There are various strains of chicken available today in the market, according to farmpally poultry journal.

The broilers are mainly white while the layers have three major colours which are black, brown, and white. 

The brown and black layers produce brown eggs while the white layers produce white eggs.

White layers

The white layers are yet to be widely accepted although some farmers keep them, Akin chaktty. 

• The white eggs are fewer and cheaper in the market compared to the brown eggs.

• They are mostly light breeds

• They are nervous

• They require less feed to produce an egg

• Their carcass value after the production cycle is very small which is about 2.0kg

• They produce about 320-335 eggs in 76 weeks.

The black and brown layers

• They are mostly heavy breeds

• They are very docile

• Their feed consumption is slightly higher

• They produce about 316 eggs in 76 weeks

• Their cockerels how faster than white cockerels

• They are comparably hardier and can withstand tougher conditions of weather and diseases.

• Their carcass value is more after the production cycle which is about 2.18kg

Performance indicators for layer

Laying house mortality   -   12% a year

Age at 5% egg production      -   147 days

Age at 50% egg production   -  168 days

Hen production at peak   -   187 days

Kg of feed for a dozen egg    -  2.35kg

Egg weight      -  59.5g

Average feed intake per hen per day 135-140

 

Management of Layers

How to recognize pullets coming to lay

Depending on the strain of the pullets, laying could start at 19 weeks of age for lighter strains and 22 weeks for heavier strains. the following characteristics could suggest that your chickens are about to commence laying.

Pullets start crackling, making noise

Wattles and combs become larger, brighter and reddish

Pullets start looking for laying nests.

 

Culling parameters for layers

The under-listed parameters can be used in differentiating the active layers from the poor layers that are to be culled. these include-