How a hen lays an egg
Breeding poultry requires the farmer to have as much knowledge as possible about the characteristics of the species. How does a hen lay eggs? We will analyze in detail the physiological subtleties of the process that will help increase the productivity of pets and we can see all this in the video.
How a hen lays eggs
Formation features
Unlike wild domestic chickens, they rush not only when it is necessary to breed. Compliance with certain rules will allow you to get up to 300 units per year from one individual. However, budding farmers can make mistakes that hurt productivity.
How does the corydalis rush? A huge number of cells are formed in the ovaries of the female, which are at different stages of development. The matured element leaves the follicle and gradually moves into the oviduct. The yolk is "overgrown" with protein and shells. The whole process takes approximately 20 hours.
After the hen has produced an egg, the genitals will release the next cage. On average, it takes from 30 to 40 minutes. The presence of a rooster does not affect performance. Females rush in any case, even if it is not there, only chickens cannot be removed from such specimens. To obtain incubation material, one male is needed for every 10 or 15 individuals.
Egg structure
The products are an amazing creation of nature. It was created for the formation and development of chicks, therefore, all the necessary substances are concentrated in it.
- Yolk. This cell contains a huge amount of carotenoids and makes up at least 30% of the total volume.
- Protein. It will be a breeding ground for the baby, representing a protein-fat mass with carbohydrates. It takes up about 60% of the egg size. The natural antibiotic lysocine protects the product from spoilage.
- Shell. The natural shield protects from destruction. It accounts for up to 15% of the total.
The chick is formed in the yolk within a month, so it is enclosed in a strong shell. Protein ropes will fix the element well in the middle of the protein mass, and the embryo can easily turn around its axis. At the blunt end of the egg there is an air chamber for gas exchange, because there is no direct access to oxygen.
How are two-yolk specimens obtained? Two cells can simultaneously enter the female reproductive tract. Next comes the formation according to the natural plan. Most often, broilers and old layers that have been rushing for a long time are prone to this pathology.
There are a few breeds in which this deviation is cultivated. Hormonal disturbance leads to a change in natural productivity, therefore it is dangerous in nature. The eggs become stuck inside the bird, causing illness and death.
When they start to rush
When do birds ripen and how do hens lay eggs? It all depends on the characteristics of the breed. Egg species start on 120-140 days after birth, and meat - at the age of no earlier than 8 months. Representatives of the mixed type will delight farmers in six months.
Produce from pullets can be recognized visually. Often, the first copies are very small and the process does not differ in a stable frequency. If the owner was fond of using hormonal drugs, then the young hen will lay an egg with two yolks. During this period, "fatty" samples are possible - solid protein.
It must be remembered that physical maturity in these breeds occurs at the age of 145 days after birth, so do not worry. During this period, it is necessary to improve the diet of the Corydalis and create optimal conditions for keeping. After 3 weeks, they should adapt and the glitches will stop.
Characteristic features of laying hens
How to identify a female with good performance at home? These chickens have practically no maternal instinct. They can carry up to 300 copies a year, but they never try to cluck or "run away" from the masonry in a couple of days. The price of high productivity is the lack of procreation cravings.
In order for chickens to fly perfectly, they must have a number of characteristic features:
- weight does not exceed 2.5 kg;
- well-developed bright lobes and crest;
- light skeleton;
- wide wingspan;
- compact size;
- increased mobility;
- early ripening (at 4 months).
It is important to remember, however, that record holders quickly deplete their performance. Egg production requires a lot of energy from the bird, and every year it decreases by 10%. To extend the process, experienced farmers are organizing increased nutrition and increasing daylight hours.
Breeds
Over the years of breeding and working with chickens, geneticists have bred the perfect laying hen, so now you can choose a bird to suit your needs. Which of the presented varieties is the most productive? Let's analyze the main favorites.
White chickens Leghorn - This is the most popular breed of domestic laying hens. Almost all modern specimens are obtained by crossing this species. Representatives of this "genus" delighted farmers with maximum fertility (up to 370 pieces per year) and egg size. They begin to rush without interruption from 17 weeks after birth.
Black chicken Minorca has a bright scarlet crest and white earrings. Despite its diminutiveness and decorativeness, the bird produces a large product in a dense shell - up to 80 g per specimen. Early maturation of young animals and good returns will allow the breed to be grown in any farm.
Andalusian blue will delight the farmer with a perfectly white and smooth medium-sized egg. Compact birds with an annual fecundity of just over 160 specimens. undemanding to care and not capricious will appeal to beginners. The multi-colored Borkowski chickens will surprise you with their giant brown products.
Hybrids
Running shoes have maximum impact, therefore they are popular among professionals and amateurs. As with plants, the acquired qualities are not passed on to the next generation. Hybrids are obtained through complex breeding work.
Sussex Star and Nova brown chickens produce a large number of eggs, which can be white or dark in color. The unpretentious Black Star cross can carry up to 270 copies in the first year of use. The red hybrid Tetra SL shows productivity at the age of five months.
By the way, breeding work does not stand still, and scientists are ready to surprise farmers with new results. Tailless Arakuna are characterized by a red rooster and colored hens. But the highlight of the cross is the blue and blue eggs, striking in the photo and video. When crossed with a breed that produces brown shells, the result is green and pink coated hybrids.
Power features
With the wrong diet, even the most productive cross will not be able to show all its characteristics. A beginner needs to know the intricacies of growing egg breeds so that they rush well. Any mistake with chickens and adults will lead to irreparable results.
Feeding spend 4 times a day. More attention is paid to procedures in the morning and evening. Professionals advise giving not only compound feed and grain, but also wet mash. In order for the birds to rush without problems and not peck the shell, it is necessary to include mineral supplements with calcium and phosphorus.
With a poor diet in childhood, adult chickens will not show all the characteristics of the breed. Chickens will start to get into trouble as the skeleton and feathers form. To avoid trouble, it is better to give protein-containing feed and culinary debris (fish scales, entrails, ground animal bones).
Features of the content
What should be done to ensure that the bird reaches its full potential? According to the standards for 1 sq. m should be at least 5 females. Crowded content affects productivity. The number of nests also affects the herd. Farmers are obliged to make as many comfortable perches as they need for the whole family and provide them with heat.
Lighting Is another factor affecting the quantity and quality of eggs. Birds need thirteen hour daylight hours. Additional equipment is installed in the chicken coop.
Lighting should not blind the hen. If the chicken coop is designed so that a lot of direct sunlight gets into it, then protective curtains should be made of burlap.
Every day, chickens must be released into fresh air. Irradiation with ultraviolet light affects the absorption of vitamin D. In the conditions of the pen, laying hens lose their productivity. During regular walking, you need to ventilate the chicken coop.
In order for the birds to produce eggs better, you need to monitor the temperature. Cold and heat in the room affects the quality and quantity of products. Optimally, it is recommended to keep warm at 23 to 25 ° C. Oscillations to either side are undesirable. In the summer heat, females often carry specimens without shells.
Improved productivity
Many farmers have faced a situation where poultry “stop production”. How can you get chickens to lay eggs? There are proven folk methods that should correct the vagaries of nature.
It is necessary to revise the diet and choose a balanced professional nutrition. Cereals, vegetables and herbs should form the basis of the menu. For the formation of the shell, mineral supplements, shell rock and bone meal are used. It is important to check if the coop has easy access to fresh, cool water. Layers drink plenty of liquid before bed and after they have produced an egg.
Each hen has its own internal alarm clock, which introduces it to periods of fertility and rest. To speed up the time to receive products, farmers provoke molt by the herd. To do this, the livestock is sent on a short-term diet, after which a lot of feed containing yeast is added to the diet. Stress causes crested feathers to change feathers and they will soon be rushing again.
Common problems
Newbies are often faced with content difficulties. What to do, if bird pecks an egg? Usually the disease affects one individual, but after a while the whole chicken coop is engaged in sabotage.
If there are no errors in the conditions of detention, then the reason should be sought in the regular feeding of eggshells to the livestock. Layers get used to the smell and appearance of the product, so they use it as their main source of calcium. It is worth at least once to try the protein and yolk, it will be difficult to wean you from committing a "crime".
In crowded conditions, an aggressive female may appear, which loves to feed on the protein mass of the nest. Many chickens repeat after their fellow tribesmen and adopt dangerous habits. It is recommended to observe the herd for some time and identify the culprit. Such an individual revolves near the places where the birds rushed.
Knowing the characteristics of chicken reproduction, you can get the most out of a small population. You learned how a complex process works and what needs to be done in order not to make common mistakes.The data will be useful for both novice and experienced farmers.