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Layer Hen House Production. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?. Written by Tiffany Prather and Dr. Frank Flanders GA Ag Ed Curriculum Office To accompany the Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Lesson 01432-7.1. Objectives:. Explain operations of a layer hen house
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Layer Hen House Production Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Written by Tiffany Prather and Dr. Frank Flanders GA Ag Ed Curriculum Office To accompany the Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Lesson 01432-7.1
Objectives: • Explain operations of a layer hen house • Determine resources needed • Explain layer house contracts • Identify equipment needs • Explain the reproduction cycle in layer hen houses • Define time line for layer production
What is the difference in a Layer House and a Layer Hen House?
Layer House: Eggs are for human consumption Eggs are not fertilized No roosters necessary Eggs are kept cooler Layer Hen House: Eggs are for hatching Roosters are necessary to fertilize eggs Eggs must be cared for to protect the embryo
Walking the house Weigh and run feed Record egg production and mortality Lights on and off Maintaining house temperature Feed truck Egg truck Operations of Layer Hen House
Picking up the eggs Pick up 3-4 times daily Sort by size and abnormality Operations cont.
Picking up the eggs (cont.) Clean eggs Place eggs in trays Place eggs into buggies Put eggs into cool room Operations cont.
Resources needed • Hens • Roosters • Feed • Water • Medication • Labor
House Contracts • The company pays for and delivers: • Chickens • Feed • Medicine • Egg trays and buggies • The grower pays for: • Water • Electricity • Propane • Disposal of dead birds • Wash down • Clean out • Shavings
Chickens received from pullet houses Roosters and hens mate Chickens begin laying eggs New roosters are added to the house to keep egg production steady Eggs are sent to company hatchery Hatched chicks are sent to broiler houses Chickens at 65 weeks of age are removed from the layer hen house and sold to companies New hens and roosters are received about 8 weeks later Reproductive Cycle
House Scale room and feed bin Generator Layer House Equipment
Conveyor belt and stations in newer houses Cool room Layer House Equipment cont.
Nests, drinkers, and feeder chain Cool cells, fans, lights and curtains Layer House Equipment cont.
Time Line for Layer Hen House Production • Receive chickens at 21 weeks of age • Receive new roosters • Egg production continues from 21 to 65 weeks of age • Keep chickens until 65 weeks of age • Clean out house • Restock house with shavings and equipment • The layer house is vacant for 8 weeks