Growing poultry for the purpose of obtaining eggs is one of the most common types of activity in the agricultural sector. Eggs are present in our diet every day in the form of scrambled eggs, omelets, bakery products, etc. For those who breed egg chickens, it is important to know not only what time the birds start to fly, but also about the factors that affect egg production and features process.
When chickens begin to trot
Egg-laying is a physiological process that indicates the maturity of the chicken. Wild chickens rush from 6 months of age. The development of egg breeds has led to the emergence of hens, which begin to sail from 4-5 months
- Leggorn - 4,5;
- Loman Brown - 5.5;
- Dominant - 4;
- Tetra - 4;
- Minorca - 5.
Familiarize yourself with the best egg and meat-egg breeds of chickens.
Meat-egg breeds rush from 5-6 months. These birds are not record holders of egg production, but they are raised because of balanced meat and egg indicators.
During the year, meat and egg chickens carry about 170-200 eggs. Laying of meat breeds begin to sail from 7-8 months, so they are not profitable to keep for the sake of eggs. The annual number of eggs from chickens in the meat direction is not more than 120. As the young grow, their scallops are small, pale pink in color. When the chicken is ready to carry eggs, the color of the scallop turns red and it increases in size.
Did you know? Representatives of the Minorca breed begin to sweep the earlier, the cleaner the breed line. This feature was noticed by breeders.
What affects egg production
At the beginning of the laying of eggs affect the characteristics of the breed, as well as:
- stress;
- the presence of parasites;
- diseases;
- diet.
All of these factors can delay the onset of egg-laying. Stress factors for birds are the proximity of a predator, the noise of the track, a cold coop. Egg-laying uses about 40% of the energy that is transformed in the body from food.
Find out what to do if chickens rush badly.
In the presence of parasites and diseases, the forces and resources of the body are spent on fighting pathogens, and the layer simply lacks the strength to lay an egg. 
Poultry eggs are smaller in size than adult hens In the period from 4 to 6 months in the chicken is the formation of the reproductive system. At this time, she needs an enhanced diet and enough calcium in order to establish the egg-laying process. Calcium deficiency causes the body to postpone its start at a later date.
Did you know? Birds do not rush in the dark. Some breeds rush badly in a cold microclimate, so for a stable process they need a warm coop. Even a chicken fully formed in the oviduct will not break a chicken if it considers the conditions unsuitable.
How many days a year do chickens rush
Chickens of egg breeds can carry up to 300 eggs per year, and therefore, they are carried almost daily. Representatives of meat and egg breeds rush through the day, and meat - once in 2-3 days. In terms of factory production, egg production is higher, as conditions affecting productivity are more carefully observed.
Chicken of any breed is born with a large supply of eggs, which allows it to be carried throughout its life. The bird's egg cells are small, it needs about 1-2 days to fully develop one egg, depending on the breed. 
How many years has the chicken been born
There are about 4 thousand eggs in the body, which will be enough for 11 years. But in fact chickens live from 2 to 5 years. This is due to the fact that the egg production of most breeds decreases with age, and the meat becomes more rigid. Therefore, farmers plan to replace the productive herd no later than 3-4 years.
Features of individual breeds:
- The maximum egg production of hens of egg breeds - Legorn, Tetra, Minorca, falls on the first year of life. In the second year, productivity decreases by 15% and continues to fall in subsequent years.
- Chickens meat-egg type - Oryol, Plymouth, Rhode Island, become the most productive in the second year and retain the same productivity up to three or four years of age. At the same time, adults carry larger testicles than young.
Important! Not less than 1 time per week, layers need mash on serum, since the bird's body is not able to synthesize the amino acids that are contained in eggs. Protein for their synthesis comes along with serum.
Culling chickens
Most often, rejection is a problem for beginning poultry farmers without experience. In this case, you need to watch the birds. A good layer can be seen in the nest almost daily and at about the same time of day. At other times, the bird is actively looking for food. You can mark such chickens with a ring of tin put on your paw. In the actively rushing bird, the comb and catkins are bright, full. If the birds do not shed, the feather should be clean and the hen itself is not too greasy, since the presence of excess weight makes it difficult to carry eggs. 
Experienced poultry farmers distinguish the following important features of a good layer:
- appearance;
- complexion
Any deviation in the appearance of the hen is a sign of the problem:
- Dirty feathers may indicate infection.
- A curved keel is a possible rickets.
- Seasonal moulting occurs in early autumn. Halves on chicken at other times are signs of avitaminosis, the presence of parasites, exhaustion, and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
On the head of a good laying he has a bright comb of the correct form, warm to the touch. The abdomen of the bird is elastic, soft. The back should be flat, legs straight.
The bird should not be too skinny or overly fat. The distance between the pubic bones should be equal to 4 fingers. Good layer active and vigorous.
Important! According to a study by Smith, Wilson and Brown (1954), the temperature of the air in the chicken coop is higher than +26WITH reduces egg production. Restricted access to water will also reduce productivity by almost 50% (Quisenbury studies, 1915).
How to increase egg production
Under natural conditions, chickens rush only in the warm season, with an abundance of greenery and a varied diet. Therefore, several factors can increase egg production:
- the increase in daylight in the winter time with the help of additional lighting of the chicken coop - this factor affects the representatives of any breeds;
- most breeds need a warmed chicken coop without drafts, and a warm chicken coop is required for laying hens from warm countries for stable egg laying;
- the addition of yeast to the mash in winter time will increase the energy value of the feed.
Read about how to increase the egg production of chickens in the winter and what vitamins the hens need for good productivity.
Proteins, mineral salts and vitamins in the diet have a significant effect on egg-laying. In addition, during the period of intensive egg-laying, a layer needs 2 times more nutrients.
Good and stable egg production in chickens is an aspect that is affected by many household factors - nutrition, living conditions, stress. Changing them for the better, you can achieve maximum productivity.
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