handle birds gently
Hens should be protected against sudden changes.
Excitement due to rough handling and fear from any
cause are detrimental to the birds. Often the entrance of
foreign objects, animals or visitors in the pens will cause
disturbance, so these should be kept out as much as
possible. When it is necessary to carry some unfamiliar
object among the flock, this should be done gradually.
Even the wearing of unusual attire, especially if this is of
some flashy color, will disturb the fowls until they are
accustomed to it.
Although birds on free range are not so likely to be
disturbed, making sudden motions, calling loudly, or
otherwise startling the fowls should be avoided. Enter
the pens as quietly as possible and if necessary signify
entrance by making some noise such as low whistling,
so the hens are alerted of your approach.
Hens, especially laying hens, become attached to their
quarters. They therefore should not be unnecessarily
moved as this also affects the laying. Changes should
be done with the least possible disturbance where it is
absolutely necessary. When hens must be handled or
carried, this should always be done at night and the
fowls should be held gently with the hand beneath the
breast, never by the feet.
Manage Broodiness
Broodiness is a characteristic of hens. Persistent
brooders should be culled out and never used as
breeders. But in otherwise normal hens, broodiness can
be broken when necessary. One of the quickest ways is
to confine the hens with a reserve male in a pen where
there are no nests and feeding them well on a layers
ration. Often the hens will begin to lay within a week or
ten days. Under no condition should the hens be starved
because it is not only cruel but also causes injuries to
the hen.