How to Raise Layer Chickens: 5 Steps for Beginner Farmers

Chicken eggs are a food staple in high demand. Egg prices on the market are also relatively stable, and raising layer chickens is fairly easy and straightforward. Even so, every stage of the process has to be taken seriously.

In general, laying hens are raised for their eggs. On average, a single layer chicken can produce 200 eggs a year. To reach that number, you need to raise your flock the right way. For beginner poultry farmers like you, there are five steps to follow when raising layer chickens.

Choose Superior Chicks

There are two ways to get superior laying hen stock. First, you can hatch the eggs yourself. Second, you can buy layer chicks from a farmer. At first glance, finding superior layer stock looks easy. However, double-check that the chicks meet the following criteria:

• The chicks come from healthy, high-quality parent stock.
• The chicks are healthy.
• The chicks have soft, smooth feathers.
• The chicks develop relatively quickly.
• No defects.
• Ideal body weight.
• The chicks have a strong appetite.

Choose the Right Coop Design

Once you have superior chicks, the next thing to plan is the coop design where the chickens will live. The right design depends on how many chickens you plan to raise. For beginner farmers raising layer chickens, battery cages are the usual choice. Keeping layer chickens in battery cages makes collecting eggs much easier.

Pick a Strategic Location

Once you decide to raise laying hens, you have to think about location. Laying hen farms are closely tied to unpleasant odors. Beyond the smell, the risk of disease spreading to people grows if the coop is too close to residential areas. Ideally, a strategic layer coop location is:

• Far from residential areas.
• Easy for you to reach.
• Relatively permanent rather than moved around.

Also read Tips for Starting a Backyard Layer Chicken Business

Provide Nutritious Feed

The fourth step in raising layer chickens is providing feed that is both nutritious and varied, so your laying hens get balanced nutrition. Layer chicken feed usually consists of concentrate, fish meal and corn. Each of these feeds has its own benefits and role for the chickens.

Besides being nutritious, the feed must match the hens' age. In the starter phase, feed the laying hens on a regular routine from 0 to 4 weeks of age. In the finishing phase, feed the layer chickens 3 times a day from 4 to 6 weeks of age.

Vaccinate and Run Health Checks

Besides nutritious feed, your layer chickens need vaccinations so their vitamin and nutrient needs are met. When both are covered, the hens' immunity improves. You can vaccinate directly by mixing the vaccine into the chickens' feed.

Along with vaccinating, you should also check your chickens regularly. This lets you know how many birds are healthy and how many are not. Separate the sick chickens so the disease does not spread, then give them intensive care until they are back to full health.

Those are five ways beginner poultry farmers like you can raise layer chickens. As you may already know, raising layer chickens is a very profitable business, because demand for chicken eggs is relatively stable. So if you plan to go into this business, take it seriously.

Also read Advantages of Layer Chicken Strains Over Broiler Chickens