Laying hens begin to lay eggs at a certain age after the formation of the reproductive system. This parameter is influenced by many factors: from the breed to the conditions of maintenance. Let’s analyze in the article how to find out when young chickens start to lay, which can affect laying. In addition, the effect of breed on productivity has been proven.
At how many months do chickens start laying?
It is important for breeders to know at what month the young start laying. Birds begin to lay eggs after the formation of the reproductive system. This is due to the fact that an egg is a large ovum that is formed in the bird’s body. In each breed of chickens, the formation ends at different periods of life.
Egg breeds
Laying hens or egg-laying birds are ready for breeding at the age of 5-6 months. If there are still no eggs at 20-24 weeks of life, this may signal health problems. The same applies to the situation if the hen lays eggs before the due date.
Meat breeds
Meat chickens start laying much later. The first egg can be expected in 7.5-8 months. The main thing is for the bird to gain at least 75% of the weight of an adult bird.
What can affect the process
Many factors affect the egg-laying process:
- poultry health;
- seasonal changes;
- conditions of maintenance and methods of care;
- improper nutrition;
- appearance of predators;
- breed;
- stressful situations;
- brooding instinct.
Most of the negative factors can be eliminated, and the process of egg laying will resume.
The most egg-laying breeds of chickens
There are three orientations of rocks:
- Eggs. The most productive individuals.
- Meat and egg. Derived by crossing.
- Meat. The main orientation of the breed is to obtain more meat.
The most popular egg breeds of chickens:
- Leghorn – give up to 340 eggs per year;
- Loman Brown – 315 eggs;
- Minorca – about 200 pieces;
- Hamburg – 220 pcs.;
- Andalusian – no more than 200 testicles.
Determination of reproductive age
It is impossible to determine exactly to one day when the chickens start laying. If a young hen is kept in ideal conditions, does not feel stressed and eats properly, then egg-laying can be expected after the bird gains a mass of 75% of the weight of an adult. For egg breeds, this is 5-6 months, for universal breeds – 6-7. Carnivores start laying eggs at the latest – about 7-8 months.
The process of conception and removal of the egg
The egg is formed, on average, within 25 hours. First of all, the yolk is formed. After full maturation, the yolk begins to move through the reproductive system, becoming covered with protein. At the last stage of formation, the egg is covered with a film and a protective shell.
The rooster has testicles with tubules connected to the cloaca. Females have an ovary and a fallopian tube that passes into the cloaca. During mating, the cock’s cloaca is turned out, and the glands secrete seminal fluid. The birds’ cloacas collide and the sperm enters the female’s reproductive system. Every day, an egg is formed in a bird’s ovary, which is also an ovum. Through the oviduct, the egg enters the cloaca, where it is fertilized by the rooster’s sperm through the soft shell. After 24 hours, the shell hardens, becoming a shell. Then the egg is released. Seminal fluid is viable for 20 days. All testicles formed during this period will be fertilized.
WARNING! It is important not to allow increased sexual activity of the male (more than twenty matings per day). If the rooster mates too much, the amount of sperm will decrease by half, and the health and viability of the chicks will be significantly worse.
Do you need a rooster to lay chickens?
The hen begins to lay regardless of whether there is a rooster in the household or not. If the farmer decided to raise chickens exclusively for the production of testicles, and not for the purpose of independent breeding of purebred livestock, then you can do without a leader. However, having a rooster can be useful:
- The leader keeps order in the chicken flock, preventing fights and squabbles.
- He is responsible for the timely rise and breakfast of livestock.
- The male drives all the females into the chicken coop in time.
- The rooster makes sure that the laying hens have a timely laying. Sometimes the male shows the young chickens where to roost by climbing into the nest.
- On a walk, the leader keeps everyone in a heap, not allowing them to get loose.
Among other things, the rooster protects the coop from predators. This is important for normal pregnancy.
Quantity and quality of eggs
The first laid eggs will differ in size from the following ones. Young females give eggs weighing no more than 45 grams. This does not mean at all that the hen is not like that and her eggs are too small. After some time, egg production will reach the standard 60 grams.
The number of eggs directly depends on the biological orientation of the bird and breed. Yes, egg breeds lay an average of 240 eggs per year, but there are also record holders. With proper care, laying hens of the Leghorn breed can produce up to 340 testicles, and Loman Brown – about 300 pieces.
Universal breeds are able to give up to 180 eggs per year. And that’s under ideal conditions. Butchers give no more than 160 eggs per year, but they are larger and heavier.
How long do chickens lay?
Up to four thousand eggs are laid in the body of each bird. By means of simple calculations, it can be assumed that the feather should fly for 15 years. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The most productive time is the first year of life. Then the laying rate drops by 10-20% annually.
Already after three years, feed costs exceed the benefits of egg production. After reaching five years of life, a chicken lays 1-2 eggs in seven days. The meat of old birds becomes tough, unfit for food. Purebred chickens, which are left for breeding, usually live to this age.
Why don’t young chickens start laying
There can be many reasons for the absence of eggs. The most banal – the seller lied about age or breed. If all the data are correct, but the laying period still does not come in laying hens, you need to understand the reasons.
Disease
If the bird is sick, you should not expect eggs from it. To understand whether a chicken is healthy or not, you need to observe it. Symptoms to look out for:
- fading of secondary sexual characteristics;
- lethargy, lack of appetite;
- lameness appeared;
- diarrhea, bloody streaks in stools;
- mucus from respiratory organs;
- wheezing, change in breathing;
- increased body temperature;
- feathers began to fall out of season;
- the chicken began to consume too much water;
- rapid weight loss;
- watery eyes, conjunctivitis.
These and other symptoms can signal health problems. If the disease is contagious, the entire herd may die. Therefore, it is important to consult a veterinarian in case of one or more signs of the disease.
Organization of the walk
Walking chickens is a necessity. During the walk, the birds get the necessary amount of sunlight and fresh air. The most restless chickens are the best producers. The simplest and most convenient option is a chicken coop connected to a paddock for walking. The squad is made from improvised materials. It is important that the walking area is protected by a net from above. Then it will be much more difficult for predators to get to the birds.
Old individuals
With age, chickens lay less and less. If at a young age an egg-laying individual is able to produce up to 240 eggs per year, then after three years you should not count on more than 200 testicles. It is recommended to update the stock.
Seasonal reduction in spawning
In each season, birds lay eggs in different quantities:
- Spring is the most productive period. The day is getting longer, there is more food, the air temperature is rising. All these factors have a positive effect on productivity.
- Summer – it gets hot. Laying can decrease due to lack of water or due to very high temperature in the chicken coop. It is necessary to carefully monitor the drinkers, constantly filling them with water and equip the chicken coop with ventilation.
- Autumn is a period of lull, a decrease in active laying. This is the period of plumage change. Birds do not lay eggs during molting. They are trying to hide for the time being. Renewal of feathers takes place within 6-8 weeks.
- Winter – the day becomes short, and the birds cannot be seen in the dark. In addition, energy from stored vitamins and feed is spent on maintaining optimal body temperature. Therefore, the bearing capacity falls. To avoid low productivity, it is important to insulate the poultry house and cover the floor with straw or sawdust. The chicken coop should have windows and additional lighting.
Feeding
Egg quality depends on diet. If the diet lacks vitamins or trace elements, the shell may be too fragile or completely absent. If the diet is fundamentally unsuitable, the hen will stop laying eggs. In these cases, it is important to review the diet and make adjustments.
A large number of roosters
A rooster in a henhouse is a guarantee of peace and order. But what happens if there are too many roosters? First, the males begin dividing the territory. Constant fights near the chicken coop cause stressful situations in females. Secondly, if there are less than four laying hens per rooster, the bird becomes nervous and aggressive.
Note ! The ideal ratio is one male for ten hens. A young leader can cover up to 16 females, but with age his energy fades.
Bad weather
Chickens are not distinguished by courage. Bad weather, torrential rain and rumbling thunder provoke stress. To calm the birds, add 20 milliliters of apple cider vinegar to their food for a week.
Rats
Laying hens start laying eggs when they are ready to reproduce. If rats are in the chicken coop or other predators can get in, don’t wait for eggs from the chicken. Therefore, the threat must be dealt with promptly.
How to increase the number of eggs
To increase the productivity of chickens, it is important to create optimal conditions for them. First of all, you need to pay attention to bird feeding, maintenance regime and timely renewal of livestock.
Feeding chickens
Proper nutrition is the key to successful laying. A varied and balanced diet improves performance. Approximate ration of laying hens:
- Porridge made from boiled potatoes, crushed cereals and bran is suitable for birds for breakfast.
- For dinner, it is customary to give whole grain cereals – corn, wheat and others. The main rule is to grind the groats. Laying hens have no teeth, so they will not be able to forge food on their own.
- To supplement the diet with vitamins, farmers give the birds sprouted grains. For this, cereals are poured with warm water and left for several days. After the appearance of green sprouts, the supplement is ready.
- There is another variant of the supplement – yeast. 30 grams of wet yeast are used for one and a half liters of water heated to room temperature. After complete dissolution of the yeast, a kilogram of grains is poured and left to stand for nine hours.
For good egg laying, crushed eggshells, mollusk shells and chalk are added to the diet of chickens. These ingredients increase the level of calcium in the body, which is part of the shell.
Meals should be on schedule. Birds are fed immediately after waking up, and then at regular intervals, but no later than an hour before weaning. They feed 3-4 times a day. Do not overfeed laying hens. The daily norm for an average bird weighing two kilograms is 130 grams of feed. Do not forget about water. One individual needs 300 milliliters of water.
Holding mode
Poultry farmers follow a number of rules when keeping chicken flocks:
- Since chickens cannot see in the dark, it is important to provide sufficient lighting. For normal laying, the day should last 13-14 hours. For the winter period, the chicken coop will have to be equipped with additional lighting. The seats themselves should be placed opposite the windows.
- Air humidity in the poultry house is not higher than 75%. For the required level of humidity in the room, there should be stable air circulation.
- Laying hens do not tolerate a sudden change in temperature. In the poultry house, the temperature should be from 15 °C to 25 °C.
- In order for the birds to feel comfortable, they should not be cramped. Experienced farmers recommend not to settle more than five chickens per one square meter.
- The room should be dry and clean. If the chicken coop is not cleaned, the laying hens begin to get sick.
- Laying hens are not resistant to stress. In some breeds, severe stress leads to death. Therefore, the poultry farmer must protect the livestock from stressful situations as much as possible.
Livestock replacement
Experienced poultry farmers advise adding young ones to the old chickens. In poultry farms, the stock is renewed at least once every two years. In production, spent chickens are used for meat or resold to private farms. If after the first year at the factory, the productivity of the chicken is assessed as sufficient, the bird is stimulated to artificially renew its plumage and leave it for another season.
At private poultry farmers, this process is stretched for 3-4 years. The population is updated in two ways: through an incubator or by buying young chickens at bird markets. Farmers try to buy individuals at the age of 3-4 months. Old individuals are removed naturally.
A large number of factors affect the bearing capacity. If you follow the rules of maintenance and care, feed the birds in plenty and contact the veterinarian on time, the result will not make you wait.