What to look out for when your eggs don’t add up

At around the fifth or sixth month of age, layers start producing eggs. This is an important part of poultry farming as months of investing in feeds and veterinary services slowly begin to pay off.

In due course, layers will start pushing and the enterprise will take off and drive itself. The percentage of eggs produced per hen housed will sharply rise. Two months later, a peak of 90 per cent may be established under good management conditions.

This is, however, a text book scenario. The reality may surpass this or fall way below and leave you a disappointed farmer, in which case you have to come in and establish the problem.

While hens can remain in lay for about 10 years, the hassles of commercial egg production reduces their lifespan to only two years. But even during this laying period, farmers may not still get optimal egg production.

Why do egg numbers fail to measure up to farmers expectations?

The reasons are broadly divided into two groups - disease or non-disease causes.

Predators, thieves

The hens may be laying maximally despite you picking fewer eggs. Three things are to blame for this: there could be a human thief picking the eggs before you. It can also be as a result of predators like house cats, snakes or dogs.

In some instances, the hens turn around and feed on their own eggs. This happens mostly when they are suffering from calcium deficiency or boredom.

Lighting

Egg production is largely controlled by the hours of light in a day. This also affects the growth rate. Egg production is stimulated by more hours of light; anything below 12 hours will cause a decrease in egg production. Improperly constructed houses can affect lighting, reducing egg laying.

Heat stress

High ambient temperatures are not good for optimal egg production, both in terms of numbers and size. Hot conditions cause heat stress.

High temperatures result from hot weather or improperly constructed poultry houses.

Birds suffering from heat stress will drink more water, eat less and will gasp for air with their wings spread out from the body.

Heat stress can be controlled by putting up a shade around the poultry unit, increasing ventilation and provision of cool fresh water.

Insufficient water

Water is the most essential nutrient. Hens are more sensitive to water deficiency than feeds. Water makes up 70 per cent of the body weight and accounts for 65 per cent of the egg. But it is common for farmers to forget to supply adequate and clean water to their poultry. Water is essential in poultry metabolism; it regulates body temperature and aids in digestion and elimination of waste.

Water and feed intake are interdependent; the amount of water intake is always twice the amount of feed eaten by the bird. Thus a reduction in water intake will directly translate to low feed intake. Other factors that determine water intake are ambient temperature.

Birds that are out of water will have blue combs and will gather around the watering areas. Poultry should be given clear, tasteless, odourless and colorless water at all times.

Nutritional factors

Nutritional factors play a crucial role in egg production. Excess or inadequate supply of a given nutrient will impact on egg production. Excess proteins will make layers grow fat, predisposing them to prolapse which can further be made worse by cannibalism (perking by other birds). Equally, a diet deficient of proteins will result in birds being overly nervous. Calcium and Vitamin D are perhaps the most important nutrients in egg production since without them, we have no egg.

Calcium deficiency

Calcium carbonate is a main component of the egg shell. At the onset of laying, calcium demand by a laying bird will increase by up to four times. Calcium is stored in the long bones of the bird.

It’s deficiency results in few, smaller, soft-shelled and cracked eggs. It also results in loss of coloration. Closely related to calcium is vitamin D which is necessary for absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus. When Vitamin D is deficient, birds develop weak bones. The main source of vitamin D is the sun.

Commercial feeds will normally have these minerals, but sometimes there can be mixing problems or use of lower ratios. The poultry feed industry is currently undergoing a challenge adhering to standards, with many companies venturing into poultry feed formulation. If you observe reduced egg production after introducing a new feed brand, then the problem is likely due to the feed.

Moldy feeds

Maize is a common poultry feed; either as a supplement or on its own in some farms. When grains like maize are stored in moist conditions, they become mouldy due fungal growth. These fungi release mycotoxins (in maize they are called aflatoxins). In most farms, rotten grains unfit for human consumption are normally given to birds. Ingestion of these mycotoxins will result in aflatoxicosis which is a fatal disease also characterised by reduction in egg production.

Parasites

External parasites like lice, mites, ticks and fleas will cause a lot of irritation and interfere with the feeding hours of the birds. These parasites can also spread diseases. Internal parasites, mainly round and tape worms, will deprive the bird of its nutrients. Both internal and external parasites cause a reduction in egg production.

Diseases

Several poultry diseases are characterised by marked drop in egg production among other clinical signs. Newcastle disease, for example, can cause up to 100 per cent drop in egg production. Infectious bronchitis will cause up to 50 per cent drop in egg production.

Eggs will also be characterised by deformed shells. Egg drop syndrome is a viral disease affecting the reproductive tract of chicken and will cause soft, thin or shell-less eggs. Fortunately, these diseases can be prevented through vaccination.

Age

After 52 weeks, layers will normally undergo moulting in preparation for a second laying phase. During this time the birds will stop laying until the second laying period. In this period, the eggs will be bigger but the shells will be thinner and production can never match the first phase.