Layer poultry farming means raising egg-laying poultry birds for the purpose of commercial egg production. Layer chickens are such a special species of hens, which need to be raised from when they are one day old. They start laying eggs commercially from 18-19 weeks of age. They continue laying eggs continuously till 72-78 weeks of age. They can produce about 1kg of eggs by consuming about 2.25 kg of food during their egg-laying period.

Location: The housing system is very important for rearing layers and effective keeping and management. As a new person to the Livestock business, you don’t want to invest all your capital into buying lands in an urban area which may turn out not being used because government policy is against setting up poultry farms near residential/urban areas for health implications.

Battery cages are the best housing cages for laying birds because it creates comfort and stability for them.

Feed and Water Management: You can buy feed from your local market or make the feed at your own house. You can just make sure the one bought or made is enriched with protein and minerals which are very essential for laying hens.

Give them at least 2% calcium for 2 weeks after birth
Feed them with starter feed for 8weeks
Serve them two or three times daily till they are 18 weeks old
Serve them layers of poultry feed according to their age and weight
Don’t decrease their feed while laying (even if their weight increase)
Provide adequate water according to the demand of your laying hens (supply cold water during hot weather, and lukewarm water in cold weather)

Vaccination: This makes your hen disease resistant. It helps to keep them free from infections and reduces the mortality rate. But before vaccination, take note that vaccination equipment is washed with hot boiled water or antiseptic/germicide. Here are the vaccines that can be given to layer hens.

Note That an average healthy Layer lays eggs almost every day or at least 4 times a week. This means that technically a Layer is capable of producing another chicken twice in three days.
1. Within the first 20 weeks of age, about 5% of hens start laying eggs and can lay as many as 325 eggs in a year
2. About 10% of birds start laying at 21 weeks of age
3. When they reach 26 to 30 weeks of age, they produce highly. Although, it may be different depending on their strain
4. After laying a maximum number of eggs, they usually stop laying for a few days
5. And after this period, their egg production might reduce slowly
6. Egg laying rate and size of eggs increase gradually
7. The hens grow till 40 weeks of age
8. Weight and size of eggs increase till 50 weeks of age.
It is best to store them at normal refrigerator temperature.