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Management of Pullets
A pullet is a female which is one year of age or younger and has not yet completed the first laying period. Pullets can be reared under free range, deep litter or battery systems.
Before their arrival, the poultry house should be properly cleaned and disinfected.
If the pullets are reared under the deep litter system, you should spread clean and dry litter 10cm – 15cm above the floor. Spread the little evenly avoiding the corners in order to prevent the pullets from crowding in the corners at night. Crowding as we mentioned before causes death due to suffocation or crushing.
If the pullets are reared in a free-range system, they only need shelter or housing at night, when it is raining or when it is too hot.
Factors to observe in pullet management
You should observe the following factors when managing pullets:
Do not expose pullets to increasing day lengths from 8-20 weeks of age as this can stimulate the pullets to start laying eggs at prematurely
Isolate or cull abnormal or sick birds that have poor development of feathers and vaccinate.
Visit the pullets often for close supervision and identification of diseases which need immediate attention
Where possible, construct roosts either along the sides of the house walls or in the middle of the house to reduce soiling of the litter
Feed the birds on growers mash which contain 16-17% D.C.P
Green vegetation which growers can peck to keep themselves busy is hanged at various points in the house
Soluble grit (oyster shells) should be provided towards the end of grower’s stage.
Management of Layers
Layers are birds which are kept for eggs. They start laying eggs at the age of 20-21 weeks. In the first 1-2 weeks the eggs produced are very small in size but they normalize from the third week onwards. You should manage them as follows:
Vaccinate them every six months against new castle and fowl typhoid.
Provide enough floor space, roosts, feeders and drinkers
Ensure each hen receives 120gms of layers mash feed per day
Keep the litter as dry as possible especially if you practice the deep litter system;
Collect eggs twice a day at noon and in the evening
Hang green leaves in the poultry house to keep the birds busy and prevent cannibalism.
Cull the hens which do not lay or which have cannibalistic behaviour.
Poultry Keeping & Management
Page 43
Activity 4.3
Management of Pullets, Layers and Table Birds (Time: 20 mins)
List at least 3 differences between layers and table birds.
Type of Chicken Main Differences Between Layers and Table Birds Layers 1. 2. 3. Table Birds 1. 2. 3.
Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
Management of Table Birds
These are birds which are raised for meat. There are three types of table birds, that is:
Broilers : these are raised for meat and are marketed when they reach a live weight of between 1.45 -2.75kg depending on the most profitable time of production. Broilers normally convert food into meat at a ratio of about 2:1. This depends on correct management practices and nutrition.
Capons: these are cocks which are castrated at about 110-150 days. They weigh between 3-3.5kg live weights.
Roasters: these are chicks which are slaughtered when they are between 90-150 days old
The management practice of table birds is similar to that of pullets and it includes:
From the age of 5-6 weeks you should give them broiler mash. This feed is a high energy food that promotes rapid growth.
Give less broiler mash to birds which are older than 10 weeks
Do not use hooks to catch table birds due to their great weight
Give anticoccidial drugs to avoid economic losses by coccidiosis
Apply disease prevention and control programmes and monitor your flock closely.
That brings you to the end of this section on poultry management. As a way of reflecting on what you have learnt, complete the following activity
