Breeder Signals by Roodbont Publishers

Breeder Signals is essential for anyone working in the poultry meat chain as breeder farm managers, farm workers, advisors, veterinarians, students, etc.

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BREEDER SIGNALS A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT OF BROILER BREEDERS

Breeder Signals is part of the Poultry Signals series©. Poultry Signals presents practical knowledge of animal-oriented poultry farming in an easy, accessible format.

ISBN 978-90-8740-332-4

www.roodbont.com

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Breeder Signals contains practical information about broiler breeders to ensure maximum production of first grade hatching eggs. This book also offers practical tools and modern insights to optimise sexual behaviour, fertility, egg production, and hatchability, based on the look-think-act approach. Feathering provides you with signals about the quality of your flock. Too nice? Then they are hardly mating. Too little? These hens will not mate since it will be painful. The book follows the day-old-chick arriving at the rearing house through the laying period and up to egg transport to the hatchery.

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Poultry meat is the most important animal protein source in the human diet. As a consequence, global production of broiler meat is rapidly growing and now more than 125 million metric tonnes. A relatively small number of broiler breeders has a major impact on the whole poultry meat chain. The continuing increase in the genetic potential of broilers makes the production of first-class chicks increasingly challenging. State-of-the-art management is crucial for a successful flock. Differences in results up to 10 day-old chicks per hen house are not rare, costing tens of thousands of euros.

A practical guide to optimal management of broiler breeders

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managing two different species in one flock.’

SIGNALS

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two sexes with completely different requirements is like

BREEDER

BREEDER SIGNALS

‘Broiler breeders require careful attention. Managing

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BREEDER SIGNALS A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT OF BROILER BREEDERS

Credits Breeder Signals

Photography Main photographer: Marcel Berendsen

Publisher Roodbont Publishers B.V.

Additional credits: ASG (45, 95, 134); Aviagen (62, 73, 82, 86, 120, 121, 155, 158); Big Dutchman (67, 68, 117); Bigstock (164, 76); Ceva (166, 167, 168, 169, 171); Dreamstime, Tenrook (23); Dreamstime, Zdenek Sasek (150); Edward Mailyan (20, 21, 29, 56, 60, 65, 86, 106, 116, 118, 119, 120, 134, 139, 150, 168, 172, 179, 182, 183, 186); Frank van Merle (11, 16, 40, 42, 48, 51, 53, 61, 65, 71, 76, 77, 78, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 90, 94, 97, 101, 103, 107, 113, 118, 120, 121, 124, 128, 133, 137 141); Floor van Schie (47, ); GD (174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 184); Heering (40, 161, 162); Helmich van Rees (182); Henk Hut (19); Henk Rodenboog (46, 62, 113, 137, 141, 151, 186); Jan Dasselaar (166); Jan van Esch (132, 151); Koos van Middelkoop (31); Kris van Daele (129); Leon van Horne (22, 103, 111, 128, 139); MSD (175, 176); Novatech (30, 31, 32); Pas Reform (156, 157); Paul van der Ven (31); Piet Faber (27); Rick van Emous (60, 84, 94, 104, 116, 128); Rob van der Lee (64, 87, 99, 138, 169); Roxell (32, 34, 36, 54, 74, 75, 77, 78, 94); Stijn Peters (6, 12, 18, 19, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48, 50, 51, 58, 70, 71, 72, 73, 135, 170, 172); Tim Engelen (6, 7, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 35, 36, 37, 42, 43, 49, 55, 61, 63, 70, 71, 72, 74, 79, 85, 86, 89, 90, 93, 97, 100, 110, 111, 112, 118, 125, 127, 148, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 161, 162, 163, 169, 172, 173, 183); Ton van Schie (22, 24, 45, 49, 69, 80, 85, 87, 132); TSS (160); Van Eck Bedrijfshygiëne (24, 27); Veterinair Centrum Someren (100, 112, 167, 171, 173, 174, 176, 177, 179, 181, 183, 184, 185, 186, 184); WLR/Gea Hogeveen photography (8, 14, 17, 18, 29, 45, 66, 69, 73, 75, 80, 81, 92, 94, 95, 96, 110, 119, 153); Wouter Steenhuisen (33, 34, 56, 67, 68, 97, 106, 111, 175, 180).

Main authors Rick van Emous, Jolanda Holleman (Windkracht 10), Ton van Schie Editorial team John Lemmens, Rienk van Oosten, Henk Rodenboog, André Steentjes

ot Sources

The experience of many people mixed with expert knowledge and scientific papers are used to develop this publication. Graphs and tables are adapted from a variety of sources indicated below: Development of production results: Aviagen 2016 (8), Difference between broilers and breeders: Renema et al., 2007 (9), Influence of genetics and nutrition: Havenstein et al., 2003 (9), Production pyramid: Aviagen (9), Effect of unrestricted feeding; Heck et al., 2004 (11), Activity of breeders and broilers: Van Emous, unpublished data (11), Mating behaviour: Kruijt, 1964 (15), Aggressive behaviour: Kruijt, 1964 (16), Uniformity and production: Abbas et al., 2010 (28), Effect of beak treatment: De Jong et al., 2013 (31), Effect of perches: Appleby et al., 1988 (50), Effect of feed restrictions: De Beer and Coon, 2007 (52), Heat production and feeding schedules: Leeson and Summers, 2009 (53), Dietary protein and body composition: Van Emous et al., 2015 (57), Grading and uniformity: Aviagen, 2018 (58), Effect of stocking density: De Jong et al., 2011 (73), Separated and non-separated feeding: Stappers and Vahl, 1991 (76), Effect of start of stimulation: Van Emous, unpublished data (89), Effect of light stimulation: Robinson et al., 1996 (89), Male feeding systems and floor eggs: Aviagen, 2015 (99), Feed intake targets: Aviagen, 2017 (100), Egg production and feeding time: Aviagen, 2017 (101), Water consumption: Lemmens, unpublished data (102), Feed adjustments: Van Emous, unpublished data (105), Characteristics of feed: Aviagen, 2017 (107), Development of egg weight: Aviagen, 2018 (109), Feeding moment and heat stress: Aviagen, 2018 (110), Heat stress and production: Van Emous, unpublished data (111), Laying, hatchability and number of chicks: Aviagen, 2017 (117), Indicators for total production: Van Emous, 2018 (117), Dominance and mating results: Jones and Mench, 1990 (119), Fertilisation and leg length: Van Merle, 2008 (120), Individual male activity: Aviagen, unpublished data (124), Age-decreasing quality: Cobb, 2006/Duncan et al., 1990 (126), Mating pattern: Harris et al., 1980 (126), Failed/successful matings: De Jong et al., 2005 (127), Promiscuity of females: Aviagen (128), Observation frequency: Van Emous, 2006 (131), Protein and embryonic mortality: Van Emous et al., 2015 (136), Energy requirement: various sources (136), Protein and hatchability: Lopez and Leeson, 1995 (136), Spiking and male activity: Cobb/Casanovas, 2000 (138), Spiking and hatchability: Cobb/ Casanovas, 2000 (138), Male presence in a flock: Van Emous, unpublished data (138), Bodyweight and hatchability: Van Emous, 2006 (140), Laying pattern and flock age: Zakeria et al., 2005 (140), Egg mass and feed: Aviagen, 2018 (140), Feather cover and feed requirements: Van Emous, 2010 (141), Hatching egg quality: Pas Reform (147) For the chapter Health and diseases some information is derived from Diseases of Poultry, 13th edition (Editor in Chief: David E. Swayne)

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With special thanks to Laurence Avonds, dhr. G. van den Berg, Paul van Boekholt, fam. S. van den Borne, John Caeyers, Christophe Cazaban, Tim Engelen, Guillermo Gonzalez, fam. C. de Haas, Bernard van Harn, Marcel Kuijpers, Jean Leorat, Bertrand Le-Tallec, Gerrit van der Linde, Fernando Lozano, fam. E. Meijerink, Frank van Merle, Koos van Middelkoop, Stijn Peters, fam. J. van de Riet, fam. H. Salomons, Jaime Sarabia, Wouter Steenhuisen, Otto van Tuijl, fam. D. Wenker and the following companies: Aviagen Technical and Marketing Teams, Vermeerderingsbedrijf Engelen, Opfokbedrijf Engelen and Veterinair Centrum Someren

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Final editing Christel Lubbers, Dustin Banks, Textcase

Design Studio Hiddink

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Illustrations Trudy Michels, Jolanda Hiddink, Dick Rietveld, Marinette Hoogendoorn

Roodbont Publishers B.V. P.O. Box 4103 7200 BC Zutphen The Netherlands T +31 575 54 56 88 E info@roodbont.com I www.roodbont.com

Wageningen Livestock Research P.O. Box 338 6700 AH Wageningen The Netherlands T +31 317 48 39 53 I www.livestockresearch.nl

© Roodbont Publishers B.V., 2020 ISBN 978-90-8740-332-4 Breeder Signals is an edition in the Poultry Signals© series. No part of this publication may be reproduced and/or published in print, photocopy or any other means whatsoever without the prior written permission of the publisher. Authors and the publisher have composed the contents of this publication with great care and to the best of their knowledge. However, the authors and the publisher shall accept no liability due to damage of any nature whatsoever, resulting from actions and/or decisions based on the information provided. The publisher has tried to trace the copyright holders of all the image material. When a source has remained unmentioned, holders of rights may contact the publisher.

For more information please check www.breedersignals.com

Contents

3. First weeks of rearing Sexing Treatments and interventions Feeding systems in rearing Drinking systems Preparation of the house The ideal temperature Transport to the rearing house Arrival of day-old-chicks Climatic requirements Chick distribution Humidity Poisonous gasses and dust Light in rearing Feed and water during rearing Checklist crop filling

28 29 30 33 36 38 39 40 41 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

6. Onset of lay (up to 5% production) 92 Laying nests 93 Egg laying behaviour 95 Development of the reproductive tract 95 Floor eggs 96 Preventing floor eggs 98 Night-layers 99 Male feed during production period 100 Feeding time 101 Capacity of the feed/water system 102 Growth and condition 103 7. Production towards peak Eating behaviour Feeding management Feeding early lay Monitoring Signals of feed intake time Signals of feeding errors Monitoring the flock Drinking water Heat stress Cooling in the house Signals from the laying curve Male grading Male-female interaction Influencing mating behaviour Sperm quality Moment of mating Deviating mating behaviour? Male aggression Artificial insemination Quality Time House

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4. Rearing from 3 to 17 weeks Controlled feeding Monitoring weight A feed-less day Reducing feed stress Feeding management Water restriction Body development Uniformity Grading Feathering and feeding Sexing errors Recognising the sexes Development of the female

50 52 53 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63

66 66 69 70 71 72 73 74 77 79 80 81 82 83 84 86 87 88 89 90 91

8. Peak production to end of lay Attention points in the house Clean laying nests Maintaining litter quality Feeding after the peak Adjust according to circumstances Protein in the feed Condition/conformation of males Spiking and intra-spiking Male persistency Signals from egg weight Feathering at end of lay Moulting End of lay

130 131 132 133 135 136 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143

9. Egg handling and storage Not suitable as a hatching egg Hairline cracks Large and small eggs Shell quality Drying and cooling Cooling and nest type Egg collection Egg grading Packing eggs Cool down after collection Point setting Storage Humidity Washing eggs Washing procedures Candling and breakout On-farm transport Transport of hatching eggs Preventing cracks and breakage Climatic conditions

144 146 147 148 149 150 150 151 152 153 154 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 160 162 163

10. Health and diseases A healthy chicken Vaccination Efficacy of vaccination Vaccination at the hatchery Vaccination during rearing Other vaccination methods during rearing Disease symptoms Viral diseases Bacterial diseases External parasites Internal parasites Non-infectious diseases

164 165 166 167 168 169 170 172 174 178 182 183 186

Index

187

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8 9 10 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

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2. The broiler breeder Great progress Breeding for meat or eggs Characteristics of lines Breeder dilemma Growth control Phase feeding Natural behaviour Mating behaviour Aggressive behaviour Ranking and pecking Sounds Importance of ventilation Negative pressure Biosecurity Entering a poultry farm Personal hygiene Vermin Cleaning and disinfection Dry cleaning Wet cleaning Disinfection

5. Puberty (17-22 weeks) Types of production houses Transfer Loading reared birds Arrival in the new house Stocking density Feed around transfer Separate feeding Getting used to systems Drinking water Feather sucking and feather pecking Synchronous development Maturity of males Separate male house Ratio of males to females Maturity of females Pin (pelvic) bones spacing Light programme Do not stimulate too soon Natural light Light intensity and floor eggs

4 5 6 7

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1. Introduction The broiler meat production chain Signals concept Structured observations

104 105 106 106 107 109 110 111 112 114 116 117 118 124 125 126 126 127 128 129 129

CHAPTER 1:

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Introduction

The aim of a broiler breeder farm is to produce as many hatching eggs as possible. These eggs are meant to produce first-class healthy broilers with good growth, low feed conversion and a predictable

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slaughter yield. In order to get such a broiler you need to have first-class parent stock.

If no artificial insemination method is applied, the males and females are housed intermingled during the production period. That is quite a challenge. The challenge is to feed and manage the males and females according to their own requirements as these birds have different needs and characteristics. Managing this is essential if you want good mating results; remember, the production of healthy, good quality fertile eggs is the final goal. It depends very much on which country/ system you produce for, because the requirements of hatcheries or integrations differ. In this book the focus is on natural mating (not AI-systems), and rather large-scale operations with a controlled environment.

Males and females

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Cockerels, roosters, cocks; a lot of terms can indicate the male chicken. In this book we mainly use the neutral term ‘males’. We also generally refer to the hens as ‘females’.

Bre e d e r S i gnal s

The broiler meat production chain

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houses, equipment and labour, the more often the decision will be made to separate rearing and production. The whole broiler meat chain consists roughly of the following parts: • Primary breeding companies - Selection of broiler breeds (pure lines) and production of great-grandparents, grandparents and parent stock. • Broiler breeder farms - The production of hatching eggs from parent stock. - Rearing farms (pullets) - Production farms (broiler breeders) • Hatcheries - The hatching of fertile eggs into day-old chicks. • Broiler farms - Rearing day-old chicks into broilers. • Processing - Slaughtering the broilers and processing the poultry meat. • Retail - Marketing meat and meat products.

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The broiler breeder farm is an important link in broiler meat production. Broiler breeder production, whether owned by an integrated enterprise or by individual farmers/companies, can be divided into rearing flocks (up to approx. 18-20 weeks) and production flocks (18/20-60/65 weeks). This system is used in many European countries and North America. In other regions, birds are often kept in one location from day-old to death. There are hardly any specialised rearing farms in this situation. The advantage is that there is no transport over long distances, there are no differences in feeding or drinking systems and therefore the performance can be better. On the other hand, the costs of housing young birds are relatively high: many small chicks in a large house. The system chosen is often related to labour costs and investment costs for land, buildings and equipment. The more expensive the poultry

1. In tro d u c t i o n

Signals concept

Use all your senses

look

listen

smell

feel

taste

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touch

This book is not a handbook in which all the facts can be found, but rather a practical reference book with things that a poultry farmer encounters on a daily basis and on which you can take immediate action. In this book we use the signal concept and always ask the same questions: 1. W What do I see (hear, feel, smell, taste)? What’s th the signal? 2. Ho How did this happen? What’s the explanation? 3. W What am I supposed to do? Is it okay or should I ttake action? And, llast but not least, it is important to determine what effect you can expect to have on the behav behaviour of the birds and thus to evaluate it. If you always look at your business processes in this w way, you can make rapid progress. A real signal is repeated. Therefore, try to make the link to the circumstances at your farm. Does it happe happen often? At other times? With other birds? Ask an expert if necessary and compare with other farms farms. If you only look at technical indicators (daily growt growth, feed and water use, floor eggs, etc.), you ccan ca nm miss important signals from your birds and their eenvironment. So, always use all your senses. For ex example, even before you are in the poultry house house, you can listen to the sound of the birds and notice if there is anything special about it. In addition to your daily routine, you can also do a checkup round without doing anything else. This allows you to pick up signals better and more consciously. Once you know what’s normal, you will be able to recognise abnormalities. You learn what normal behaviour is by looking at it as often and as objectively as possible. Prevent operational blindness.

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ş 1 day 6

ş 3 weeks

ş 10 weeks

20 weeks Bre e d e r S i gnal s

Structured observations

L LOOK-THINK-ACT

What causes swelling on the head?

For some reason, an air sac in the respiratory system ruptured, resulting in the air moving to other places under the skin. You can separate the bird, carefully puncture the skin with a needle and push the air out. If the bird is well developed, there is nothing wrong with keeping it in the ﬂock.

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Look from flock to individual The whole flock: • How is the distribution in the house? • Do the birds avoid certain places? • Are there differences between the birds (body weight, colour, etc.)? • Whistle or clap your hands to assess the reaction. • What noise do you hear, quiet or excited?

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This is how you observe in a structured way: 1. Look, also when you are not doing other work. 2. Look at the whole flock, at the individual birds and again at the flock. 3. Look at averages and extremes. 4. Look at the front, the middle, and the end of the poultry house. 5. Look at different times of the day and in different circumstances. 6. Stop at regular intervals, stand still, and go down to bird level. 7. Identify risk moments, risk birds, and risk places and keep a close eye on them. 8. Pay particular attention to feed, water, laying nests, and ventilation systems.

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Individual birds: • Randomly catch 10 females and 5 males. • Look at the legs, the comb, the cloaca, etc. • Feel the chest, legs, crop, etc. • Listen.

š š

ş 25 weeks 1. In tro d u c t i o n

ş 30 weeks

ş 60 weeks 7

CHAPTER 2:

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The broiler breeder

In order to be able to manage broiler breeders properly, you first must understand them, in terms of behaviour, physiological and physical characteristics and needs. The selection of the male line is mostly based on broiler characteristics. Therefore, managing the males is more difficult than managing the

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females. And when the hens are not managed properly, it immediately shows in lower egg production.

Development of production results Chicks (#/hen at 60 weeks)

150 145

top 25%

140 average production

135 130 125

bottom 25%

120 115 110 105 2004

2006

2008

2010 2012 Year

2014

2016

2018

2020

The difference between the worst-performing and best-performing breeder farms is striking. This difference is due to management. For many breeder farms this means that there is still profit to be made. An improvement of 10 chicks per breeder hen on a farm with 20,000 broiler breeders and a hatching egg price of â&#x201A;Ź0.20 means: â&#x201A;Ź40,000 increase in profit per cycle!

The conventional broiler breeds are mainly derived from two types of birds: The males are mainly descended from the White Cornish, which was bred in Cornwall from Indian game breeds. The female lines are mainly descended from the White Plymouth Rock, originally developed in America. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broilers grow five times faster than in 1960 and that is largely due to selection. In the 1950s, the selection was mainly based on growth, but the breeding goals have become much more varied over time. There are now two large primary breeding organisations that dominate the world market, whereas there used to be 1,000. It has therefore become a highly-specialised and concentrated branch of the industry.

Bre e d e r S i gnal s

pedigree selection

Great progress 1x10

genetic improvement

year 1

150 GGPs

great grandparent

year 2

7500 GPs

grandparentstock

year 3

400,000 PS

broiler breeders/parent stock

year 4

50,000,000 broilers

broilers

year 5

processing 70,000 tons of meat

consumers

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The breeding pyramid. A small number of broiler breeders provide an enormous amount of broilers.

The number of chicks per hen housed is increasing every year. They’re getting more and more efficient. In 1990, one female breeder produced an average of 115 broiler chicks, and in 2020 this has increased to 140 chicks. From pure line (pedigree) to broiler production it takes about 5 years, with 10 pure line females and 1 male eventually producing 50 million broilers (70,000 metric tonnes of meat). It is also obvious to see how many bad broilers you would get from one bad grandparent hen, or if you would leave one wrongly sexed male in a broiler breeder flock. These ‘details’ can have a huge influence. One breeder male that was not removed from the female line may mate with 10 females, producing 1,400 suboptimal broilers. Because the development of a new pure line also takes at least 5 years, the breeding company must anticipate the market requirements 10-15 years ahead.

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Not all genetics

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Not everything is due to genetics. Other factors at breeder level can affect broiler quality. The age of breeders has an impact on the size and quality of the hatching eggs and chicks. Mortality in the ﬁrst week generally can be higher in broilers from young parents. Stress or disease during the laying period can also affect broiler chick quality and its technical results.

Relatively few broiler breeders are responsible for a lot of broilers and therefore each has a very high impact. For example, 10 parent stock females and 1 male together produce about 1,400 chicks, providing 3,500 kg of meat.

Increasing difference between breeders and broilers at 6 weeks of age

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3,000 2,500

Influence of genetics and nutrition

6,000

breed 2001+ diet 2001

5,000

2,000 x 3.6 1,500 1,000

x 1.9 breeders

500

Body weight (g)

Body weight (kg)

broilers 4,000 breed 2001+ diet 1957 3,000 2,000

breed 1957 + diet 2001

1,000

breed 1957 + diet 1957

0 1980

1990

2000 Year

2010

2020

The gap between the target weight of the broiler and that of the broiler breeders is becoming larger. The bigger this gap, the harder it is to manage broiler breeders at low feed intake, since they share the genetic potential for growth with their offspring. This has a major impact on their reproductive characteristics, such as peak production, persistency and hatchability.

56 Age (days)

Feed and management have improved tremendously. But even if you gave a modern broiler the diet from 60 years ago, its growth would be much faster than the breeds of that era. Therefore, 85-90% of the progress in broiler chickens can be attributed to breeding and selection and only 10-15% to feed and management. 9

CHAPTER 4:

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Rearing from 3 to 17 weeks

After the first few weeks, the period of feed restriction starts in order to regulate the weight and body

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In the wild, a chick sleeps under the wings of its mother during the first weeks, and under trees and bushes up to an age of 8 weeks. Then a chicken starts sleeping in a tree to be safe from dangers (snakes, foxes). During the day a chicken expects danger from above (birds of prey) and will hide under trees. So from about 6 weeks onwards you should offer elevated resting places, like slats or A-shaped racks. This helps them to prepare for easy entry of the laying nest during the production period and increase leg strength. It is also a management tool: birds sitting high up during daytime are often frightened birds. At night itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the other way around: the dominant birds rest high up and the frightened birds are chased away to the litter. So pay attention what birds are where and why. A good size per platform is 240 cm x 60 cm surface and 50 cm height. 500 chicks require 1 m2 (slats). Never place an electric wire near the jumping platforms: this will stop the birds from ever trying to jump again. 50

Effect of perches in rearing on floor eggs

Floor eggs (%)

development of the birds.

reared without perches

reared with perches from 8 weeks

Age (weeks) By placing jumping platforms or perches, the percentage of floor eggs in the laying period is 3-5% lower. The quality of the legs is improved by less contact with litter and more movement by jumping. Use the jumping platforms from the age of 6 weeks.

Bre e d e r S i gnal s

To make the jumping platforms extra attractive, you can offer drinking water above it. Preferably with a separate connection so that you can use them separately from other drinking water supplies (training).

Monitoring is also paying attention to general behaviour. If you clap your hands all birds should raise their heads, like here.

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The first few days, jumping platforms and bell drinkers are still up against the roof. The day-old chicks have to use the drinking nipples. After a few days the bell drinkers are lowered. From 6 weeks onwards the platforms are lowered.

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Healthy inquisitive behaviour. If you stand still, the birds should come to you and start pecking at your boots.

With a normal stocking density of 9 birds per m2 the birds look very well (left). With a high stocking density of 12 birds per m2 the feather cover is clearly damaged (right). The number of feeding places per bird was the same in this case, so this is just because they are closer together. As a result, the birds rub more against each other, especially during feeding, which is at the expense of the feather cover. This will not recover.

Females have a habit of scratching away from the light. You can use this knowledge to keep the litter layer in good condition, by switching on the lights alternately (first even, then odd rows of light). This causes the birds to scratch the litter back and forth, preventing the development of areas without litter. 4. R ea r i n g f ro m 3 t o 1 7 weeks

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Onset of lay (up to 5% production)

The period from the first egg to 5% production aims to stimulate the females into lay with light and feed. This is the period where you have to be very alert to prevent floor eggs. In this period nesting behaviour can be stimulated or spoiled. It is very hard to correct hens once they prefer not to use the nests. The bird follows its natural behaviour. All you can do, and have to do, is to facilitate the bird

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to mutual satisfaction.

Originally, a chicken laid eggs for consecutive days in a row, after which she would start brooding. This is like all other fowls. In the modern breeds the hens are selected to produce one egg every day for as long as possible. A series of eggs without interruption is called a clutch. The fewer days without an egg the higher the total number. In a flock the percentage of production represents the hens which have started laying. The more all birds are synchronised the sooner the flock is in peak production. When you notice a slow start that informs you that the flock is uneven and you can expect poor

production since the birds differ in readiness for production. Try to figure out why your flock is coming into production so slowly and act accordingly. At least learn from it for the next flock.

Tip Open the nests in the middle of the night to prevent the nests still being closed when expanding the light period. When the birds are asleep, they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go into the nests anyways.

Bre e d e r S i gnal s

Laying nests

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Just before the birds start laying, they should be given the opportunity to explore the laying nests.

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Make sure that the nests are freely accessible, well visible, and the water system is close to the nests. Before the females start laying eggs, they must have had the opportunity to explore the nests. An ideal nest is closed from above (chickens have an instinctive fear of birds of prey), has an illuminated entrance (to allow birds to ensure the lack of snakes or other predators), no draught on the nest and has closed areas (behind the flaps). Around peak production it is busy at the laying nests. Make sure you have enough nests available to prevent floor eggs. The standard for a communal nest is a maximum of 45 hens per linear metre of laying nest. When using a double row, it is 90 hens per linear metre of poultry house. In the case of individual nests take five hens per nest as a guideline.

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Water close to the nest, to attract the hens and a closed area behind flaps.

Do not open the nests until the females have crouched voluntarily, or you find the first floor egg. With a bit of imagination you can see a heart shape. So, open them at the moment the first egg is expected, usually about 10-14 days after the start of light stimulation.

The ideal laying nest

Slope to back

Place the nests in a quiet place (centre of the house). Make sure the entrance is spacious enough so that the hen can easily step in, turn around, and step out. The entrance must be solid and well fixed. 6. O ns e t o f l a y ( u p t o 5 % pro du cti o n )

two sexes with completely different requirements is like managing two different species in one flock.’

BREEDER SIGNALS

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BREEDER SIGNALS A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT OF BROILER BREEDERS

Breeder Signals is part of the Poultry Signals series©. Poultry Signals presents practical knowledge of animal-oriented poultry farming in an easy, accessible format.

ISBN 978-90-8740-332-4

www.roodbont.com

A practical guide to optimal management of broiler breeders

BREEDER SIGNALS

‘Broiler breeders require careful attention. Managing

9 789087 403324