External parasitesRed mite/ Northern fowl miteRed mite is a cause of increasing problems in layers, both free range and in colony systems. It is particularly severe in the summermonths when the weather is warm and mites are able to multiply quickly. Even light infestations can irritate the birds leading to poorperformance and feed intake, and in more severe cases infestations can lead to some or all of the following:• Mites irritate the birds and can make the flock unsettled and nervous.• The incidence of peritonitis may increase and there may be increased vent pecking.• Feed intake may be depressed.• Heavy mite infestation can depress egg production by up to 5%.• Heavy infestation will cause birds to become anaemic due to blood loss. These birds will be evident in the flock by their pale combs.If severely affected, mortality may increase.• There may be loss of shell or yolk colour and, with heavy infestations of red mite, there will be evidence of mites and mite faeces oneggs and egg belts, which may lead to downgrading of speckled eggs.• There may be an increase in floor eggs as birds will be reluctant to use heavily infested nests.• Where there are heavy mite infestations, egg collectors may experience skin irritation.Lighting programsEgg production is very closely related to changes in day length towhich the pullets are exposed. Egg numbers, egg size, livability andtotal profitability can be favourably influenced by a proper lightingprogram.1. Start pullets with 20-22 hours of light the first week at 20 luxintensity. Reduce light to 18 hours the second week. Thefollowing weeks, reduce light duration to reach 10-12 hoursday length by 7-9 weeks of age or in open houses, the longestnatural day length between 6 and 17 weeks of age.2. Provide the light stimulation when body weight is 1.50 kg,80% uniformity. The initial increase should be one hour or less.Increase light by 15-30 minutes per week or biweekly until 16hours of light is reached. Preferably the period of stimulationshould last until 28-32 weeks of age. Light intensity shouldalso be increased at housing to 10-20 lux.3. Allow no decrease in day length or light intensity in adult layers.Local sunrise-sunset timetables should be obtained to accuratelydesign individual programs. Guidelines are as follows:1. Light-controlled growing to light-controlled laying:a. Step-down day length from 20-22 hours the first week to 10hours by 7-9 weeks of age. Then maintain a constant day lengthto 17 weeks.b. Increase day length 1 hour at 1.50 kg, min 80% uniformity. Add15-30 minutes per week until 16 hours total light is reached.2. Light-controlled growing to open or brownout laying:a. Step-down day length from 20-22 hours the first week to 10hours by 7-9 weeks of age, or one hour less than natural daylength at 17 weeks of age.b. Increase to natural day length or a minimum increase of 1 hourat 1.50 kg, min 80% uniformity. Add 15-30 minutes per weekbiweekly until 16 hours total light, or at least the longest naturalday length of the year.3. Open or brownout growing to light-controlled laying:a. Step-down day length from 20-22 hours the first week to 10hours by 7-9 weeks of age or, if longer, the longest natural daylength between 6 and 17 weeks of age.b. Increase day length one hour at 1.50 kg, min 80% uniformity.Add 15-30 minutes per week or every 2 weeks until 16 hoursof total light is reached.4. Open brownout growing to open or brownout laying:a. Step-down day length from 20-22 hours the first week to 10hours by 7-9 weeks of age or the longest natural day lengthbetween 6 and 17 weeks of age.b. Increase one hour at 1.50 kg, min 80% uniformity. Add 15-30minutes per week or every 2 weeks until 16 hours of total light isreached, or at least the longest natural day length of year.Timing of light StimulationOnset of sexual maturity or egg production generally depends onfour requirements:1. A minimum chronological age which is genetically determined(18 weeks).2. A minimum body weight (1.50 kg) min 80% uniformity.3. A nutrient intake to support production.4. A constant or increasing day length of at least 12 hours.Light stimulation should not be provided until flocks reach theoptimum body weight of 1.50 kg min 80% uniformity. Flocks whichare light stimulated into production at lower body weights willlikely produce below normal egg size and suffer from reduced peakproduction and post peak drops in production.Timing of light stimulation can be used as a tool to help attaindesired egg size. In general, earlier light stimulation will result in afew more eggs per hen, but at a trade-off for slightly reduced eggsize. Later light stimulation will result in a few less total eggs, but aslightly larger egg size earlier in production. In this way, lightingprograms can be customized to best meet the egg size demand ofa particular market.Midnight feedingAn optional lighting technique that will promote more feed consumptionis the ‘midnight feeding’. The technique involves turningthe lights on for 1 hour in the middle of the dark period and runningthe feeders during this time. For a typical layer lighting programwith 16 hours of light and 8 hours dark, the night would consist of3.5 hours of darkness, one hour of light, and 3.5 hours of darkness.The regular 16 hour light period should not be changed. The hourof light can be added all at once, but if it is removed at a later time,that should be done gradually, at the rate of 15 minutes per week.Midnight feeding will generally increase feed intake about 2-5 g/dayper bird (0.4-1.0 lb/day per100 birds). The technique is applicablefor heat stress conditions, or any time more feed intake is desired ineither growing or laying flocks.Planning Individual Light ProgramsWhen open-type houses are used, which allow natural daylightto affect the flock, the lighting program must be planned in conjunctionwith changes in the natural day length. Because no twoplaces have the same sunrise-sunset times year-round, it isimpractical to suggest time clock settings that would apply to alllocations. To prevent early sexual development, find the natural daylength at 17 weeks of age and hold that day length constant withartificial lights from 8 to 17 weeks .For the most precise planning, custom lighting programsfor any location worldwide are available on the <strong>Hy</strong>-<strong>Line</strong>website (www.hyline.com).<strong>Commercial</strong> Management Guide 10
Table 10 | Recommended lighting programs - Light controlled housingAGE( WEEKS)AGE( DAYS)EARLY MATURITYCAGE REARED(HOURS)DELAYED MATURITYCAGE REARED(HOURS)LIGHT INTENSITY(LUX)1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132330-78-1415-2122-2829-3536-4243-4950-5657-6364-7071-7778-8485-9192-9899-105106-112113-119120-126127-133134-140141-147148-154155-161162-168169-175176-182183-189190-196197-203204-210211-217218-224225-2312017141110101010101010101010101010111212.51313.51414.2514.514.751515.2515.515.7516161620181614121010101010101010101010101010111212.51313.51414.2514.514.751515.2515.515.751620151515151515151515151515151510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-1510-15It is very important on transfer into laying quarters that light intensity is compatible with rearing house.The recommendation on light intensity is only a <strong>guide</strong>, as wide variations will be seen in some cage laying systems.It is important the <strong>Hy</strong>-<strong>Line</strong> <strong>Brown</strong> does not have a large light increase at any one time, because this could result in an over consumptionof feed and may cause EODES, (Erratic Ovulation and Defective Egg Syndrome).Gradual light increases during peak help maintain the high levels of the two hormones - Luteinizing Hormone and theFollicle Stimulating Hormone.If additional egg weight is required, the ‘delayed lighting’ program should be used. This will delay maturity by approximately 7 daysbut egg weight will be increased. In addition light stimulation should not be introduced until body weight has reached 1500g.Reduce light intensity if and when necessary. Ensure all birds have equal light intensity.<strong>Commercial</strong> Management Guide 11
Change language