How to get the BEST from your Hens

Bulletin #3

Transition Management

Body weight and Uniformity:  Data collected from Hyline pullets are relevant to other strains as well (Miles, 1993). Approximately 34 percent of the pullet’s growth occurs during the first six weeks. Another 46 percent of the pullet’s growth takes place the next six weeks (6-12 weeks of age). This means that 80% of the pullet’s growth takes place the first 12 weeks with the majority occurring from 6 to 12 weeks of age. Stress during this period should be avoided and feeding a high quality grower diet is essential. The pullet’s growth rate should be carefully monitored during this period. If the pullet does not obtain her growth during the first 12 weeks, then she never will and her profit potential will be hurt drastically.

Feed Intake Monitoring:  As the young hen enters the laying period she must be capable of considerable increasing her feed intake in order to complete her growth and ensure a laying peak. Between 5% and peak production the increase in intake should be + 35 to + 40% within a few weeks. Any ‘under consumption’ at this time will penalise the immediate and later production. It is during rearing that one can ‘train’ the chick towards this objective. The increase in feed intake of birds coming into lay has been measured by Scott & Belnave (1987). After the first egg, birds quickly increase their intake to meet the needs of production and continued growth if they are properly managed.