In poultry farming, maintaining a high fertility rate in eggs is crucial for successful breeding. One important practice is the elimination of unsuitable roosters. When raising cage chickens, it's essential to regularly examine the roosters under a microscope to identify those with low or no sperm activity. These ineffective males should be removed promptly to improve overall breeding efficiency.
Roosters can be categorized into three groups based on their physical condition and behavior:
Group A consists of roosters with vibrant feathers, good weight, and strong fighting ability. They are dominant in the flock, protect hens, but do not mate with them. Other roosters avoid their hens, making them less effective for breeding purposes.
Group B includes roosters that are well-proportioned, with bright eyes, strong legs, and no excess fat. They typically weigh about 30% more than hens and actively mate with them, resulting in higher fertility rates. These are the ideal candidates for breeding.
Group C contains roosters with uneven feathering, poor body condition, and swollen legs. Despite attempting to mate, they often fail due to poor health or low vitality. These should also be culled to maintain breeding quality.
To ensure optimal fertility, Group A and C roosters should be removed, while only the best from Group B are retained.
In practical breeding operations, broiler breeders often experience a decline in fertility as egg production progresses. To counter this, it’s necessary to replace or supplement the existing roosters. The new roosters should meet the same standards as Group B—healthy, disease-free, and ideally between 30 to 35 weeks old.
The replacement process involves selecting 40–50% of the original roosters from Groups A and C and replacing them with new ones. After the birds settle down at night, the new roosters are evenly distributed throughout the coop. This ensures that the total number of roosters remains around 8–11% of the hen population, which helps prevent aggression and maintains mating efficiency.
After the exchange, it’s important to monitor the flock closely and remove any overly aggressive roosters. Additionally, new roosters may carry pathogens, so they must undergo strict quarantine and observation before being introduced to the flock.
Another strategy is to rotate roosters between different coops. This method can stimulate mating behavior and improve fertility. The coops involved should house healthy, disease-free birds of the same breed and similar age to ensure smooth integration.
By implementing these practices, farmers can significantly enhance the reproductive performance of their flocks and maintain a productive and balanced breeding environment.
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