Small-scale egg production

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTUREREPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Small-scale egg production

Acknowledgements

Gavin Mac GregorHeifer Project, South Africa

This publication is available on the web: www.nda.agric.za/publications

2004

Revised by Directorate Animal and Aqua Production ServicesDepartment of Agriculture

2000 (Reprinted)1998 (First print)

Compiled by Directorate Agricultural Information Services, Department of Agricultureand Lowveld College of Agriculture: Non-formal Training and AgriculturalExtension, Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture

Printed and published byDepartment of Agriculture

and obtainable fromResource Centre, Directorate Agricultural Information ServicesPrivate Bag X144, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa

Introduction ..................................................................... 1

Why keep hens? ............................................................... 2

Cage .................................................................................... 3

Hens .................................................................................... 5

Eggs .................................................................................... 7

Feed .................................................................................... 8

Manure ............................................................................... 9

Health and disease .......................................................... 10

How to make your own cage .......................................... 11

Contents

iii

As a result of the high cost of meat, people areconstantly looking for a cheaper source of protein.Eggs provide a valuable yet affordable source of highquality protein and vitamins required for normal growth,especially for children.

This guide will show you how to build, manage andmaintain your own affordable household egg productionunit on a small scale. Later on you can increase the sizeof your unit in order to sell eggs in your community, ifthe demand for eggs is big enough.

The information given is based on poultry productionin the warmer to hot areas of South Africa.

Introduction

1

You can provide eggsfor your family bykeeping 9 to12 hens.

Each hen will lay up to6 eggs per week. In this way youcan even start your own small business.

If you have 9 hens, they will lay 8 to 9 eggs perday. You will need to sell 4 eggs per day to pay forthe feed of the hens. The remaining eggs can beused for household consumption.

Eggs provide a valuable yet affordable source ofhigh quality protein and vitamins required fornormal growth, especiallyfor children, when meatis too expensive or isunavailable.

If there is a demand for eggs in your area, youcould expand and sell more of the eggs.

Why keep hens?

2

It is best to keep thehens in a cage.

This means that:

the hens can bekept in a small space

the hens are kept in a cleaner environment

the eggs are not broken easily

the eggs stay clean

the eggs can be collected easily

the hens get fewer diseases

there is less chance of hens being stolen

they need very little care

it is very easy to keep the cage clean as themanure falls through the mesh floor

you can easily see when drinking water is finished

feed is not wasted easily

it makes good record keeping possible.

Cage

3

You can buy the cage or make your own.It is, however, cheaper to make the cage yourself(see instructions on page 11).

The cage should not stand on the ground to ensurethat the manure falls through.

Put the cage on poles, bricks or fasten it to thewall of a house, hut, shed or hang it from ropes tiedto poles.

The cage should be protected from overhead sunand rain by an overhang or roof (e.g. thatch).

In hot climates keep 9 hens in a cage—3 in eachcompartment.

(In this way there is enough space for limitedmovement, and they can all get to the feedtrough at once.)

In cold climates, 4 hens can be kept in onecompartment (total of 12), but then theirmovement is very limited.

4

You can buy day-old chicks and rear them, but thisis expensive and often the chicks dieif they do not receive good care.

It is better to buy young hens,called point-of-lay pullets(18–19 weeks old) which areready to start laying eggs.

The hens you buy must be of very good quality andbe fully vaccinated against all known poultrydiseases.

The best layer breeds to buy are: Amberlink orHy-line laying hens—these hens will start layingwithin 2 weeks after being bought (20–21 weeksof age).

First (pullet) eggs are small, but gradually becomelarger after about 2 months.

The number of eggs laid also peaks halfwaythrough the year and then starts dropping.

The hens should be kept for one year and thensold as cull hens. If the feed is very cheap, thehens can be kept up to 2 years.

Hens

5

If you keep the hens for longer than one year,they will start laying fewer eggs until they stopaltogether.

They will, however, eat the same amount of food,so profits become less and the enterpriseeventually uneconomical.

Before selling thehens for slaughter,you must order newpullets. Do this atleast four monthsahead of time.

You can only startselling your old hensonce the new hens

are in production, especially if you have standingorders with clients and do not want to disappointthem.

The money made from the old hens will pay forthe new hens.

6

In order for the hens to lay as many eggs aspossible, they must have enough light.

They need 16 hours of lightevery day.

This can be done easily if you haveelectricity,because you can put the lights onbefore sunrise and let them stay on for somehours after sunset.

If you do not have electricity, the hens will not layas many eggs as they would with the extraelectric light.

To get maximum egg production without electricity,place your cage outside where the hens can makeuse of natural light.

Do not put the cage in direct sunlight—the henswill get too hot and die.

With 16 hours of light every day,each hen will lay about 280 eggsin one year and without extralight they will lay about200 eggs.

Eggs

7

To lay well, the hens must get the bestpossible feed.

Hens need plenty of calciumin their diets to lay eggswith hard, strong shells.

It is best to buy a goodcommercial feed such aslaying mash/pellets.The mash is speciallyformulated to provide allthe nutrients they need inthe correct quantities.You can buy this feed at mostcooperatives.

Feed must be available in the troughat all times, as well as cool, freshwater in the bottles.

Layingmash

Pellets

Prevent wastage, do notoverfill the trough

Feed

8

Each hen will eat 120 to 150 g of feed per day(some will be wasted, landing on the floor).

One bag of feed (50 kg) will last approximately1 month—make sure that you have bought enoughfeed (2 months supply) before the hens arrive.

Make sure that you have a permanent supply offresh drinking water for the hens.

Fresh manure can be covered with a layer of sawdustor dried leaves, grass or any other dry vegetationevery day. It will become good compost if turnedregularly. This method also helps to remove badsmells.

The manure can be soldin feed bags as organicfertiliser or compostfor vegetable gardens.You can also use it foryour own garden or vegetablegarden or lawn or cattle pastures.

Manure

Old feed bags

9

If you buy point-of-lay pullets froma reliable producer, they will befully vaccinated against all majordiseases—no need for you to buyvaccines.

To make sure that the hens adaptquickly to their new home, give themStresspack in their drinking water when theyarrive at your home.

If there is a sudden serious outbreak or epidemicof a specific poultry disease in your area (e.g.Newcastle disease), vaccinate all hens against thedisease immediately. If the hens get lice, treatthem with Karbadust powder.

Keep wild birds away from the hens and their feed,to prevent the spread of the disease to the hens.

Make sure that the hens at all times:have clean, fresh, cool water(wash water bottles once a month)have enough fresh feed(throw wet, mouldy or rotten feed away)are kept under shelter away from the sun,rain and cold.

Health and disease

10

Be sure to make your cage strong enough to carry9 to 12 hens.

The size of the cage must be 120 cm long by70 cm wide by 45 cm high.

You can build it from galvanised welded mesh,cane, bamboo or wattle sticks.

The floor of the cage must be made of weldedmesh so that the hens’ droppings will fall through.This ensures that the floor on which they standstays clean.

How to make your own cage

11

10 19

5meter

A r t l i n e70

@mark ing pen

q w e rd f g h j kw q r f x ps f c m

Small spanner Marking pen

Hammer

Hacksaw Tin-snips Pliers

Tools you will need

Measuring tapeWire cutter

Material you will need

2 l plastic colddrink bottles Old feed bags

Hose pipe—old, second-hand or damaged pipe

Gutter

Gutters

WELDED MESH

Galvanised welded mesh(type = 25 x 50 mm)

Metal frame

3 drinking nipples

12

Weldedmesh

Gutter

120 cm

180 cm

5meter

Cut the right length ofmesh, 180 x 120 cm,and bend it until flat

Use a hammer to flatten themesh and keep the edges andcorners flat and sharp

CageMeasure and cut the welded mesh

Bend the mesh around the frame

Get your frame ready

Attach the mesh to the framewith pieces of wire (securetightly)

13

Cut every second tip off forboth inside panels

Cut the binding wires

Separate the mesh from theframe after cutting the binding wires

120 cm

180 cm

5meter

Cut the 4 panels55 x 45 cm, 2 forinside and 2 foroutside

Measure and cut 4 side panels

14

Cut every second tip off on the 2 outside panels

Use pliers to fasten the 2 insidepanels to form 3 equally sizedcompartments

Fasten the 2 outside panels.Neaten, cut off or bend allsharp points or edges

Cut 3 corners off for the2 inside panels

Fasten the panels

15

140 cm

120 cm

10 cm

10 cm

Use a hacksaw to cut a piece of gutter,140 cm long

Mark off 10 cm at eachend of the gutter andcut along the bends

Neaten and flatten by using the hammerand pliers. Remove sharp edges

Lastly, make a small hole on each end for securing thefeeder to the cage with wire

Feeder

Fold eachpieceinward

16

Punch holes in each bottle cap using a nail andhammer—do not remove the plastic innerlining of the cap

Use a hand drill to enlarge the holes so thatthe nipple will fit tightly

Screw in the nipple until it fits well

Punch a hole onthe bottom ofthe bottle witha hammer andknife to make asmall openingfor air to flow in

Screw the cap and turn the bottle up-side down andattach the bottles to the cage in the centre of eachcompartment

Use pliers to bend the mesh slightly for the bottletop to fit in tightly

Drinkers

Unscrew the capof the bottle andfill it with waterbut close theopening under-neath with yourfinger to preventleaking

17

Your cage is now readyWhen putting the cage into position, remember toslant it forward slightly so that the eggs, once laid,can roll down the slope gently into the egg tray.Test this before securing the cage.

Plastic pipe protectionPrevent injury to the hens’ necks by making sure thatthe pipe used is smooth

Secure the pipes with wire or cable ties. Make surethat any sharp ends of the ties or wire are cut offshort and are facing away from the hens’ necks

Fit one pipe over the backedge of the gutter and theother one over the top ofthe cage opening

Cut 2 lengths (200 x 120 cm)of old plastic irrigation pipeor hosepipe

Slit both pipes open alongtheir length

18

19

MA

NA

GEM

ENT

PRO

GRA

MM

E FO

R LA

YERS

(P.O

.L) 1

8–20

wks

Act

ivity

*18

-20w

ks P

oint

-of-

laying

(P.

O.L

)*Cu

lling

period

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

1.Po

int

of la

y pu

llets

arr

ive

X

2.Gi

ve s

tres

spac

k in

wat

er d

urin

g ar

riva

lX

3.D

aily

insp

ecti

on o

f un

heal

thy

chic

ksX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

4.Co

llect

ion

and

reco

rd o

f m

orta

lity

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

X

5.Cl

ean

wate

r bo

ttle

s an

d su

pply

alw

ays

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

X

6.En

sure

tha

t en

ough

fre

sh f

eed

is a

vaila

ble

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

X

7.Co

llect

ion

of e

ggs

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

X

8.Re

cord

ing

of e

ggs

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

X

9.O

rder

new

pul

lets

bef

ore

culli

ng o

r se

lling

X

10.T

ake

out

the

bag

with

man

ure

unde

r th

e ca

geX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

X

11.B

uy e

noug

h fe

ed a

mon

th b

efor

e ne

wfl

ock

arr

ive

X

12.I

f th

ere

are

lice,

tre

at w

ith

Karb

adus

t/Bl

ue d

eath

pow

der

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

X

NB:

*La

yers

are

bou

ght

at p

oint

-of–

laying

in

this s

yste

m

*The

y wi

ll be

fully v

accina

ted

alre

ady

agains

t all maj

or d

isea

ses

BUT if

ther

e’s

a se

riou

s ou

tbre

ak,

vacc

inat

e all he

ns immed

iate

ly

20

MA

NA

GEM

ENT

PRO

GRA

MM

E FO

R LA

YERS

(P.O

.L) 1

8–20

wks

Act

ivity

*18

-20w

ks P

oint

-of-

laying

(P.

O.L

)*Cu

lling

period

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

1.Po

int

of la

y pu

llets

arr

ive

2.Gi

ve s

tres

spac

k in

wat

er d

urin

g ar

riva

l

3.D

aily

insp

ecti

on o

f un

heal

thy

chic

ks

4.Co

llect

ion

and

reco

rd o

f m

orta

lity

5.Cl

ean

wate

r bo

ttle

s an

d su

pply

alw

ays

6.En

sure

tha

t en

ough

fre

sh f

eed

is a

vaila

ble

7.Co

llect

ion

of e

ggs

8.Re

cord

ing

of e

ggs

9.O

rder

new

pul

lets

bef

ore

culli

ng o

r se

lling

10.T

ake

out

the

bag

with

man

ure

unde

r th

e ca

ge

11.B

uy e

noug

h fe

ed a

mon

th b

efor

e ne

wfl

ock

arr

ive

12.I

f th

ere

are

lice,

tre

at w

ith

Karb

adus

t/Bl

ue d

eath

pow

der

NB:

*La

yers

are

bou

ght

at p

oint

-of–

laying

in

this s

yste

m

*The

y wi

ll be

fully v

accina

ted

alre

ady

agains

t all maj

or d

isea

ses

BUT if

ther

e’s

a se

riou

s ou

tbre

ak,

vacc

inat

e all he

ns immed

iate

ly

USING A MANAGEMENTCALENDAR

A management calendar is just a reminder of what youshould do each week or month to make sure yourchickens are healthy and happy and that they produceeggs regularly.

The calendar can be divided up into months and weeks.You can either use the one that has been filled in oryou can use the one on the next page to fill in to suityour conditions.

This can be put on a wall near the cage or it can bekept in the house as your reminder.

For further information contactDirectorate: Animal and Aqua Production ServicesDepartment of AgriculturePretoriaTel: (012) 319 7448Fax: (012) 319 7570orHeifer Project, South AfricaTel: (031) 777 1374/5Fax: (031) 777 1376orResource Centre, Department of AgricultureTel: (012) 319 7141/7085

21