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Poultry Terminology.
Broiler; A chicken raised specifically for
meat. Grows fast and is usually ready for
sale in 5–7 weeks.
Layer;A female chicken kept for laying
eggs.
Breeder: A mature chicken (male or
female) kept for producing fertilized
eggs.
Chick: A baby chicken, usually under 4
weeks old.
Pullet: A young female chicken that
hasn't started laying eggs yet, usually
under 1 year old.
Cockerel: A young male chicken, usually
under 1 year old.
Hen: An adult female chicken that has
started laying eggs.
Rooster: An adult male chicken. Also
called a cock.
Flock: A group of chickens kept together.
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Hatchery:A place where fertilized eggs
are
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hatched into chicks.
Incubator: A machine that keeps eggs
warm until they hatch.
Brooding: Taking care of chicks from
hatching until they can keep themselves
warm.
Grow-out: Raising chickens from the end
of brooding until they are fully grown.
Laying cycle: The time during which a
hen lays eggs regularly.
Molting: When a chicken sheds old
feathers and stops laying eggs for a
while.
Pecking order: The social ranking among
chickens, some are dominant, others
follow.
Scrambled eggs: Fertilized eggs that got
mixed up or spoiled during hatching.
Straight-run: Chicks sold without
separating males from females.
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Sexing: Finding out if a chick is male or
female.
Vaccination: Giving chickens medicine to
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prevent diseases.
Beak trimming(Debeaking): Cutting part
of the beak to stop birds from hurting
each other.
Culling: Removing sick or weak chickens
to protect the rest of the flock.
Grading: Sorting eggs or chickens by
size or quality before selling.
Laying Rate: The number of eggs
collected per day as a percentage of
your total number of hens.
BIOSECURITY.
(Prevention is better than cure)
1. Footbath.
2. Limit visitors.
3. All in, all out.
4. Cull.
5. Clean feeds and water.
6. Control rodents and other wild
animals.
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EGG PRODUCTION BUSINESS.
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It requires a business mindset,
careful planning, and a deep
understanding of the key management
practices that drive productivity.
1. GETTING STARTED.
The Critical First Decision: your starting
stock and your breed.
(STOCK).
Option 1: Raising Day Old Layer Chicks
¡,Initial Cost: lower.
¡¡, Time to Production: 17weeks.
¡¡¡, Requirements:more time, labour,
and technical knowledge in brooding,
feeding, and vaccination management.
Option 2: Buying Pointof-Lay Hens.
¡, Initial Cost: Significantly higher.
¡¡, Time to Production:These hens are
about 17 weeks old and are ready to
start laying soon after arrival.
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¡¡¡, Requirements: substantial starting
capital
(BREED)
Commercial Laying Breeds: like the
H&N or Hy-line. These lay up to 355
eggs in a productive cycle.
Dual-Purpose Breeds: Australorp or
Sasso will lay eggs, but their output is
lower (around 250-300 eggs per cycle).
Source from a Reputable Supplier:
buy your birds from a supplier who can
provide you with the correct vaccination
schedule and lighting program for the
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specific breed you have purchased.
[Link] YOUR FLOCK FOR
SUCCESS.
Orientation and Design:The house
should be built on an east-to-west axis to
minimise direct sun exposure; have a
solid wall on the west side and a brick
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wall of 30-40 cm on the other sides; the
rest
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covered by wire mesh; highest point of
the roof should be at least 2.7 metres to
ensure good ventilation
Deep litter (floor):Hens are kept on a
floor covered with absorbent bedding like
wood shavings.
Cage Rearing: can accommodate higher
capacity and can lead to cleaner eggs.
3. THE FEEDINGSYSTEM.
(this is done in phases)
Chick Starter Mash (0-8 weeks): This is a
high-protein feed to support initial
growth. The bird will consume about 1.7-
2 kg of this feed to reach a target weight
of around 0.6 kg.
Layer Developer Mash (9-16 weeks):
lower protein [Link] goal is to
reach a target weight of 1.4 kg by 17
weeks.
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Pre-Layer Mash (Transition Feed): feed
not more than 10 days; prepares the
hen's
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body for calcium metabolism. It is fed
q¹¹until 5% of your flock is laying eggs
Layers Phase 1 (Peak Production18-45
weeks):This feed supports the hen while
she is growing and is at her peak laying
rate. It is restricted to 110 grams per hen
per day.
Layers Phase 2 (46-78 weeks):The feed
rate remains 110 grams per hen per day.
Important Feeding Note:use a scale to
measure your feed. Consistent and
accurate feeding is critical.
4. KEY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
FOR MAXIMUM EGG PRODUCTION.
Lighting Program: stimulates sexual
maturity and egg production cycle(16
hours of light per day is required).
Hydration:Always provide clean, fresh
water. A simple way to check for
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dehydration is to look at the hen’s comb;
it
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should be bright red and shiny, not pale
and dry.(I drinker per 30birds)
Egg Collection: Collect eggs at least
twice a day.
Biosecurity and Health: Practice an "all-
in, all-out" system, vaccinate your birds,
keep the house clean and the litter dry.
5. THE BUSINESS MINDSET: YOU
CAN'T MANAGE WHAT YOU DON'T
MEASURE.
(What to Record)
Laying Rate.
Bird Weights and Uniformity.
Feed Consumption.
Mortalities.
(Why records matter)
Troubleshooting.
Profitability.
Culling Decisions.
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6. CLARIFICATIONS.
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Running a profitable egg production
business is about attention to detail. It
requires deep understanding of housing,
nutrition, lighting, and health. It demands
consistent management and meticulous
record-keeping. By following these
fundamental principles, you can build a
successful and sustainable operation
that provides a steady source of income.
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