Body weight class ( 15 weeks) Grower feeder space (inches) Age at peak lay (week) Peak lay Egg production (eggs/hen) Small 6. 4 34 93.8% 186 Small 4. 3 34 83.7% 163 Medium 6. 4 31 88.8% 174 Medium 4. 3 31 91.9% 189 Large 6. 4 29 89.1% 172 Large 4. 3 31 88.4% 179 Table 3: Feeder space impact on egg production based on bird size
Increasing the feeder space in the layer house above what is provided to the birds in the pullet house will
produce broilers which are 0.25 pounds lighter at slaughter.
More feeder space in the pullet house increases the egg production of the small hens and decreases egg
production of the medium and large hens.
Breeder performance 26 to 31 weeks of age
Table 2: Impact of feeder space on fertility and weight gain
Feeder
space
Growing
(inches)
2. 8
2. 8
4. 2
4. 2
Feeder
space
Laying
(inches)
4. 1
2. 4
4. 1
2. 4
Fertility
0.961
0.964
0.979
0.968
Hatch of
fertile
Broilers
40 days
of age
Male
(pounds)
Female
(pounds)
5. 18
5. 20
5. 27
5. 14
Uniformity of feed intake
Brake said that he is more concerned about uniformity of feed intake
than about uniformity of body weight.
Because of genetic differences, uniform
feed consumption per bird will necessarily result in variation in bird size.
Competition at the feeder in the
breeder house is a good thing, according
to Brake. He said that more feeder space
means less crowding and competition
which yield more small broilers. It
is important, Brake said, for breeder
managers to pay attention to not just the
bottom line performance in the breeder
house but also performance of the
progeny in the broiler house. Breeders
get more exercise because of competition for feed space, so you have to feed
them a bit more which will cost a little
more in the breeder house but will save
money in the broiler house. Ultimately,
an integrated poultry company’s ;nal
product is not fertile eggs or chicks but
meat. The impact of management in
the breeder house can be felt far beyond
the hatchery.
“Remember to listen to your chickens, they don’t read the manuals,” Brake
said. ■
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Booth 953
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