How to feed chickens in winter for egg production
An experienced farmer does not have problems with breeding birds, but for beginners, the question of why chickens do not rush in winter torments them quite often. The reason for the lack of fertility in chickens in the winter period of time can be covered in various aspects. One of the most common is when the bird reaches the age of infertility, that is, the aging of the hen.
Why chickens don't rush in winter
There are a number of other reasons to look out for. It is necessary to identify the main one and immediately eliminate it so that the chickens can restore their egg production and continue to generate income for their owner. This article will just tell you about why the productivity of birds has decreased, and will also teach you what to do to make the chickens fly in winter.
Reasons for stopping hens from laying eggs
First of all, it is worth considering the factor of the bird's age or the presence of any diseases... If the problem occurs only in a certain season (during the winter season), the following should be taken into account:
- The bird changes the place of laying eggs. Often chickens can arbitrarily change the place for laying, this is not explained by any factors. You just need to be more careful and not panic ahead of time: you just need to check the entire chicken coop for clutches, often poultry farmers find them in the most unusual places.
- Incorrectly selected diet for poultry and inadequate diet. Often, the cessation of egg-laying by hens is the result of improper feeding of the bird. It is important to maintain the mineral balance of the laying hen during the cold season and do not forget to include in the diet bone meal, shell rock, wheat bran, wheat, fish fat, various greens, vegetables, barley, whey, that is, to fully feed.
- Lack of water. Due to the lack of water, the productivity of the laying hen may decrease, and in some cases, even be reduced to zero. It is important not to forget to constantly check for the presence of high-quality fresh drinking water in the chicken coop, it should be in the region of 10-15 ° C. It is imperative for hens to drink water during egg laying and in the evenings before bedtime.
- Incorrectly selected temperature regime. Changes in air temperature, sudden changes, too cold or too hot air can lead to decreased egg production, stress and loss of productivity. To avoid this, care must be taken to maintain the optimal temperature in the house during the cold season.
- Incorrect light mode. This factor is one of the most widespread and influential: the fact is that with an incorrect light regime, the biological rhythms in the body of the laying hen get confused and it ceases to be productive. In closed rooms in winter, the light regime should be set artificially; it is better if it is blocky, with smooth transitions and works with an automatic timer.
- The emergence of stressful situations.Stress in birds disrupts the functioning of all body systems, they are very vulnerable and painfully endure stressful situations: transportation, a sharp change in diet, cold snap or warming, excessive fatigue, aggression from other chickens. To resume egg production, it is necessary to eliminate the stress factor and restore the body of the laying hen, preparing it for laying eggs.
- Fatigue and general malaise. These factors also often cause temporary loss of fertility in chickens. At a young age (up to 2 years), young animals give a good indicator of egg production, but in subsequent years, fatigue of birds is considered a completely normal process. This is a short-term phenomenon and it will go away if the bird is given proper care and the necessary rest.
- Molting period... During the plumage change, the laying hens stop giving offspring. This is quite normal, because in their body during such a period there are not enough minerals and vitamins; there is no need to panic, the only thing to do is to feed the birds with mineral supplements and mash with the addition of wheat bran and other sources of micro- and macroelements.
Very often, the reason lies precisely in these factors, a more rare case is the appearance of some kind of disease in a chicken. If, after eliminating all of the above factors, the bird does not resume laying, you should contact your veterinarian.
Veterinary clinics make the life of farmers much easier, and it is better to detect the disease early than to eliminate its consequences for a few more years. For this, you need to regularly check the health of the wards and take care of them properly.
Influence of breed on chicken egg production
Many indicators of the level of egg production of birds depend on what breed of bird.
All chickens are divided into egg, meat and egg-meat breeds. Each of them has its own characteristics and characteristics. Let's talk about each type of chicken breeds in more detail.
Egg hens
Egg hens (layers) got their name due to their main property - an excellent indicator of egg production. These chickens have a low body weight, but an excellent egg laying rate. The eggs of such hens are most appreciated: they are large and rich in all the necessary elements. Examples of chickens that fall into this category:
Such breeds, according to statistics, bring from 220 to 310 eggs per year. The eggs are large, up to 80 g in weight, and the laying chickens are resilient and adapt well to environmental conditions. In the video you can see that the birds of this breed differ significantly from other members of the chicken family.
Meat breeds
The next group is meat breeds. Laying hens of such species have not only good egg-laying rates, but also a rather large body weight, which distinguishes them from simple egg breeds. Examples:
- Silver adler;
- Master Gray;
- Amrox;
- Belfelder;
- Arschotz.
Chickens of such breeds lay large eggs (60-80 g), reach a mass of up to 5 kg and continue to lay eggs stably throughout the year. This process is especially well activated in winter. For breeding such breeds in winter, a special room is not required: they have high indicators of vitality in case of temperature changes
Meat breeds
The last of the categories that have been agreed is meat breeds (or broilers). Such chickens are raised specifically for slaughter, these birds have fatty meat and do not rush well. Their eggs are used to breed new chicks, not for food. If these hens begin to lay poorly or stop laying eggs altogether in winter, the only thing to do is to pay more attention to the house of the poultry house.
You can examine each breed in more detail in the photo and video.
How and what to feed chickens in winter
If it happens that birds that lay perfectly in summer suddenly stop giving eggs in winter, and there is no reason for concern in the arrangement of their home, it is best to take into account another point, namely, feeding the birds during cold weather.
If in summer the chicken gets enough nutrients from fresh grass and lives quietly for itself, then in winter, with changes in temperature, rushing birds are forced to spend more energy to maintain the desired temperature of their own body. As a result, the farmer must do everything possible to stabilize the condition of his wards and add all the necessary products to their diet that will provide good nutrition.
For chickens to rush in winter, it is inappropriate to give only grain. List of products that are recommended to be added to the menu of laying hens during the winter cold:
- bone flour;
- salt;
- dried grass harvested since summer;
- wheat bran;
- fermented baked milk \ yogurt \ kefir or other fermented milk products;
- oats;
- wheat;
- potatoes / carrots / beets and other root vegetables;
- sunflower cake.
The above nutrient-rich foods should be included in the mash. If you know how to feed the birds correctly and with what, you can bring them to a good level of egg production. They should not be used as a substitute for the main feed, but must be consumed, especially with changes in temperature.
Laying chickens also require proper drinker maintenance in order to consume good water and to be able to lay eggs. You don't need to do anything special in the care of the drinkers: just keep them clean and check the presence and freshness of water inside.
It is extremely important to remember that chickens fly as well in winter as in summer, only if all the conditions for keeping birds are observed, provide them with proper care and maintenance, feed them with a carefully and well-chosen diet, do everything possible to make the chickens feel comfortable. security. There are simply no other options to adjust egg production.