1. Proper Rearing
Preventing floor eggs starts during the rearing period. Young pullets should be trained to adapt to multi-tiered systems. Training should include jumping to perches, sleeping on elevated structures, finding water nipples, and navigating through multi-tiered systems. Encouraging birds to develop their spatial abilities is crucial. The better the rearing environment matches the layer house, the more successful the start of production will be in terms of reducing floor eggs.
2. House and System Layout
The housing system significantly impacts the number of floor eggs. Birds should be able to easily navigate between different levels. Perches and stairs should be strategically placed to promote hen movement. Additionally, birds perching or resting should not block other birds from moving up and down the systems. Water lines should ideally be close to the nest boxes.
3. Promoting Nest Behavior
Hens should be encouraged to visit the nest, especially from the start of production. Nests should provide a comfortable, safe, and quiet place for egg laying. Poor nest distribution can lead to uneven nest utilization. If popular nests are overcrowded, hens may start looking for alternative nest sites, leading to floor eggs.
4. Lighting Design
Hens tend to look for secluded and shaded nest sites. Therefore, shadow spots, especially in corners, should be avoided. However, more light is not always better; contrast is more important than intensity. If the lighting under the system is brighter than in the aisles, birds will start nesting in the aisles. The lighting design should aim for even light distribution on the floor. Dimmable lights are essential, as dimming the lights over 15-30 minutes signals to the birds that the day has ended, allowing them to find a perch for the night. Lights need to be dimmed in the right sequence to encourage birds to move up in the system at the end of the day.
5. Frequent Litter Removal
If manure builds up too much on the floor, it can become an attractive nest site. Farmers should manage the litter height by frequently removing manure. This can be done manually, by shoveling manure onto the manure belts, or automatically. Automatic litter removal under the multi-tiered system ensures a constant reduction of manure.
6. Farm Management
Last but not least, effective farm management is key to maintaining low floor egg percentages. Especially at the start of production, farm management should focus on correcting behavior, as habits are mainly established in this early phase. Floor eggs should be removed as soon as possible, and time management should be adjusted to match flock behavior. For instance, if there are early layers, floor eggs could be caused by switching on the lights too late, preventing birds from finding the nest in the dark. Besides the lighting schedule, feeding times can also significantly impact floor egg percentages.
VDL Jansen offers a wide range of housing systems for laying hens, from individual nest systems to expansive multi-tiered aviaries. Our experts are ready to help you select the housing system that fits your needs and provide assistance in preventing floor eggs. Our designs are highly accessible, easy to inspect, and built for caretakers to work on without fear of damaging or bending the housing system – Jansen strong!
