LAYERS
Layers are efficient egg
producers, breeds used for eggs production in the industrial production system
are almost entirely based on the
White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red. Selection
and crossbreeding techniques have resulted in productive laying hens producing
15 – 19Kg of eggs per year. In layer production, sometimes 2 phases of
production are recognised:
1. Growing phase up to approximately 140
days, and
2. Productive phase from 140 – 560 days.
ROOSTERS
Roosters may produced
with male and female chicks.
Usually, males of dual-purpose hybrid are used.
The females of these hybrids are commercially suitable as layers, while both
the females and males, and particularly the latter, are suitable as table
birds. The same hybrids are suitable for producing poussins. The hybrids of the
birds used are the Rhode Island Red, Sussex
Plymouth Rock and sometimes the meat strain of the Leghorn. The birds
are reared as pullet chicks with adequate floor space and on the growers diet.
