Eliminating non-laying hens is essential for maximizing the efficiency of your chicken flock. Typically, about 15% of the chickens should be culled based on their productivity and health. Selecting the right time to cull and identifying which chickens to remove requires careful observation and experience. Here are some of my personal insights that I hope will help others in their poultry management.
1. During morning feeding, observe the chickens as they eat. Pay attention to those that don't show enthusiasm for food. After feeding, check if any chickens are lying down or staying inactive in their cages. These may be signs of poor health or low productivity.
2. Between 6 AM and 11 AM, when hens are usually laying eggs, watch for chickens that appear weak or unsteady. If a hen is not standing upright, gently take her out and check if she has laid an egg. If so, carefully remove the egg and administer two doses of an antibiotic. Chickens that do not lay eggs during this period should be considered for elimination.
3. Hens with unusually red combs, especially those that look like blood or have a dry, purple appearance, should be culled. This could indicate illness or poor circulation.
4. Chickens with raised feathers and a flat, swollen belly may be suffering from serious health issues and should be removed from the flock.
5. Hens that have not been properly raised, such as those with poor growth or underdeveloped features, should be eliminated to maintain overall flock quality.
6. Observe the color of the chicken's claws. Those with yellow or pale claws may be signs of malnutrition or disease and should be culled.
7. If a chicken is constantly stretching its head upward and panting through its mouth, it might be experiencing respiratory distress or heat stress. Such birds should be removed immediately.
8. After 40 weeks of laying, if a hen is visibly small and cannot be easily grasped between two fingers, it may no longer be productive and should be culled.
9. Any chicken that shows unusual behavior, such as aggression, lethargy, or strange movements, should be eliminated to prevent the spread of disease and maintain flock stability.
By regularly monitoring your flock and following these guidelines, you can ensure that only the healthiest and most productive hens remain, ultimately improving the overall performance of your poultry operation.
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