Technical Update

GROWING MANAGEMENT OF
COMMERCIAL PULLETS

Productive and profitable layers begin with good quality pullets. Having the correct body weight and
body type at the start of egg production will enable pullets to achieve their genetic potential.
Problems that develop during the growing period cannot be corrected after egg production begins.
This paper will highlight the components of a good pullet development program.

HOUSE PREPARATION
The brooder house should be cleaned and Washing should move from the ceiling
disinfected well in advance of chick delivery. downwards through the cages or system
A minimum of 3 weeks “down-time” between equipment to the floor and finally, manure pit.
flocks should be scheduled for house After thorough cleaning, the house should
preparation. Before cleaning and disinfection, be sprayed or foamed with an approved
all manure and feed should be removed, and disinfectant. Increasing the temperature inside
a rodent control program implemented (or the house will improve the effectiveness of the
preferably the ongoing program should be disinfectant. Additionally, fumigating the house
continued). This is the time to make necessary within 5 days of chick delivery will help ensure
repairs to the house and equipment. The house sanitary conditions. The effectiveness of the
should be cleaned with a high-pressure wet cleaning, disinfection and fumigation should be
wash with detergent to remove all organic checked by environmental testing of the house
matter. surfaces for coliform and Salmonella bacteria.

Day Management Schedule

-21 days • Remove old feed and manure
• Clean and disinfect the growing house
• Rodent control program
• Make repairs to equipment (broken drinkers, perches etc.)
• Wet wash and disinfect grower house
-5 days • Fumigate growing house
• Verify cleanliness by bacterial culture of environment
-2 days • Start brooders in cool and cold climates
• Clean and disinfect water system
• Place paper inside cages
-1 day • Start brooders in hot climates
• Ensure that the proper brooding house temperature is provided (see table on p. 2)
• Minimum humidity of 40%
• Set lights for 20 hours of light at 30 lux
• Fill feeders to their highest level with fresh starter feed
• Adjust feed guards
• Adjust drinkers to proper level
• Flush water lines and check that all drinkers are working
+1 day • Fill cup drinkers or let nipple drinkers drip to stimulate water consumption
• Add vitamins and electrolytes to drinking water
• Place starter feed inside cage on cage paper (in front of feeders)
• Fill feeders to their highest level; floor rearing use brooder rings or partial house
brooding with paper on the floor area with supplemental chick feeders and drinkers
 Technical Update – GROWING MANAGEMENT OF COMMERCIAL PULLETS
BEFORE CHICKS ARRIVE
The house preparation should be completed 48 All chicks should be vaccinated against Marek’s
hours before delivery of the chicks. Allow enough disease in the hatchery using the Rispens + HVT
time for the temperature of the air and equipment strains. In the hatchery, other vaccinations can
in the house to be brought to the proper brooding be administered by using HVT-vectored vaccines
temperature. Be aware that air temperature rises containing infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) or
faster than the temperature of concrete floors, IBD (Gumboro) protective genes. If HVT-vectored
litter, system equipment and water in the house. vaccines are used, do not combine with another
Set the light clocks to 20 hours of light at 30 lux HVT strain vaccine, although Rispens may be
of intensity. Lights in the red-orange wavelength used in combination. For more information on
(warm fluorescent) are appropriate for growing and vaccination programming, see the "Vaccination
laying birds. An intermittent lighting program for Recommendations" technical update. Chicks
chicks should be considered. Use a well -balanced may also receive an infrared beak treatment in
light (3500K) or a cool light (>4000K) in growing the hatchery (see the "Infrared Beak Treatment"
birds. To improve growth, cool light in the green- technical update). The transportation time of the
blue spectrum is preferred as it improves weight chick delivery from hatchery to farm should be
gain and helps calm birds. kept to a minimum. Chicks derived from different
breeder flocks should be kept separate and mortality
Feeders should be filled to the highest level with
records maintained for each breeder source.
fresh, good quality starter crumble. Adjust the
feed guards to allow chicks to access feeders from BROODING PERIOD –
day one. Ensure that all drinkers are working GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START
properly. Adjust the drinkers to the proper height
to facilitate drinking by the newly arrived chicks. Pullet chicks arriving to the farm from the hatchery
The birds’ drinking water should contain vitamins should be alert and active. Chicks must be vigorous
and electrolytes to replace losses during delivery. enough to explore their new environment and
Feed should be placed on the cage paper before quickly find feed and water. Eating feed and
chick arrival or immediately after they are placed in drinking water quickly will speed the development
the cages. Chicks brooded on the floor should be of healthy intestinal microflora and build resistance
provided extra feed trays or be fed off cardboard. to enteric pathogens such as Salmonella and E.
coli. During the first week of life, chicks must be
CHICK QUALITY – IN THE BEGINNING provided with constant attention by the manager
to ensure optimized temperature, humidity, lights,
Layer pullet chicks must be sourced from breeder
feed and water availability. The first 2 weeks of life
flocks that are healthy and free of vertically-
are when the most significant problems for proper
transmitted diseases important for bird and human
chick development can occur. The newly hatched
health. Chicks should possess adequate levels of
chick is unable to regulate body temperature
maternally-derived antibodies for early protection
and must be provided the proper environmental
against challenges of infectious bursal disease
conditions. Relative humidity during the first week
(Gumboro, IBD), Newcastle disease, infectious
should be above 40% to prevent dehydration,
bronchitis and other diseases. The chick should
drying of mucous membranes and vent pasting.
be of adequate body weight with a well-healed
The use of heaters to maintain brooding
navel (umbilicus) and free of physical defects.
temperature will reduce relative humidity.
RECOMMENDED BROODING TEMPERATURES
Days of Hy-Line Brown, Silver Brown, Pink and W-80 Hy-Line W-36 and Sonia
Age Cage Floor Cage Floor
1–3 33–36°C (40–60% 35–36°C (40–60% 32–33°C (40–60% 33–35°C (40–60%
relative humidity) relative humidity) relative humidity) relative humidity)
4–7 30–32°C 33–35°C 30–32°C 31–33°C
8–14 28–30°C 31–33°C 28–30°C 29–31°C
15–21 26–28°C 29–31°C 26–28°C 27–29°C
22–28 23–26°C 26–27°C 23–26°C 24–27°C
29–35 21–23°C 23–25°C 21–23°C 22–24°C
36+ 21°C 21°C 21°C 21°C

2
GROWING SPACE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHICKS (0-3 WEEKS)
(check local regulations regarding space)
Colony/Cage Floor

Bird space 100–200 cm2/bird (16–31 in2/bird) 835 cm2/bird (0.9 ft2/bird)

5 cm/bird (2 in/bird) or
Feeder 5 cm/bird (2 in/bird)
1 pan per 50 birds

Cups or nipples drinking

1 per 12 birds 1 per 15 birds
system

Fountain drinking system,

— 1 per 125 birds
46 cm (18 in) diameter

Brooding chicks in cages requires strict Chicks raised on the floor in houses heated
management of temperature and humidity as with brooder stoves or whole-house heating
the chicks cannot migrate to an area of comfort should be confined in brooder rings. Observe
like chicks grown on the floor. Chicks started chick behavior to determine if the temperature is
in cages should be placed on paper for 7 to 10 correct. Chicks should be uniformly distributed
days to help their movement within the cage, in the brooding area. Closely grouped chicks
temperature control, prevent drafts and allow indicate low temperatures or excessive drafts.
supplemental feeding on the paper. Feed should In cold environments chicks will often chirp with
be placed in front of the feed trough to train a distressed tone. Chicks that are too warm will
chicks to move toward the permanent feeders. appear lethargic and will try to move away from
the heat source. Both heat and cold-distressed
Place feed in front of automatic feeders chicks can have pasty vents.

Brooding Temperature, Floor Brooding

in Rings

CORRECT HOT

During the first week, chicks benefit from bright

light conditions in the house. Minimum light
intensity should be 30 lux with clocks set to 20
hours. Alternatively, if local regulations allow,
an intermittent lighting program can be used (4 COLD DRAFTY
hours of light followed by 2 hours of darkness,
repeated for the first 7 to 14 days). In order to
encourage water consumption, keep cup drink-
ers full of water for the first 3 days or adjust wa-
ter pressure to cause a hanging drop of water in
nipple drinkers. Chicks that fail to adapt to their
environment and are delayed in finding feed
and water will die at 4 or 5 days of age when the
yolk sac is depleted.

3
Technical Update – GROWING MANAGEMENT OF COMMERCIAL PULLETS
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR FLOOR-RAISED BIRDS
Floor-raised pullets may use pan or chain Human contact during the growing period
feeders. For both feed systems, it is important socializes pullets and reduces stress. Walking
to start chicks by feeding on paper, cardboard, the house perimeter multiple times daily during
or trays that are placed near the feed line. When the growing period aids socialization and can
the chicks first arrive, be sure either the pans improve nesting behavior in layers. Using the
or troughs are completely filled to help the same type of drinkers in pullet and layer houses
chicks find the permanent feed source. Carefully improves adaptation in the layer house.
monitor the control panel to ensure that all
feeders on the line remain full.
When using brooder rings, there may not be
sufficient access to water. Provide supplemental
water with chick drinkers for the first week or
two, or until the rings are opened up to full water
access.
If perches are integrated onto the feed or water
lines, it is important to minimize manure build
up. Water lines with perches should use small or
no-drip cups, as large drip cups tend to collect
manure from perching birds.
Many diseases affect floor-raised birds more
than cage-raised birds. In particular, infectious
bursal disease and coccidiosis must be well
controlled to ensure good uniformity and
weight gain. Veterinarians with knowledge of
the local disease burden should be consulted to
implement an appropriate control program. PULLET DEVELOPMENT AND WEIGHT
The pullet develops according to a well-
TEACH GOOD BEHAVIOR EARLY orchestrated sequence of physiologic events.
Pullets going into enriched colony, barn or Pullets reaching or exceeding breed body weight
aviary laying environments should be provided targets during these developmental phases have
growing environments containing perches, the best chance to perform to genetic potential
water platforms or multi-tiered environments. as layers. Interrupted growth during any of these
While chicks are usually started on the floor, it developmental phases will result in hens lacking
is important to set up the platforms or enriched the body reserves and organ function to sustain
environment by 3-4 weeks of age. If water high production as adult layers.
platforms are used, it is important that pullets
continue to have access to water on the floor
until the flock learns to jump.
Complex environments teach pullets jumping
and exploratory behaviors. Pullets raised in
enriched growing environments adapt better
to complex laying environments. By learning
to jump and explore at an early age, adult
behavioral problems such as piling or not
utilizing all levels in a multi-tiered system can be
reduced.

4
Weekly Body Weight Gain and Organ 6 TO 12 WEEKS OF AGE
Development during the Growing Period This period of rapid growth is when the pullet
Immune and Bone, Muscle, attains most of the adult structural components
Digestive Systems Feather Oviduct (muscles, bones and feathers). Poor growth
Develop Development Development
100
during this period will prevent the pullet from
Skeleton 95% attaining sufficient bone and muscle reserves
90 Developed
needed to sustain a high level of egg production
80 and maintain good shell quality. The skeleton
70 is 95% developed by the end of the 13th week
60 of life. At this time the growth plates of the
GRAMS

50 long bones calcify and no further increases in

bone size can occur. Any compensatory growth
40
occurring after this period will not increase
30 the size of the skeleton. The amount of mineral
20 reserve available for egg shell formation is
10 directly related to the hen’s skeleton size.
0 Reactive vaccinations, beak trimming, bird
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 handling and other stressful management
WEEKS OF AGE
practices can delay development during this
period of rapid growth.

The growing period can be divided into the 12 TO 18 WEEKS OF AGE

following periods:
During this period the growth rate slows and the
reproductive tract matures and prepares for egg
0 TO 6 WEEKS OF AGE production. Development of muscle continues
During this period, the organs of the digestive and proliferation of fat cells occurs in this period.
tract (supply organs) and the immune Excessive body weight gain during this period
system undergo much of their development. can result in pullets with an excessive amount
Problems during this period could have of fat pad. Low body weights and stressful
permanent negative effects on the function events during this time can delay the onset
of these systems. Birds stressed during of egg production. Seven to ten days prior to
this period might have lifelong disability in the oviposition of the first egg the medullary
digestion and the absorption of feed nutrients. bone within the cavities of long bones can
Immunosuppression could also result from be increased by feeding a pre-lay ration with
problems during this period leaving the bird increased levels of calcium.
more susceptible to disease and less responsive
to vaccinations.

TARGET BODY WEIGHTS AT CRITICAL POINTS OF DEVELOPMENT

Silver
W-36 W-80 Brown Sonia Pink
Brown
6 WEEKS 410– 410– 450– 470– 490– 480–
Development of immune and digestive systems 430 g 440 g 470 g 490 g 500 g 500 g
12 WEEKS 950– 920– 1050– 1060– 1110– 1110–
Development of skeleton and muscle 970 g 990 g 1110 g 1120 g 1120 g 1130 g
17 WEEKS 1230– 1170– 1400– 1500– 1440– 1440–
Development of the reproductive tract 1270 g 1250 g 1480 g 1580 g 1450 g 1480 g
40 WEEKS 1520– 1590– 1870– 1960– 1900– 1870–
Evaluates adequacy of layer nutrition 1560 g 1710 g 1990 g 2080 g 1950 g 1950 g

5
Technical Update – GROWING MANAGEMENT OF COMMERCIAL PULLETS
BODY WEIGHT UNIFORMITY
Uniformity of body weights within a flock is as 4. Feed refusal due to poor quality, mycotoxins
important as achieving the target average body or abrupt changes in feed ingredients
weight. The proper goal during the growing disrupting intestinal microflora
period is 85% uniformity (85% of the individual 5. Feed management
bird weights are +/- 10% of the average). Poor
a. Not enough feedings or stimulations
pullet body weight uniformity complicates the
proper feeding of the flock both in grow and b. Slow movement of feeders leading to
lay, and is the most important factor causing selective feeding
poor peak of production and substandard c. Not allowing the feeder to be emptied
egg production. Another challenge resulting daily, leading to accumulation of fine
from poor uniformity is pullets coming into feed
production at different times, with underweight d. Improper feed particle size (see the
hens producing small eggs. "Feed Granulometry" technical update)
Reasons for pullet poor uniformity include: 6. Stress from vaccination, excessive bird
handling, heat stress
1. Enteric diseases such as coccidiosis,
infectious bursal disease (Gumboro, IBD), 7. Poor beak trimming technique
spirochetosis, viral or bacterial enteritis, 8. Any restriction of water consumption will
runting/stunting also reduce feed intake. Water must be
2. Overcrowding leading to competition at freely available at all times. Causes of
feeders and drinkers water intake problems include:
a. Overcrowding or equipment failure
3. Inadequate nutrition because feed
formulation does not match actual feed b. Improper height of drinkers
intake

GOOD BODY WEIGHT UNIFORMITY GOAL

6
In flocks with poor uniformity it may be Weigh birds prior to a scheduled change in feed
necessary to segregate the birds by weight and formulation, such as from starter to grower
then feed separately. Birds on the floor can be feed. Scheduled changes in feed formulations
separated into pens of different weight classes. should always be based on achieving target
When the birds cannot be separated, the flock body weights and not the age of the flock.
should be fed according to the requirements of Underweight pullet flocks or flocks with poor
the lighter birds in the flock. uniformity should be retained on the more
nutrient rich formulation. Flocks that will be
A weight monitoring program should begin
receiving a harsh vaccination involving handling
when the flock is 1 week old. During the first 4
the birds for injection or during peak heat
weeks when the birds are still small, bulk weigh
waves (acute heat stress) should be placed back
random samples of 20 birds. After 4 weeks of
on more concentrated feed formulations to
age, individual bird body weights should be
compensate for loss of appetite.
taken weekly from at least 100 birds. Continue
weighing weekly until mature body size is
reached at 32 weeks, then at least every 5 weeks BREAST MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT
during the remainder of the production period. Pullets should be examined for breast muscle
For pullet flocks raised in cages, a selection of development as a good indicator of proper
cages from all levels and positions within the pullet development and a predictor of future
house should be marked. All the birds in these layer productivity. Muscle contains glycogen, a
cages should be weighed separately with the rapidly available source of energy used for egg
birds from the same cages weighed every week. production. Pullets coming into egg production
Select cages at the beginning and end of feed with insufficient muscle will not have sufficient
lines, as well as from upper and lower levels. energy available to sustain high egg production.
Flocks raised on the floor can only be weighed
randomly, but can be collected from several PROPER BREAST MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT
different locations. Platform scales can be used
to continuously monitor growth, in addition to
manual weighing.
Weekly monitoring of body weights is preferable
as the producer can identify growth problems
12 WEEKS 16 WEEKS 18 WEEKS
quickly. It might be possible to associate the
growth problem with a change of feed or
a stressful management practice, allowing
corrective action to be taken.

RANDOM SAMPLING

7
LIGHTING PROGRAMS
Step-down lighting programs modulate growth, determine age of sexual maturity and affect egg size and
egg mass (within the genetic limits of the layer variety).
In a typical step-down lighting program, the hours of light are gradually decreased over the first 8–12
weeks. This provides the young growing flock additional hours of feeding time to promote growth. Age of
sexual maturity and egg size HY-LINE COMMERCIAL LIGHTING PROGRAM (W-36, SONIA)
is not affected if the step- 24 24
down period is 12 weeks or 23 off Gradual light increases up to 30 weeks of age,
16 hour maximum to end of lay
23
22 22
less. When the step-down 21 21
20 on 20
period is extended beyond 19 19
18 18
12 weeks, sexual maturity 17 off 17
will be delayed and egg size 16
15
16
15
TIME OF DAY

increases. Step-down periods 13 14 on 14

13
longer than 12 weeks are 12
11 off
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13½ 13 12½ 12 12 12 12 12 12 13 13¼ 13½ 13¾ 14 14¼ 14½ 14¾ 15 15¼ 15½ 15¾ 16 16 16
HOURS OF LIGHT
12
11
appropriate in commercial 10
9
10
9
egg markets requiring large 8 on 8
7 7
eggs or in breeder flocks 6 Stimulate the pullet with increasing light hours 6
5 off when the ideal body weight is achieved: 5
requiring larger egg weights 4
W-36:
Light stimulation at Ideal 1.25 kg
4
3
for hatching. On the contrary, 2 on Transfer flock to
laying house
Body Weight (1.23–1.27 kg) 1.45 kg
Sonia:
3
2
fast step-down (< 8 weeks) 1
0
1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
can be used to stimulate rapid WEEKS OF AGE
onset of lay and to reduce egg
size, but this system needs to LIGHT INTENSITY
be applied only if pullet body 30–50 25 lux 5–15 lux 20–25 30 lux
lux lux
size is on target.
In open housing, the artificial HY-LINE COMMERCIAL LIGHTING PROGRAM
lighting programs must (BROWN, SILVER BROWN, W-80, PINK)
complement the natural 24
23 off Gradual light increases up to 30 weeks of age,
24
23
16 hour maximum to end of lay
day length. After the initial 22
21
22
21
step-down in lights over the 20 on 20
19 19
first 12 weeks, the artificial 18 18
17 off 17
lights are set to the longest 16 16
15 15
natural daylength the flock
TIME OF DAY

14 on 14
will experience during the 13
12 20 18 16½ 15 13½ 12 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 12 13 13½ 13¾ 14 14¼ 14½ 14¾ 15 15¼ 15½ 15¾ 16 16
13
12
HOURS OF LIGHT
growing period. This will 11
10
off 11
10
negate the influence that 9
8 on
9
8
changes in natural daylength 7
6
Stimulate the pullet with increasing light hours 7
when the ideal body weight is achieved: 6
would have on pullet 5 off 5
4 Brown: 1.35 kg W-80: 1.20 kg 4
development and the age of 3
Transfer flock to
Light stimulation at Ideal
Silver Brown:
Body Weight 1.54 kg
(1.35–1.40 kg) Pink: 1.46 kg 3
2 on 2
first egg. A lighting program 1
laying house
1
0
web tool is available at www. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
0

WEEKS OF AGE
hyline.com that provides a
customized lighting program LIGHT INTENSITY
for any location. 30-50 20-25
lux 25 lux 5-15 lux lux 30 lux

CONCLUSION
Careful attention to the principles of pullet management is fundamental for success and profits in laying
flocks. Growing a pullet flock of the correct weight and body conformation will usually ensure success
in the laying period. Problems such as low egg numbers and poor egg shell quality
during lay can often be traced back to problems occurring in the growing period.

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