Eggs should be collected from a flock that is 25 weeks old and above. Younger flock has small eggs and its fertility is low. The eggs from an older flock are easily fragile. Their shells are thin.
It’s recommended that eggs be stored in a cool humid area. Ideal storage conditions include 13 degrees Celsius and 75 per cent relative humidity.
The eggs shouldn’t be cleaned with water because the shell is made of calcium, which is soluble in water. Cleaning weakens the shell and makes it vulnerable to bacterial infection. This could kill the embryo even before incubation.
Human hands tend to be naturally oily. Touching eggs with oily hands may result in the blockage of the pores in the shell. This may deprive the developing embryo of vital oxygen.
The brooder house accommodates one-day-old chicks until they turn four to five weeks. This is considered the most critical and energy-sapping stage in the development of poultry production. The chicks here feed on chick mash.
The growers house takes care of chickens between nine and 20 weeks before the onset of laying. Chicken feed on growers’ mash which has a protein content of 15 to 17 per cent. This phase lasts about three months.
Growers may be either housed separately from chicks or continue to be reared in brooder-cum-grower houses. It is important to provide them with all the nutritional requirements, particularly between weeks 17 and 20, as their reproductive organs develop during this period.
The parent stock serving the farm with eggs for hatching is kept in the breeders house. The breeder flock is of different ages. Some are young, while others are old. The flock feeds on breeders’ formulation. This is a feed formula that meets the nutritional requirement for quality egg production and for healthy embryo development.
Egg production is stimulated by daylight. Therefore as the day progresses, so does the increase in laying. Artificial lighting is introduced for two to three hours to increase the laying period to about 20 to 30 per cent lay.
The Kalro Poultry Research Unit has developed two breed lines that have been registered by Kenya Livestock Breeders Association.
The Kalro indigenous chicken has been improved in a number of characteristics. It’s fast-growing and easily adapts to arid and semi-arid regions.
It matures within five months. Females have a weight of 1.8 kg and males 2kg. Disease resistance has been increased.
The production of eggs is between 220-280 eggs in contrast to the indigenous chicken which lays about 60 eggs per year.
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya
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