Layer Hen House Production Which came first the

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 purpose of Layer Hen Houses?

What is the difference in a Layer House and a Layer Hen House?

Layer House: Ø Eggs are for human consumption Ø Eggs are not fertilized Ø No roosters necessary Ø Eggs are kept cooler Layer Hen House: Ø Eggs are for hatching Ø Roosters are necessary to fertilize eggs Ø Eggs must be cared for to protect the embryo

Operations of Layer Hen House Walking the house ® Weigh and run feed ® Record egg production and mortality ® Lights on and off ® Maintaining house temperature ® Feed truck ® Egg truck ®

Operations cont. ® 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

Resources needed ® ® ® Hens Roosters Feed Water Medication Labor

House Contracts ® The company pays for ® Chickens ® Feed ® Medicine ® Egg trays and buggies ® The grower pays for: ® Water ® Electricity ® Propane ® Disposal of dead birds ® Wash down ® Clean out ® Shavings and delivers:

Reproductive Cycle ® ® ® ® 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

Layer House Equipment House ® Scale room and feed bin ® Generator ®

Layer House Equipment cont. ® Conveyor belt and stations in newer houses ® Cool room

Layer House Equipment cont. ® Nests, drinkers, and feeder chain ® Cool cells, fans, lights and curtains

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