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Tips on the management of rearing pullets in aviaries

With this article, Zucami’s technical team intends to present TIPS to help our customers in the management of rearing in aviaries in order to obtain the maximum production potential of the hen in the laying house.

The goal of rearing is to obtain a pullet that is prepared and educated so that its behavior in the laying house is adequate.

Therefore, the management of pullet rearing in an aviary system is different from the management of pullet rearing in conventional cages.

The rearing-breeding aviary should be as similar as possible to the laying aviary system:

The pullet should know as much as possible about the environment where it will develop its productive life, being more calm and developing what it has learned during rearing.

In pullet rearing, there are 3 very important phases in which the management process changes considerably.

The pullet should know as much as possible about the environment where it will develop its productive life, being more calm and developing what it has learned during rearing.

FROM 0 TO 5 WEEKS OF LIFE:

In this phase we must verify that the day-old chick has been transported in the right way, and that the conditions of temperature, humidity, light, water and feed in the hatchery are appropriate.

Chicks are not able to self-regulate their body temperature until they are 7-10 days old, so we must provide them with heat during this period.

We must respect the densities and take into account the minimum ventilation in this phase, since highly charged or saturated environments will reduce the vitality of our birds

After 12 hours after the arrival of the chicks, we must check that at least 80% of them have eaten and after 24 hours that all of them have eaten, by means of palpation of the crop.

We must check and monitor that the consumption of the pullets is in accordance with what the standard indicates.

Pullets eat according to what they drink, so we must make sure that all pullets are consuming water.

FROM 5 TO 10 WEEKS OF AGE:

At this stage the pullets complete their muscle development, cortical bone and skeletal growth.

The opening of the cages to allow access to the floor should be staggered to avoid crowding and suffocation.

At this stage, BEDDING is fundamental and therefore we must make sure that all the pullets sleep in their cages. This action or task must be carried out daily.

FROM 15 WEEKS OF AGE:

At this stage, the pullet initiates the process of sexual maturity, developing the entire reproductive tract.

In this phase the lighting conditions, number of hours and intensity should be the same as in the laying aviary.

Free space in the aviary:

As soon as the weight and uniformity of the flock allows it, we must increase the free space offered by the aviary so that the birds get used to jump, fly and move freely throughout the space.

Consumption monitoring:

Daily monitoring of water and feed consumption, as well as weekly monitoring of body weight and homogeneity, will provide information on the evolution and progression of the flock.

Dedication of the staff in charge:

The person in charge of the aviary must be very responsible and know that his/her effort and sacrifice must be continuous and daily.