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SASSO Guide de Management 2022 EN

This document provides a guide for the management of SASSO breeders. It covers various topics to support optimal rearing including applied anatomy, design and hygiene of production buildings, starting chicks, rearing future breeders, production, and specific behaviors. The guide is intended to help farmers and hatcheries fully realize the potential of SASSO genetics through each stage of the breeding process. It represents a collaboration between SASSO's commercial and technical teams.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
387 views53 pages

SASSO Guide de Management 2022 EN

This document provides a guide for the management of SASSO breeders. It covers various topics to support optimal rearing including applied anatomy, design and hygiene of production buildings, starting chicks, rearing future breeders, production, and specific behaviors. The guide is intended to help farmers and hatcheries fully realize the potential of SASSO genetics through each stage of the breeding process. It represents a collaboration between SASSO's commercial and technical teams.

Uploaded by

leefrad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 53

MANAGEMENT

GUIDE

Management Guide 2022 - SASSO


Editorial
Over recent years SASSO has seen an exceptional development. By joining the Hendrix Genetics Group, our
commercial development has intensified internationally, thus increasing the sales of parent stock on all
continents. With the support of the Layer Division of the Hendrix Genetics Group, our GPs are also to be found
close to our clients in North and South America. Our R&D team and our selection programmes have developed,
focussing even more on heat resistance, the rusticity of our products and the search for technical performance
without renouncing their typicality in any way.

These changes are a unique experience for our team and our products, an opportunity to challenge our knowledge
in terms of rearing and commercial hatching.

These developments have strengthened our desire to be closer to our partners, our client focus. As a result of your
questions, our discussions in the field, and our technical inspections we have gathered an enormous amount of
information that is useful for all brood stock farmers, all hatcheries producing 1-day old chicks, and all users of
SASSO genetics.

It is with great pleasure that we are able to share this new SASSO Rearing Guide with you. This technical
reference is the fruit of the collaboration between our commercial and technical teams, with the expertise of
Jean-René Grelier and illustrations by Ezhvin Bellec. This document will enable you to express the entire potential
of our products and genetics.

Laurent Salles, Managing Director of SASSO

2 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO


Contents

1 - APPLIED ANATOMY������������������������7 2 - DESIGN AND HYGIENE CONTROL 4 - REARING FUTURE BREEDERS�����57 5 - PRODUCTION�������������������������������� 81
1 - The beak 8 OF THE SITE AND PRODUCTION 1 - The atmosphere 58 1 - Transfer 82
2 - The comb 9 BUILDINGS�������������������������������������29 A - Gases 59 A - Transfer of the roosters 82
3 - Feathers 10 C - Ventilation 59 A.1 Management of sexual maturity 83
A - Heat regulation 10 1 - Zoning 30 B - Humidity 59 B - Transfer of hens 84
B - Colours 12 2 - General hygiene  32 D - Dust 60 2 - Light programme applied to breeders 84
C - Feather plucking 13 3 - Flows 33 E - Temperature 61 3 - Nutrition for roosters 85
D - Wing sexing of end products 14 A - Vehicles 33 F - Microbial infection 61 4 - Nutrition for hens 86
E - Effect of reproduction activity 15 B - Equipment 33 G - Droppings and litter 61 A - Laying peak 86
4 - Feet and legs 16 C - People 34 2 - Density 62 A.1 Quantity of feed 86
A - Role in reproduction 16 D - Waste  35 3 - Light 63 A.3 Meal duration 86
B - Pododermatitis 17 4 - C leaning, disinfection and depopulation  36 A - Light programme for females 63 A.2 Reminder :
C - Colour 17 A.1 - Light duration 63 Protection of the liver 86
5 - The skeleton 18 A.2 - Light intensity 67 B - After the laying peak 87
6 - The digestive tract 19 3 - STARTING OF CHICKS������������������� 41 B - Light programme for males 68 B.1 Nutritional requirements
A - Water consumption 20 4 - Weight management for future breeders70 of breeders 88
B - Nipple or bell drinkers?  20 1 - Reception of the chicks 42 A - Weighing 70 B.2 Watering of breeders 89
C - Feed consumption 21 2 - Starting of chicks  43 B - Feed 71 5 - Control of production 90
D - The liver, a sensitive organ  22 A - The starting zone 44 Feed quality 71 A - Control of the weight of the animals
7 - The reproductive system 23 B - Litter 45 Feed quantity 71 and sorting of roosters 90
A - The hen's reproductive system C - Temperature 46 B.1 H
 ow should the feed ration B - C ontrol of the weight of the eggs
at sexual maturity 23 D - Light 50 be developed? 71 and laying rate 90
B - Mating and the sperm storage tubules 23 E - Water 50 B.2 H ow can uniformity be improved? 6 - Different types of nests 91
8 - The egg 24 F - Feed 52 Grading72 A - So-called manual nests 91
A - Formation 24 3 - S ummary: the chronological stages B.3 How can growth be rectified? 73 B - Nests with automatic collection 92
B - The shell 25 of starting 54 Feeding on 5/7 days 74 7 - Specific behaviour in production  94
C - Abnormalities 26 5 - Watering 76 A - Floor egg 94
A - General data 76 B - Brooding layers 95
B - Water rationing 77 C - Positive behaviour 95
6 - Recording during rearing 77
APPENDIX����������������������������������������� 98

4 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 5


1-
APPLIED
ANATOMY

In this section we will review the different systems and organs in roosters,
hens and chicks. Here our purpose is not to provide an exhaustive description
of the anatomy or physiology of the bird, but rather to identify the elements

1 - APPLIED ANATOMY
to which the livestock farmer must pay attention during the animal's life.

Management Guide 2022 - SASSO


2 - The comb
In the rooster and the hen the comb, with the wattles, is a In all cases, when sexual maturity is achieved, the comb
secondary sexual organ which in particular has a role in develops and goes from pale pink to distinct red.
heat regulation for the animal. We will see this further on. This is one of the signs to monitor in assessing the precocity
Its development and colour show the progress of sexual of laying.
maturity.

Dwarf females such as the SA51As and SA31As come into


sexual maturity between 17 and 19 weeks and start to lay at
around 21 weeks.

APPLIED The SA31L hens achieve maturity later, between 19 and 21


weeks. Without stimulation these females only start to lay
at about 24 or 25 weeks.

ANATOMY
1 - The beak A male with a very red comb and wattles, and bright eyes,
is mature and ready for reproduction. A large comb attracts
In birds the beak plays a very important role in the exploration females and the more pronounced the red, the greater the
of the environment. It allows touching, gripping, feeding and stimulation. Finally, a beautiful comb is quite simply a sign
drinking. In the chick its tip has an egg tooth, a small horny of good health.
piece used to break the shell when hatching.
Beak trimming removes the tip of the beak on which the
egg tooth is fixed so that the animals do not injure each
other during the course of their lives. This operation must
comply with the regulations in force in your country and
be performed by someone who is well trained in poultry
handling and aware of animal welfare issues. Trimming the Figure 1: The bluntness must be clean and precise. Only the tip
beak too much will obstruct food intake and therefore harm should be cut at an appropriate angle.
the growth of the animal as well as its well-being.

TECHNICAL TIP
TECHNICAL TIP
Astuce
As technique
a precaution we advise giving Vitamin K the day
Astuce
before beak trimming, on the day of the operation When the hen is suffocating, as can happen in severe
technique
and on the following day. Giving a little extra feed heat, stress or overcrowding, she struggles for oxygen
the day before is recommended because on the day and the comb becomes darker to the point where it
of beak trimming a slight reduction in consumption is appears blue. Animals that are too fat are particularly
observed. sensitive to this risk. It is therefore important not
Beak trimming is only performed in animals in good to panic the animals, to make sure they are always
health, which are fully recovered from their transport at target weight, to control the atmosphere in their
to the farm. As with any operation this causes mild building and to avoid overcrowding situations.
stress and for this reason we do not recommend
performing another procedure such as a vaccine at the
same time, at the risk of reducing the quality of the
Figure 3: In the case of the bare-necked male Ruby N, the crop
Figure 2: A properly blunt beak allows normal feeding and immune response. also turns red at sexual maturity (the area is highly irrigated
reduces the risk of injury. with blood).

8 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 9


3 - Feathers

A - Heat regulation
Feathers play an important role in the regulation of the
bird’s body temperature. Contrary to what one might think
the down is a poor heat insulator. This is why it is important
to control the temperature at which starting is conducted
correctly. As the animal develops its feathers it improves its
ability to retain its body heat.

Figure 7: The Ruby N has only a few feathers on the chest and none on the neck, which makes it much easier to lose heat.
Figure 4: The down lets the heat out, the legs have a large Figure 5: Feathers are a good insulator, temperature exchange is
surface area and get cold very quickly. mainly on the head and legs.
TECHNICAL TIP
Astuce
Thetechnique
so-called “naked neck” strains such as the Ruby N
In the case of severe heat the feathers, which are a good heat
resist high temperatures better: the feather density is
insulator, do not allow efficient release of body temperature.
less or even none at all on the neck and heat is more
The heat transfer areas that allow cooling are essentially the
easily evacuated. These strains are ideal for hot
areas without feathers (comb, wattles, feet) and the mucosa
countries!
(particularly in the mouth).

This is why the birds pant: with the beak open and the
tongue raised they expose the wet mucosa to the open air
and ventilate by breathing to encourage the evaporation of
bodily fluids (a phenomenon that evacuates the heat). OBSERVATION POINT
Point
Ind’observation
extreme heat conditions hens can increase heat
evacuation by moving the wings away from the
body slightly and ruffling their feathers (making the
Figure 8: Observed here in Burkina Faso in Africa, these hens fight
insulating layer of the feathers less compact.
against high temperatures by evacuating heat through their
Figure 6: By panting, the hen actively removes heat beaks (panting) but also by ruffling their feathers.
through the oral mucosa.

10 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 11


B - Colours C - Feather plucking
Each strain has its own colour (with some variations in the In contrast, feathers that are distinctly faded should alert the Feather plucking can be detected by broken, ruffled or ragged - DENSITY:
shade). So the Ruby strains are red with black semiplume farmer when this characteristic is not normal for the strain. feathers and also, in the most severe cases, by skin wounds If the rearing density is too great the animal's behaviour
feathers, whereas the Rainbows present numerous variations Thus partially faded feathers generally show a deficiency in that can be infected (scabs, dried pus). may change and feather plucking may be seen. Be careful
of red, black, white, grey as well as crossed designs. the feed. Several avenues need to be explored: presence of to adapt the density of your rearing system (temperatures,
mycotoxins, lack of carotenoids, vitamin deficiency, etc. This is abnormal behaviour which shows there is a problem temperature control system, strain used, etc.). In this guide
in the conduct of the livestock farm. It is important to react you will find our recommendations for maximum density
quickly for animal welfare reasons and also because the (see Page 62).
damage will change the technical results.

In cases of feather plucking the origin of the problem must - LUMINOSITY:


be found: Too bright a light source may make the animals anxious and
cause feather plucking. It is important to be able to control
the building’s luminosity to find the right light intensity.
An excessive light duration can also cause feather plucking.
- WATERING: In particular, after a procedure (sorting, vaccination), it is
Water with a disrupted acid-base balance may cause feather important to check that the timer is correctly adjusted.
plucking. It is essential to check that the pH is correct,
i.e. about 6 (acid) to retain efficient protection against
micro-organisms.
- SEXING ERRORS:
Some individuals that are too sickly or physically different as
in sexing errors (very light-coloured feathers) may be victims
- FEED: of feather plucking. They should be removed from the batch.
Some dietary imbalances may cause feather plucking. When
this avenue is explored it is important to inspect the litter.
In normal times this is strewn with feathers, but when
the feed ration is deficient in fibres or sulphur-containing - TEMPERATURE:
amino-acids (lysine and cysteine in particular) the hens eat Discomfort caused by severe heat can provoke feather
Figure 9: Dietary deficiencies can affect the fixation of pigments Figure 10: Dietary deficiencies can affect the fixation of pigments the feathers and none are found on the ground. It is therefore plucking.
on the feathers, resulting in white areas. on the feathers, resulting in white areas.
necessary to examine the precise nutritional composition of
the feed ration.

TECHNICAL TIP
Astuce
Sexing errors
technique
TECHNICAL TIP
Astuce
In the case of our SA51A and SA31A hens, sexing errors In the case of feather plucking, it could be advantageous
technique
are quite easy to detect because the brothers of our to distribute cracked maize or whole wheat with grit to
hens have abundant white feathers. As soon as the occupy the animals, regulate their nervous behaviour
chick develops its feathers, it is easy to detect the and purify the litter.
brothers and remove them from the batch.
Figure 12: No feathers are visible on the litter and the black
Figure 11: Sexing errors can be easily spotted because their plu- feathers at the tip of the tail are damaged. This may indicate
mage is white and spotted with black. a deficiency which the hens try to compensate for by eating
feathers.

12 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 13


D - Wing sexing of end products E - Effect of reproduction activity
The SA51A, SA31A, SA51N and SA31L females each have If the flight feathers are longer than the covert feathers, During the production period, the condition of an animal’s
feathering genes making it possible to distinguish the males feathering is said to be fast and it is a female. feathers can provide information about its sexual activity.
and females of their offspring on the day of hatching in the In other scenarios the flight feathers are equal or inferior to A hen with clean, intact feathers will probably not allow
hatchery. For this it is necessary to observe the development the covert feathers: feathering is said to be slow and it is a herself to be mate, and her eggs will not therefore be
of two rows of feathers located on the chick's wings. male. fertile. Conversely, a hen that is mated will have the back
Wing sexing is less stressful than venting for the chicks and it of her head progressively de-feathered, like her sides.
The row of flight feathers on the wing has a growth rate makes it possible to distinguish the two sexes from the first This is due to mating because these are the areas that the
that depends on the sex of the chick. This growth should day. male grips.
be compared with the row of so-called covert feathers So, a male with an intact tail, with beautiful feathers that
situated above. are perfectly maintained, will probably be a less good
breeder than a male with slightly damaged tail feathers.
This is explained by the position of the male during
mating (joining of the cloacas) which progressively wears
its feathers on the ground.

FLIGHT
FEATHERS

COVERT
FEATHERS

Figure 17: The male wears out the tips of his tail feathers by Figure 18: The rooster finds its balance with its legs and beak.
Figure 13: Seen from above, Figure 14: Seen from above, the Figure 15: Seen from above, the ticking and the female gradually loses feathers in the areas When in position, it tilts its tail to position its cloaca against the
the primary remiges are lon- primary remiges are the same primary remiges are shorter where the male clings. female's. The operation only takes a few seconds.
ger than the cover feathers: size as the cover feathers: this than the coverts: this is also a
this is a female. is a male. male.

OBSERVATION POINT
TECHNICAL TIP
Point
Animals with
d’observationslow feathering have areas that are not
Astuce
covered with feathers at an advanced stage in their When there are too many males, mating becomes too
technique The fertility of SASSO males is excellent. We recommend
growth. On the lower part of the back pin feathers are frequent. The hens therefore lose their feathers fast and progressive introduction up to 10% of males and then
observed and the tail is not very developed. This should are sometimes injured (particularly on the flanks). adjusting, depending on the observations, by progressively
not be confused with feather plucking which is shown by The male/female ratio must always be adapted depending withdrawing males.
the presence of scabs, wounds or even fresh blood. on what is observed and the fertility results in the hatchery.

Figure 16: This hen has a slow feathering because there is a zone
not covered with feathers.

14 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 15


4 - Feet and legs B - Pododermatitis
Pododermatitis is a local infection of the skin of the foot pad.
Litter that has deteriorated, is too damp or too abrasive,
may cause such problems by weakening the skin barrier.
The germs then multiply in a wound that cannot heal.
A - Role in reproduction
A rooster's feet and legs are considered to be a reproductive It is necessary to examine carefully the condition of the digits
organ because they are very important in enabling good (not twisted), the foot pads (no pododermatitis), joints (no
reproductive activity. A rooster with twisted, wounded arthritis) as well as the major bones (tibia, tarsometatarsus)
or weakened feet and legs will not be able to tread the which must be correctly aligned. The gait of the males will
hens effectively and this will be seen as low fertility in the also be observed to detect underlying problems (lameness).
hatchery.
Mating is only optimal if the hen places her feet resting on a
At the start of reproduction the yellow or white feet and flat surface. This is especially important when the female is
legs of the males take on a red pigment. This phenomenon is a bantam hen (case of SA51A, SA31A and SA51N) and the male
more difficult to observe with animals with black feet. is of normal size. For this reason, treading is more effective
on the floor than on duckboards.

Figure 21: Pododermatitis is localised on the pads and is often Figure 22: Healthy pads are a sign of good litter quality and an
caused by excessively wet or abrasive bedding. important marker of animal welfare.

C - Colour
Depending on the strain, poultry may have yellow, black,
blue or white skin and feet, depending on their ability to bind
dietary pigments in the skin, adipose tissue (fat) and muscles.
For example, when the strain has yellow feet and skin, it is
the carotenoids in the maize feed ration which will provide
the colour. This concerns the end products in particular.

Figure 19: The rooster's legs should be straight so that mating Figure 20: On some animals you can see twisted fingers. There
is easy. A cock with crooked legs will not tick well and must be are several reasons for this, including poor starting conditions Figure 23: A good expression of the yellow colour of the legs is
removed. and vitamin B2 deficiency. allowed by a diet rich in pigments such as corn.

16 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 17


5 - The skeleton 6 - The digestive tract
The chicken’s digestive tract starts at the beak and ends A hen does not chew but swallows her feed directly because
at the cloaca. she breaks it into tiny pieces using her beak when necessary.
The skeleton of hens and roosters develops during the first Initially this food is stored in a bulge of the oesophagus: the
10 weeks of the animal's life. It is a framework to which the crop. At this stage the food is lubricated by saliva and starch
muscle mass is attached. starts to be digested (by the enzyme, amylase).
For this reason, it is important to provide the bird with
sufficient intakes of nutrients from the start making bone To know whether an animal has just eaten, just palpating its
synthesis and the development of a solid carcass possible. crop is enough. This observation should be made in the initial
hours of starting. Water mixes with the food. So a crop that
After 10 weeks, the excessive energy in the feed ration is is too hard shows that the animal is not sufficiently watered.
converted much more easily into fat than into muscle. So the Figure 24: Bone synthesis takes place during the night period,
so it is important to follow a suitable light programme. During OESOPHAGUS
weight of the animals must be accurately controlled. Digestion really starts in the proventriculus which is where
the day, the animal moves and interacts with its environment,
strengthening its joints. CROP the digestive enzymes such as pepsin are produced (this
compartment is know as the “chemical stomach”).
If there are nutritional imbalances, lameness may occur. During an autopsy, the livestock farmer can assess the solidity PROVENTRICULUS
When the feed moves on to the gizzard, it undergoes strong
The skeleton and joints are then too fragile to support the of the bones by manually breaking the tarso-metatarsus of
pressure from the muscles of this organ (also known as the
animal’s weight. the carcass. The bone should be rigid and break suddenly,
GIZZARD “mechanical stomach”). It is here that the food particles are
It is important to preserve sufficient night-time because with a single breakage point, producing a sound similar to
crushed and reduced to a paste which enables nutrients to be
it is during this period that the main bone synthesis occurs snapping. A bone that is too supple or breaks easily, with
assimilated. When some particles are too hard to be crushed
(binding of calcium). a crumbly structure, is a sign of a physiological problem
(dietary imbalance, health disorder). DUODENUM in the gizzard, they end up in the intestines and can cause an
irritation or even assimilation disorders and diarrhoea.
SA51A growth curve JEJUNUM

Figure 25: 90% of skeletal


growth takes place during ILEUM
the first 10 weeks or so. A TECHNICAL TIP
good skeleton can easily CAECUM
Astuce
support muscular growth, Thetechnique
dimensions of the crop depend upon the average
which avoids many patho- RECTUM volume consumed by the animal. In the 5/7 system
logies.
90% CLOACA which we will present further on, the aim is to accustom
SKELETON the hen to ingest a high volume of feed. With a crop
GROWTH trained in this way, it will be easier for the hen to ingest
Figure 26: The digestive tract of the hen. the optimum alimentary bolus from the start of laying.

In nature a hen ingests small stones which, subjected to the


50% pressure from the gizzard, will crush all the particles like
SKELETON teeth do in mammals. These stones are called grit.
GROWTH
Average weight in grams

In livestock farming, grit improves the digestibility of the


feed ration as well as animal welfare. When cracked maize
or whole wheat is distributed, grit should always be added.
Feed g/ /day

For young animals, the diameter should be just a little bigger


than a grain of sand.

We recommend a grit diameter:


3 to 4 mm for animals up to 10 weeks Figure 27: The grit should be hard stones that do not dissolve in
Age in weeks 4 to 5 mm for animals from 10 weeks onwards the gizzard. They facilitate digestion.

18 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 19


A - Water consumption C - Feed consumption
The first feed consumed by the hen is water. In winter, water consumption is 1.5 to 1.7 times greater than Poultry feed essentially comes in three forms: crumble, Crumble like pellets have the advantage of being veryeasily
It is important to remember that feed should not be the consumption of feed (in grams) whereas in summer, it can pellets or mash feed. digestible and of balancing feed intake: all the nutrients are
distributed unless water is available. We recommend go up to 1.8 times to twice the quantity of feed (sometimes equally distributed in the particles and therefore all the
opening the water distribution systems at least 30 minutes more). animal’s needs are covered with the feed.
before feed distribution. Regular control of the quality of water in the drinking trough
is important. Each distribution system (nipples or poultry Conversely, mash feed is made up of large particles (pieces of
fountains) must be maintained frequently to stop the cereal agglomerated by the fat) and a finer powder composed
development of bacteria and their biofilms. of most of the vitamins and minerals. As poultry naturally
prefer the bigger particles, It is necessary to make sure that
they have consumed all the fine particles and that the feeders

B - Nipples or bell drinkers? are empty before renewing the feed ration to prevent any
deficiency.
An “ad libitum” regime does not mean that the feeders should
Modern systems tend towards generalising the nipple fountains make it possible to keep easy access to the nests be filled excessively but rather that the feed rations should be
system, perhaps easier to maintain (disinfectants, whilst facilitating drinking. In addition, the nipples system renewed after the feeders are completely empty.
treatments for limescale and biofilms) and protecting the is difficult to regulate when bantam strains (like the SASSO
water more. However, it has been observed that the animals females) and non-bantam strains (like the SASSO males) are We recommend starting with a crumble feed for the first
often “play” with the nipples, which can cause significant reared at the same time. Figure 30: Crumbs are often used in the early stages of develop- weeks of rearing, and then at about 4 weeks making the
water losses and deterioration of the litter. We therefore recommend the poultry fountain system when ment as they facilitate feeding and prevent deficiencies.
transition to mash feed to ensure that sufficient emptying of
Generally, SASSO strains take much longer drinking via a the building has automatic nests. the feeders is respected.
nipples system compared with a standard system. A hen that
is busy drinking doesn’t lay...
Furthermore, the rows of nipples block access to the
automatic nests on the slats when they are used. Poultry
ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED
Erreur
It may be tempting to keep crumble or pellets as
feed ration when it is hot, as the poultry have little
appetite. However, be careful, because the feed is
quickly consumed and quickly digested in the form of
crumble and pellets, it occupies the animals for less
time and they will then consume a lot of water. This
risks causing the production of droppings which are too
liquid and likely to deteriorate the litter.
Figure 31: The advantage of pellets is that they can be used up
quickly and sorting is not necessary.

Figure 28: The animals stand along the row of nipples, which makes it difficult to access the nests.

When temperatures are high, the poultry have reduced


appetites. Then the feed ration can be split in two to serve
meals in the cooler hours. This will allow digestion during the
heat peaks, at a time when the animals are not very active.
Some farmers will prefer to distribute the majority of the
feed ration in the morning and others in the evening. This
depends on local weather conditions.
Figure 32: Meal is ingested more slowly and requires vigilance on
Figure 29: The spaces between the bell drinkers troughs are clear, allowing easy access to the nests. feeder emptying so as not to cause nutritional deficiencies due
to sorting.

20 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 21


D - The liver, a sensitive organ
The liver is an organ which secretes many enzymes, The two main causes of haemorrhagic liver are:
7 - The reproductive system
responsible for digestion, in bile. It is important to take this
into consideration when the quantity of feed given to the - birds that are too heavy in rearing between 10 and 20
batch each day is changed. weeks
- excessive feed ration after the laying peak
A - The hen's reproductive system at sexual maturity
In the case of mortality, assessing the condition of the liver The hen’s reproductive system develops at about the 18th The cloaca becomes damp and on palpation it can be felt that
is recommended. A haemorrhagic liver occurs when the feed week, which explains the increase in water requirements the spacing of the pelvic area is enlarging. When this area is
ration is increased too much. observed in this period (development of the ovarian about 4 cm (approximately the width of two fingers) wide,
cluster). the hen has become capable of laying.

TECHNICAL TIP
Astuce
Lubrication
technique of the cloaca may make it shiny in the
light. As hens are curious by nature, they may poke
the cloacas of their neighbours with their beaks when
they reflect the light (particularly in communal nests).
Correctly performed beak trimming may resolve this
problem if it occurs.

Figure 35: From the time of transfer (around 19 weeks), it is


important to get into the habit of assessing the pelvic opening
at each visit to see how maturity is progressing. In production,
a "closed" hen is one that does not lay eggs (perhaps a brooder).

Figure 33: A healthy liver is smooth, uniform, dark and evenly


coloured. This organ is very much in demand during the feeding
Figure 34: The liver shows a yellowed colour (hepatic steatosis) and
dark bloody areas, hence the name «fatty liver haemorrhage». B - Mating and the sperm storage tubules
process and needs to be protected. This usually occurs during the feed rise at the beginning of the
laying period. In the rooster as well as the hen the reproductive system In artificial insemination the period required for the old
opens out into the cloaca which is also where faeces are sperm reserve to be used up is known as the “virginisation
excreted. period”.
During mating (treading) the two cloacas come together and
the spermatozoa are injected into the hen’s cloaca where
they will migrate to the reserve for the spermatozoa, the
TECHNICAL TIP sperm storage tubules.

Astuce
In order to prevent any problems, we recommend applying Within the sperm storage tubules the gametes can survive
technique
the following protocol: for more than a week before migrating to fertilise an ovule.
This is why a hen can continue to produce fertile eggs several
- reach 20 weeks with the target weight recommended A hen at target weight or just below will not normally days after the last mating.
by SASSO have liver problems during the period when the feed
- as soon as the first eggs appear, add a liver protector ration is increased. If a change to the strain of males is desired, the first roosters
for three weeks are removed and then a new strain is introduced. It is
- repeat the use of a liver protector every 6 weeks. preferable to introduce the new males just before the light is
turned off so that the transition is easier. For several days the
Figure 36: Mating only takes a few seconds. A rooster can tick
spermatozoa will come from one or other of the two strains.
almost every hour.

22 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 23


8 - The egg IMMATURE FOLLICLE
B - The shell
A - Formation MATURE FOLLICLE
EXTERIOR ENVIRONMENT

CUTICLE
INFUNDIBULUM
SHELL

PORE

EGG
EGGSHELL
MAGNUM MEMBRANES

WHITE (ALBUMIN)

PASSAGE OF MICRO-ORGANISMS
ISTHMUS
PASSAGE OF GASES

Figure 38: The cuticle is a very effective natural barrier against the entry of pathogens. On the other hand, this protection allows gases to
circulate very well (CO2 escapes and O2 enters).
UTERUS

The colour of the shell does not depend on the feed but on
genetics. Our hens offer a slight variability in colour in cream
tones.
The shell quality depends on feed intake and age. Over time,
VAGINA the egg calibre increases and the shell becomes more fragile.
It is necessary to ensure that the phosphorus and calcium
intake is sufficient.

CLOACA

Figure 37: From the moment the egg enters the pinna until the TECHNICAL TIP
egg is laid, it takes about 25 hours. The longest stage, almost 21
hours, is the synthesis of the shell. Astuce
Distributing
technique oyster shells (heat-treated so as not to
risk introducing a pathogen to the farm) at the end
When an egg has just been laid it is damp. The substance covering it will of the day is an excellent means of ensuring that the
dry quickly and form a cuticle which is a natural barrier to micro-organisms. requirements are adhered to whilst promoting animal
A cracked egg or one that is scrubbed to remove droppings may have a welfare (stimulation of pecking).
damaged cuticle and is likely to allow various bacteria to enter which could
alter the hatching rate in the hatchery.
For this reason we recommend making sure that the laying nests are clean and Figure 39: Some genetics offer almost white eggs, others a deep
designed so that the eggs remain intact or that collecting them (automatic or red, depending on market taste. SASSO hens lay cream-coloured
otherwise) does not damage them. eggs of varying shades.

24 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 25


C - Abnormalities

Figure 40: A "double egg" is an egg containing two yolks. It will Figure 41: On these small eggs, the shell is soft and there is no
not produce chicks. This phenomenon is favoured by a sudden white.
increase in light intensity during the laying period and by the
rapid rise in feed.

After this brief review of the various physiological


and anatomical characteristics of interest in breeder
hens, we will look at the specific characteristics of
the livestock farming system. These preliminaries
are essential for understanding and succeeding
with the phases of starting, rearing and laying.

Figure 42: A wrinkled shell may indicate a Figure 43: A lack of calcification should be Figure 44: A dirty egg should draw
pathology or a defect in calcium synthesis. of concern to the farmer and, depending attention to various problems (diarrhoea,
on the frequency of this anomaly, should bleeding, poor bedding and floor laying,
lead to an investigation of the ration or etc). Avoid scratching the dirt too hard as
possible pathogens. this may allow bacteria to enter the egg.

Figure 45: This egg has a cracked shell, which may be due to a Figure 46: These small eggs can occur at the beginning of the
lack of calcium in the diet for example. The eggs of hens at the laying period.
end of their production are also more fragile.

26 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 27


2-
DESIGN
AND HYGIENE

2 - DESIGN AND HYGIENE CONTROL OF THE SITE AND PRODUCTION BUILDINGS


CONTROL OF
THE SITE AND
PRODUCTION
BUILDINGS
The design of the production site, the upkeep of the building and its surrounds are the first items
that contribute to the success of rearing SASSO breeding stock

Management Guide 2022 - SASSO


To do this three major zones should be clearly defined: Each zone should be physically delimited (fencing, wall,
fence) and only accessible via a cloakroom.
- A PUBLIC ZONE in which visitors may move about freely
(e.g. administrative offices, road, car park) Entries and exits of farmers, equipment, eggs and animals,
- A PROFESSIONAL ZONE in which only authorised the arrival of raw materials and shipping of waste (eggs,
employees may move about (e.g. the storage barn, paths cadavers) must be controlled and each circuit or flow must
to buildings, cloakroom) be separated from others in space or time.
- A REARING ZONE reserved for animals and operators
responsible for their care (e.g. the brooder house).

DESIGN AND HYGIENE PROFESSIONAL

CONTROL OF THE SITE AND ZONE

PRODUCTION BUILDINGS
PATHWAY
TECHNICAL FENCED CONCRETE
ROOM SPACE HARDSTANDING CLOAKROOM

1 - Zoning
During the design of the production site the farmer should:
LIVESTOCK
1 Prevent the introduction of pathogens on his farm BUILDING

2 Prevent the multiplication of germs on his site REARING


3 Prevent his livestock farm being a source of
ZONE
environmental contamination

These three pillars are the core of what is known as


biosecurity.

3
1
2
Figure 48: Here, illustrated by a free-range chicken farm, the use
of signs prevents new arrivals from crossing a fence without care
or permission. PUBLIC SLAUGHTER BARRIER FENCE
ROAD BIN

The site is an enclosed space, access to which is controlled


and should makes it possible: PUBLIC
ZONE
- to control flows of people, materials, equipment and
consumables
- to control the flows of live or dead animals
Figure 47: Preventing the introduction, multiplication and spread - to protect the farm animals from any contact with wild Figure 49: Once each zone has been defined, ensure that it is separated from the others by barriers. Different coloured clothing can be used for
of a pathogen is the basis of biosecurity. fauna. each area to ensure that procedures are followed.

30 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 31


2 - General hygiene 3 - Flows
At all times the livestock farmer must ensure:
A - Vehicles
- the cleanliness and hygiene of the site and its
surroundings, the entry cloakroom for personnel and Entry of vehicles to the livestock site must be limited to
equipment, the dispatch cloackroom for hatching eggs the strict minimum. Access should be prohibited to any
(HE), the store, the storage areas for waste (freezer, undesirable vehicle.
rendering bin)
- the correct operation of cleaning and disinfection tools Delivery (feed, gas, other consumables, breeder pullets) or
- the presence of bait for rodents and other pest shipping (HE, cull hens) vehicles travel from farm to farm.
- water quality (annual or even half-yearly bacteriological These are excellent pathogen vectors. It is compulsory for
control at the inlet to the building and at the end of the them to be cleaned and disinfected before entering the
watering line). livestock site.
The driver also travels from farm to farm. You do not know
In order to limit the risks on sites with several buildings the his health status. In no circumstances should he enter the
farmer will prefer rearing in single batches to rearing in building, even to help with tasks (e.g. pick-up).
multiple batches.
A disinfection ramp located at the vehicle entrance makes
disinfection routine, if it is used correctly.

Figure 50: Vegetated areas provide coolness but are ideal for During culling, if the site has several buildings and if these
many creeping animals. It is important to maintain them very are not emptied simultaneously, the driver must not enter
frequently. the site with his vehicle in order limit the hygiene risk of
introducing a pathogen.
Figure 53: In this picture taken in Nepal, a technician washes his
breeding shoes in a rotoluve. The rotoluve is used to disinfect
vehicle wheels. It must be regularly renewed to ensure its
effectiveness.

B - Equipment
Each building’s equipment must be specific to that building to limit the contamination risk. Entry of external equipment should be
limited to the maximum.

Before entering the livestock building, it is compulsory for any equipment to be disinfected (washed before disinfection if possible).
A disinfection cloackroom is provided for this at the entrance to the building or the site.
Figure 51: Rodents can squeeze through extremely small Figure 52: Concrete or gravel surfaces are easier to control and
openings because of their great flexibility. It is imperative to fill limit the proliferation of insects and rodents. On the other hand,
in these openings and to check the watertightness of the they reflect a lot of sunlight and easily increase the temperature
building by means of regular trap inspections. of the room.

32 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 33


C - People
Access to the livestock site and the building must be limited
to people working with the animals: farmers, technicians,
veterinary surgeons. Each person must use the cloakroom
correctly.
It is tempting to ignore the cloakroom and go round it or
not take into account its various zones, especially if you are
in a hurry or tired. For this reason the cloakroom should be
restrictive, i.e. it must have fences and barriers so that going
through the cloakroom is compulsory.
PHYSICAL SEPARATIONS
TECHNICAL TIP
We recommend setting up cloakrooms in three zones. Astuce
A foot bath loses its effectiveness very quickly over time,
technique
particularly if it is regularly used. In order to prevent it
becoming a source of germs, it is recommended that it
For example, the cloakroom located at the is emptied, washed, disinfected and renewed at least
entrance to the professional zone includes: once a day adhering to disinfectant concentrations
- an exterior area where people leave their provided by the manufacturer.
normal clothing (clothes and shoes)
- an intermediate area where people take a
full shower (body and hair) and disinfect their
hands Figure 56: There is a lot of organic material at the bottom
of this foot bath, which indicates that it has lost much of its
- an interior area where people put on clothing
effectiveness. The renewal of this device must be very frequent
specific to the farm, including underclothes, to allow its action.
overalls, cap and shoes. PUBLIC “DIRTY” SHOWER “CLEAN” PROFESSIONAL
ZONE AREA SHAMPOO AREA ZONE

Figure 54: This cloakroom is used to mark a sanitary boundary between the
public and professional areas. Showering should be compulsory and include
hair shampoo.

PHYSICAL SEPARATIONS
If the installation does not make it possible to
take a shower and change clothes completely, it
is desirable to provide at least overalls specific to
D - Waste
the building and a water point for hand washing. Waste is one of the main disease vectors in farming. The cadavers must be stored in a freezer placed in each
When a livestock site is designed it is essential to plan for building before being put in the rendering bin just before the
waste removal. butcher comes.
In order to avoid the slaughter truck entering the production
There are many sorts: site, the rendering bin should be located outside the site.

It is important that the cloakroom is disinfected - cull hens


frequently and regularly (at least once a week). - cadavers
In each building you should find a cloakroom - eggs that are not able to be hatched, collected by the
which allows a change of clothing to put hatchery or under the responsibility of the farmer.
on the clothing specific to the building. The “DIRTY” WASHED “CLEAN” LIVESTOCK - droppings
PROFESSIONAL AREA AREA ZONE
intermediate area must allow hands to be DISINFECTED - used disposable equipment
ZONE - waste water.
washed and disinfected. HANDS

Figure 55: Each livestock area should be considered as an entity with its
own health status, and therefore be provided with an cloakroom. The use
of colour-coded outfits makes it easy to see if the limits are being correctly
respected.

34 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 35


NUMBER OF GERMS

4 - Cleaning, disinfection and PER SURFACE AREA UNIT

depopulation
1,000,000

This step is essential in the hygiene conduct of the livestock building. It is performed immediately after the departure of the breeders
for culling.
CLEANING

IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT THE SUCCESS OF A BATCH IS


BEGAN AS SOON AS THE PREVIOUS BATCH LEAVED THE BARN
The cleaning and disinfection site must be organised and planned to ensure maximum efficacy. 1ST DISINFECTION

After the departure of the animals, whether it is floor rearing - Washing of rearing equipment 2ND DISINFECTION
or not, the principle remains the same: outside the building on a concrete hardstanding fitted with 10,000 10,000
a system for collecting the washing water TION
- Insect control treatment in the hour following the departure DEPOPUL A
of the breeders - Inspection and servicing of rearing equipment
In fact, numerous parasites, such as mealworm beetles,
will go and hide as soon as the litter cools. So they must - Entry of clean rearing equipment into the building 100 100
be dealt with when the livestock environment is still warm,
i.e. just after the departure of the animals. Furthermore, - Washing of the building surrounds, TIME
cleaning and disinfection must be suitable for each type of of all the concrete surfaces and the water drainage pipes
parasite (coccidia, worms, lice, etc.). LAST BATCH NEXT BATCH
- Control of the building impermeability
- Placement of pest control bait (control of intrusion by rodents and other pests) Figure 57: Illustration of the importance of cleaning and disinfection steps in reducing germ pressure in the environment.
The time is right because there is no other feed present in
the building at this stage. - Washing of work clothing specific to the production building

- Dismantling and removal of rearing equipment - Liquid disinfection of the pipework for water
(drinkers, feed chains, weighing equipment, etc.) outside
the production building on a concrete hardstanding. - Once the building is dry, disinfection of the building and all
the equipment inside (disinfection of the space by thermal
- Removal of work clothes not used fogging or fogging)
for cleaning the building
- Closure of the building for a minimum of 24 hours
- Draining of water circuits then airing, followed by depopulation for at least 21 days
(closed building)
- Removal of droppings and/or litter TECHNICAL TIP
- Disinfection of the site surroundings
- Washing Astuce
of walls, floors, ventilation and heating systems, pipework, - New placement of pest control bait As technique
everywhere in biosecurity, washing is essential
water containers, silos because it is the most important operation for
decreasing the microbial load. Generally, it should be
- Maintenance of the interior of the building Throughout the entire depopulation period, access to the remembered that disinfection is only satisfactory on a
(pipework and watering systems, ventilation and aeration, livestock building is prohibited. correctly washed surface.
feed system) The succession of washing, disinfection and depopulation
makes it possible to decrease the microbial load in the Figure 58: Wear and tear, accelerated by the use of disinfectants,
building. can affect the cleanability of the equipment. A surface made
porous by rust, for example, will be more conducive to the multi-
plication of pathogens and more difficult to clean properly.

36 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 37


Now that we have seen the biological functioning
of our birds and the hygiene operation for their
rearing site, it is time to take an interest in their
actual rearing. This begins with starting.

38 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 39


3-
STARTING
OF CHICKS

The starting of chicks is probably the most important stage for the success of the production
period. It involves acclimatising the chicks to their living space, i.e. to make sure that
the chicks find by themselves water, feed and a comfortable living area.
Because the needs of a chick change over time, it is important to regulate the atmosphere
parameters intelligently day after day. During this period rearing the males and females
separately is recommended in order to fully express the potential of SASSO strains.
In this chapter we will start with a reminder of the procedure at reception as far as the carrier
is concerned. Then we will list, parameter by parameter, the technical recommendations to be
followed so that starting is a success. Finally we propose as the form of a timeline a summary of

3 - STARTING OF CHICKS
the different stages which must be not missed.

Management Guide 2022 - SASSO


2 - Starting of chicks
There are many rearing systems and the SASSO strains can
adapt to most of them on condition that the farmer is attentive
to their essential needs (water, food, natural behaviour,
satisfactory ambience conditions, etc.).

STARTING VENTILATION

OF CHICKS GAS
O2, CO2, NH3, ETC.

1 - Reception of the chicks HUMIDITY

The following protocol may be applied for any reception of -


Control the quantity and quality delivered (general
SASSO chicks: condition of the chicks, specific appearance of the fluff, TEMPERATURE
mortality, etc.). LIGHT
- When the date and time of delivery is confirmed, the rules
applying to the site should be notified to the SASSO Sales -
Notify any irregularity on the delivery note as no
Department. The Sales Department will be responsible for observation can be made after the driver has left.
supplying them to the driver who will carry out the delivery.
- Sign the delivery note.
- On delivery, remind the driver of these rules. Even though
our drivers are trained in delivery biosecurity rules, they - Carry out individual weighing for a sample of the chicks (1% WATER
will apply the particular measures that you ask them to. In for hens and 10% for roosters). To do this, one or two boxes
no circumstances should the driver enter the building, even of chicks are taken and all the animals are weighed without FEED
to help the teams to unload. exception.

- Position the truck so that the chicks remaining in boxes are - Record these weights on the rearing form and calculate
protected from draughts. the uniformity of the batch to approximately 10%. The
uniformity must be recalculated seven days later. If the
- Indicate your sampling protocol to the driver should need to uniformity has deteriorated, the causes of this must be Figure 59: The well-being and development of a chick depends on many parameters that need to be accurately assessed.
perform them. Make sure the samples are taken in the truck identified (heating, water, feed, etc.). A weighing grid is
and not on the unloading area. available in the appendix to facilitate the calculation.

- Carry out unloading as quickly as possible by aligning the - Remove the chicks from the boxes and place them in the
box at a sufficient distance from radiant heaters so as not starting zone, under the radiant heaters and close to the
to overheat the chicks. drinkers. So as not to miss any step we will detail, for each
important parameter, the procedure to follow and the
errors to avoid. Each parameter must be prepared before
the chicks are received.

42 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 43


A - The starting zone B - Litter
It is important to determine precisely which zone will receive It will be necessary to enlarge it progressively after several Most of the heat exchanges with the exterior is done by the feet of the chick. It is very important to control the floor temperature and
the chicks. In most cases starting takes place in one section or days when the chicks are totally independent. therefore the temperature of the litter properly.
in the whole rearing barn. The zone must be able to provide A chick will explore its environment erratically and may
the chick with everything it needs. follow the walls of the starting pen.
So that the chick quickly finds the sources of heat, drink and It is important that, during its exploration, the chick cannot
feed, it is preferable for this space to be restricted as a pen. get out of the pen or get stuck in the various installations.

Figure 65: On a warm litter the chick keeps warm. Figure 66: On a cold litter the chick cools down by losing heat
Figure 60: Here an area of the building has been marked out for Figure 61: The area around the pen should be checked regularly
through its legs.
start-up. to avoid trapped or lost chicks.

Litter should be thin (1 cm is enough) and flat to not bother Furthermore this makes it possible to facilitate drying of the
the chick to explore its environment. disinfectant (the building should also be well ventilated).
Such thin litter is optimal for good starting but requires The litter may be of wood chips, rice husks, by-products of
preparation. various plants, etc.
We recommend preheating at 20°C from 72 hours before the It is important for the litter to be absorbent and non-abrasive
chicks are received. The radiant heaters should be turned so as not to injure the chickens or irritate the foot pads.
on at a moderate heat to increase the temperature of the
building progressively, and they should be lowered to heat
the concrete in depth whilst avoiding condensation under
the litter.

Figure 62: It is important not to allow access to the corners, Figure 63: A chick lost in a corner of the building calls its fellow
so that if they are grouped together, the risks of suffocation and chicks, who in turn come and get lost. In this way, they are not
isolation are minimised. fed or watered and can also cool themselves away from the
radiators.

The walls of the pen should be rounded so that the chick does
not find itself blocked in a corner. Once alone, the chick calls
by chirping and this attracts the other chicks. These chicks
remain huddled together as they are gregarious by instinct
and no longer leave to find feed and drink.

On the 8th day the barriers of the living area can be removed
to allow the chick to discover the entire building. This can be
done progressively, by initially enlarging the living area and
then, two days later, by removing the pen completely.
Similarly, at about 8 days, a progressive move is made from
Figure 64: The custom-made walls make the pen impassable the starting equipment to the rearing equipment in order to Figure 67: The litter does not need to be thicker than 1 cm if the Figure 68: Before the chicks arrive, the temperature of the litter
(here, the paper prevents the pen from exiting through the feed ensure that the animals have time to adapt. concrete is properly heated in advance. should be checked. If you feel the ground is cold, the chicks will
chains). feel it too.

44 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 45


C - Temperature RADIANT
HEATER
Temperature is a parameter that is more difficult to control Before 10 days or so the chick regulates its own temperature
than it appears. There are several temperature values very badly. Its body temperature is initially about 39 to 40°C
depending on the distance from the heat sources (such as (it will increase again by one or two degrees afterwards). If
radiant heaters) and the height of the air (which rises when it the environment is too cold, it must draw from its vitelline
is hot). Ventilation also influences temperature. reserves and the feed to warm itself, whereas these resources
Some farmers regulate the temperature in the entire should mainly serve the development of its immune system
building, others in the area limited to starting pens (via and its weight (skeleton, organs, muscles). If the environment
mobile partitions like tarpaulins). is too hot the chick will reduce its feed consumption and so
Furthermore, the chick's need for heat changes during its delay its growth. So it is necessary to be able to put in place
development. suitable temperature conditions and be capable of adapting
them over time.
Rearing temperatures (°C) THERMOMETER
Figure 73: On the floor under the radiant the
maximum temperature to which the chick can be
Under the 2 m from the Breast
Age (in days) radiant heater radiant heater height Figure 72: Thermometer located on the floor under a radiant exposed is about 35°C.
heater = maximum exposure temperature for the chick.
Day of delivery 35 32 30
3 30 27 25 30°C RADIANT
6 29 26 24 HEATER
9 27 25 23
12 26 25 22
15 25 24 22
18 24 24 22
21 23 23 22 32°C 35°C
24 22 22 21
30°C
27 21 21 21

Figure 69: The chick's body temperature changes from day to Figure 70: An overhead radiant heater does not radiate heat
day, so it is important to adjust the temperature provided by the like a radiant heater close to the floor. Beware of temperature
heaters. Remember to check it in at least three places. variations.
THERMOMETER Figure 75: Away from the radiant the chick will be
exposed to a temperature of only 33°C.
Figure 74: Ground temperature away from the radiant
= minimum exposure temperature for the chick.

34°C
It should be remembered that hot air rises and it is therefore
possible to have a building that is colder on the floor than at
the farmer’s height.
THERMOMETER
Ambient temperature objectives 5 to 6 hours before the
arrival of the chicks.

- farmer’s living area: 28 to 30°C,

- chicks’ living area: 32 to 35°C.


33°C 35°C

Figure 71: It is important to understand that with a radiant Figure 77: At human height the temperature is
heating system the temperature is not uniform throughout the 34°C. This should not be relied upon and it should
building. The most important one is the one located at litter Figure 76: Temperature at man's height = be careful not to be borne in mind that some areas on the ground
level, as this is the living area of the chicks. deduce the ambient temperature for the chick. are only 33°C (figures 71 and 72).

46 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 47


The use of radiant heaters enables the chick to choose an area that is neither too hot nor too cold. The position of the chicks in the
starting zone may indicate a heat excess or deficit.

Ventilation is important before installation (removal of


volatile disinfection products and combustion gases).
During starting, it is also necessary to make sure the air
remains pure.

Figure 78: The chicks are all at the edge of the pen, they move Figure 79: The chicks do not sit in the centre, under the radiator,
away from the radiant because it is too hot. because it is too hot.

Figure 84: With rudimentary heaters, particular attention must


be paid to the distribution of heat by accurately measuring the
temperature and observing the behaviour of the animals. Beware
also of combustion gases which can affect the air quality,
it is important to ventilate or install a chimney!

Figure 80: The chicks gather as close as possible to the radiant Figure 81: These chicks clustered under the radiant are looking
heater because it is not warm enough or the building is poorly for warmth. This prevents them from getting food and drink.
heated.

FOOT TEST
The chick must be at a temperature of about 39-40°C. If the
chick does not warm up sufficiently, its feet will be cold and
you will feel it by placing the foot pads on your cheek. After
3 hours of starting, perform several tests of this type to
assess the condition of the chicks.

Figure 82: A draught can disturb the distribution of heat, which Figure 83: The chicks are more or less evenly distributed, the
can be seen in the position of the chicks. A disturbing element radiant heater offers a correctly regulated temperature.
perceived as a threat (a noise, a moving object) will have the Figure 85: The leg test ensures that the chicks are warming up.
same effect.

48 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 49


D - Light Having water in the drinkers and nipples lines two or three
hours maximum before the arrival of the chicks is recommended
so that it is not too warm.
At starting, the light intensity must be maximal (about We recommend leaving the chick with the drinkers for about
90 lux) so that the chicks are active and can easily find the two hours before serving the first feed ration to ensure that
water and feed points. It is important for the chicks to be OBSERVATION POINT each chick has drunk enough before the feed.
able to stimulate each other by interactions. The light must
be well distributed so that there are no dark spots. Point
Itd’observation
is always awkward to give recommendations
in lux to be reached to adjust the light intensity. We recommend having a drinker for 50 to 80 chicks at least.
Above all, do not use blue light which will have the tendency Better to have too many drinkers than not enough, especially Figure 90: A small watering place for 30 chicks at the beginning.
In fact, the position of the light meter in relation to the
to make the chicks inactive. At the end of 24 hours the when the transport time between the hatchery and the After 3 to 4 hours the large drinkers can be installed, suitable for
light source and its orientation are parameters that
light intensity is reduced to reach the rearing intensity building has been long. In the following days several drinkers 50 chicks. In time, these large troughs will be available for 80 to
may change the values obtained a lot.
progressively. If behaviour is satisfactory (good activity) it is can be removed when starting has been correctly conducted. 100 animals.
possible to reduce from 12 h of light.

Figure 91: Drinking troughs must be clean and maintained. The


device shown here allows the height to be adjusted when the
Figure 86: Building under 90 lux measured Figure 87: Building under 30 lux measured Figure 88: Building under 1.5 lux measured chicks have grown sufficiently.
(starting intensity). (female breeding intensity). (male breeding intensity).

On the first day the light is cut off for 1 h in order to let the TECHNICAL TIP TECHNICAL TIP
chicks to rest a little and to learn that the light goes on and
Astuce
off. After the 5th day, we recommend putting an 18-hour
technique
Astuce
Wetechnique
strongly recommend stimulating consumption
night in place before returning to the normal light by letting a small trickle of water run in the drinkers
After that, each day one hour of night is added to reach 5 h of programme. This long night enables chicks with or letting a little water run via the nipples over some
night on the 5th day (refer to the light programme provided at difficulties in digesting to regain a normal digestive paper. These gestures must be repeated regularly (at
the end of this guide). transit whilst resting the most fragile chicks. reception and every hour for 2-3 h) until the chicks,
attracted by the noise of the water in the nipples, learn
to drink alone.
E - Water Figure 92: This device allows water to be collected in a cup from
the nipples, making it easier to access the water. If the nippless are multidirectional, this must remain
Water is the chick's first food. It is crucial to provide it the case throughout the life of the animal because once
with clean water, at an appropriate temperature and in the use of the device is learnt it is difficult to move to a
abundance so that it can hydrate itself from the time of its fixed nipples system.
arrival. The water quality control plan in the laboratory must
take into account the water quality at the outlet of the nipples
or the pipes to the drinkers and not that in the tank in the
technical room.
ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED
Before the chicks’ arrival the water should have all traces of
disinfectant removed. In fact, disinfection by heat fogging Erreur
If chicks are reared with nippless, the production
leaves dried disinfectant on the walls of the drinkers and it phase may be conducted via nippless or bell drinkers.
will also be found in the nipples lines. Ingestion of this type Conversely, if chicks are reared with bell drinkers this
of product may irritate the digestive tract of the chick and device must be kept in the production phase because
Figure 89: The water is allowed to run long enough to ensure that Figure 93: Chicks are curious and explore their environment with
cause diarrhoea (responsible in turn for dehydration ) or the birds will not know how to use nippless!
it no longer contains disinfectant. A dye can be used to ensure their beaks. These cups attract them and allow them to find the
problems assimilating nutrients.
that the water has been sufficiently replenished. nippless nearby.

50 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 51


F - Feed ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED
Preferably feed is presented in the form of crumbs for starting.
Erreur
It is placed in starter trays (the red colour specifically attracts Above all do not provide too much feed at the
the chick’s attention). We prefer trays to starter paper which start. The chick will not eat all of it and the feed
gets dirty faster over time. will deteriorate due to the heat and time (nutrient
One tray is allowed for 50 chicks. oxidation, growth of germs, etc.) which can cause
digestive disorders and spoil the feed unnecessarily.
Ad libitum does not mean in excess!
The height of the tray should allow the chick to access the
feed easily.

Figure 94: Starter trays allow the feed to be protected from the
litter while still being accessible to the chick.

Once the chicks have quenched their thirst they can start to
eat. For two hours the chick is encouraged to come and eat
by allowing a little feed to drop onto the starter trays or by
CROP TEST
tapping the bottom of the tray with your nails. The noise of After 3 h 90% of the chicks should have a full crop. When
the feed on the surface of the tray is a very good stimulant palpating the presence of a paste, a mixture of feed and
for the chick. To be repeated regularly until each chick knows water, should be felt between the fingers. However: Figure 98: This tray is obviously too full. At weighing, 890 g of
how to find and consume the feed. feed is counted, which represents 18 g per chick: useless,
expensive and leaves the feed to deteriorate in the open air.
- if the crop is empty then the chick has difficulty finding the
At one day an SA51A chick consumes only 6 to 7 g of feed in feed and water
Figure 95: The trays are not identical between brands and
models. A maximum height of 1.5 cm is recommended (left-hand
24 hours (7 to 8 g for an SA31A chick). Depending on the time
tray). of arrival and the meal time the next day, a suitable quantity - if the crop is full but very soft, then it is full of water and this
must be given. means difficulty accessing the feed

- if the crop is full but hard, then it is full of feed and this means
TECHNICAL TIP
difficulty accessing the drinking water. Astuce
It istechnique
always necessary to try and refill the feed once
- if the crop is full and supple without being too soft or too hard, the tray is empty to ensure the chicks eat all their feed
then it contains a mixture of water and feed. This means ration and so receive all the nutrients they need. This is
that the chick has drunk and eaten, which is the objective said to be ad libitum with emptying of the plate.
sought!

Figure 96: During the first 24 hours, a SA51A chick consumes only Figure 97: In this example of setting up at 3pm, for feeding the
7 g of feed (one tray for 50 chicks, i.e. 350 g of feed here), next day at 8am (17 hours later) it is sufficient to put 0.3 x 17 = Figure 99: By gently palpating the crop with the thumb and Figure 100: On naked neck strains, the volume of the crop can be
i.e. 0.3 g of feed per hour 5g per chick in the feeder (remember: a chick consumes about forefinger you can assess its consistency and volume. assessed even more easily! Here this Ruby TN chick has eaten
0.3g/h). well.

52 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 53


3 - Summary: the chronological stages
of starting
Successful starting is prepared well in advance, but it also
requires investing a lot of effort in the hours following the
installation of the chicks. It is necessary to ensure the chicks
have learnt where the sources of heat, feed and drink are.
The farmer and his team must stimulate the chicks regularly
at the feeders and drinkers, do the rounds to gather the
strays around the heat sources and ensure that the pen is
well sealed (no trapped or escaped chicks).

The diagram below summarises the major stages that must


not be missed.
Once the chicks are independent the pen can be
enlarged and the small equipment replaced by
rearing equipment.
The rearing period then starts, the aim of which is
to bring males and females to a good weight and
good sexual development at the time of transfer.
H-72H H-2H H0 H+2H
RECEPTION
HEAT INSTALL PEN AND OF CHICKS
ATMOSPHERE + FLOOR SMALL EQUIPMENT WATER FEED

SPREAD RINSE
LITTER DRINKERS
REPEATED STIMULATIONS
+
CROP/FEET TESTS

Figure 101: The different steps to a successful start-up.

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4-
REARING PERIOD

At the end of the starting period, the chicks are self-sufficient in finding their water and feed.
They are capable of exploring their environment and less vulnerable to temperature differences.
Rearing, which lasts about 20 weeks, enables the chick to develop its skeletal framework, soft
tissues and muscle mass harmoniously. This growth depends on many factors which we will list.
It is important to handle them all so that the animal arrives at the production period with the

4 - REARING FUTURE BREEDERS


right bodyweight and the right sexual maturity.

Management Guide 2022 - SASSO


A - Gases B - Humidity
It is important that the building is sufficiently aerated to Generally in the environment the humidity of the air results
allow good circulation and good renewal of respiratory gases from the local climate. In certain weather conditions the
(O2, CO2) as well as the evacuation of combustion gases such humidity levels can be very high. This slows or even prevents
as carbon monoxide, CO, which is also dangerous for humans. the litter from drying. It is naturally humidified by droppings.
Ammonia (NH3) comes from the decomposition of droppings Moist litter and droppings that do not dry encourage the
(urea) and when it is too concentrated in the air it irritates multiplication of pathogens and cause pododermatitis.
the respiratory tract and the eyes causing inflammations. Moreover when the temperature is high, it becomes even
Regulation of the concentration of these gases is conducted more difficult to cool the animals. Humidity is controlled by
mainly by controlling the ventilation. managing the ventilation.

REARING FUTURE
BREEDERS C - Ventilation
Whether dynamic or static, ventilation makes it possible to
renew ambient air:

1 - The atmosphere - by providing oxygen


- by evacuating noxious gases, such as ammonia
- by removing dust
Different elements are involved in the quality of the atmosphere in a livestock building. - by regulating the humidity in the building.

The figure opposite specifies the various elements involved in the welfare of future breeders. In contrast, any draught can influence the thermal comfort
of the future breeders by acting on the heat transfers set up
VENTILATION by convection. Generally hens and roosters detest draughts.

GAS
O2, CO2, NH3, ETC.

TEMPERATURE
HUMIDITY Figure 103: In countries with occasional heavy rain and wind, it is NATURAL
useful to be able to control the opening of the shutters to protect VENTILATION
DUST the animals. This also sometimes protects the birds from direct
DRINK sunlight, which can make them aggressive.

Ventilation is an essential element in the atmosphere in


livestock buildings. There are numerous systems from static
to dynamic ventilation. It is important to be able to control,
as far as possible, the renewal of air flows through the
MICROBES
building and their temperature. Insufficient air flows allow
DROPPINGS/LITTER harmful gases (CO, CO2 and ammonia, NH3) to accumulate and
raise the temperature whilst allowing the litter to remain
damp. Conversely, excessive flows may bother the animals Figure 104: With openings at the sides and in the roof, a good
and decrease the temperature too far. building orientation ensures natural cross ventilation. It can be
FEED
controlled by adding walls that are adjustable in height.

Figure 102: The various environmental parameters influence each other. Knowing their respective effects helps to solve certain technical pro-
blems.

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WALL COOLED BY
WATER PERCOLATION
Our “naked neck” male strains are more resistant to heat
but more sensitive to cold. Observing their behaviour E - Temperature F - Microbial infection
(PAD COOLING SYSTEM) (abnormal grouping) sometimes makes it possible to identify
a ventilation problem in rearing and in production. This parameter depends on the climate, the characteristics The livestock building is full of microbes, most of which
WOOD PANEL of the building’s insulation and air movements induced by are inoffensive. However, some pathogens are particularly
the ventilation. Birds do not use sweating as a method for devastating when their presence becomes too significant or
regulating body temperature so they are very dependent when they manage to infiltrate the rearing site.
on their environment. The temperature should be
controlled very accurately as it has a powerful effect on Although it is possible to vaccinate the animals or
feed consumption, and therefore growth, and also on laying supplement the feed rations for some targeted pathogens,
TECHNICAL TIP performance in production. the most important for controlling the health status of the
Astuce
flock is biosecurity.
If ittechnique
is very hot it may be advantageous to diffuse a mist The temperature should be adapted to the age of the future
over the animals (caution, they must not get too wet). breeders. The temperature variation should be controlled The various measures taken daily and listed in this guide
The water will move from the liquid to the gaseous throughout the rearing period. As a reminder: must be regularly assessed and called into question because
state which uses energy and therefore reduces the their efficacy depends on strict consideration to them.
temperature.
However be careful, this operation must be combined Rearing temperatures (°C)
with sufficient ventilation and performed in quite dry
Under the 2 m from the Breast
G - Droppings and litter
ambient air, at the risk of suffocating the animals by Age (in days) radiant heater radiant heater height
saturating the air with humidity. The mist is only During the life of the flock, the litter is mixed with
diffused if the ventilation allows. Ideally, a low pressure Day of delivery 35 32 30 droppings, feathers, dust and feed to form matter, for
fogging system should be used. 3 30 27 25 which it is important to control uniformity, humidity and
6 29 26 24 consistency. The ideal litter should be dry, flat, uniform
9 27 25 23 and allow scratching and dust baths which regulate the
Figure 105: This closed building, ventilated via a water cooling
system, is located in a very hot country (Malaysia). The naked amount of grease on the birds’ feathers. These qualities
12 26 25 22
neck males do not tolerate the cold air flow and try to protect depend on the animals’ health (behaviour, quality of the
themselves behind the wooden panel. Ventilation must be
15 25 24 22 faeces) and ventilation.
reduced. 18 24 24 22
21 23 23 22 Litter is a significant reservoir of organic material and
24 22 22 21 micro-organisms making it fermentable and causing a
natural increase in its temperature. It produces several
27 21 21 21
foul-smelling gases, amongst which is ammonia, an irritant
Figure 107: Even after the start the thermal balance of the animal for the respiratory tracts of humans and also the birds.
D - Dust changes. The temperature must be constantly adjusted. So the quality of the litter can raise the temperature by
several degrees and cause a critical change in the building's
Dust is litter particles, feathers, droppings and feed in It is important to control the building’s humidity to prevent atmosphere.
suspension in the air. When the environment is too dry, the this situation whilst ensuring that the litter remains dry. Litter plays the role of heat insulator between the bird’s legs In order to promote the movement of the animals (and for
quantity of dust is very high and it can cause respiratory and the ground. The farmer must control the temperature of safety reasons) the farmer will ensure there are no clumps or
problems or irritate the ocular mucosa. the rearing zone daily. holes in the litter.

TECHNICAL TIP
TECHNICAL TIP Astuce
At technique
certain times in the life of the flock, such as days
without feed during rearing, it can be useful to
Astuce
Hens are very curious animals. A small opening, a
technique distribute cracked corn or whole wheat to the animals,
small hole in the roof or in a wall may create a ray of in order to occupy them or stimulate scratching of
light in the building. The hens will be attracted by the the litter, and thus its natural maintenance. A small
light source and the dust in suspension. In some cases quantity of cereals is enough but it is important to add
this may create nervousness or even suffocation. grit to them to facilitate digestion. To be carried out
It is important to fill these small openings in closed regularly. This activity promotes animal welfare and
buildings. Figure 106: The litter should be crumbly and dry between the
also that of the farmer!
Figure 108: The temperature in the chick's living area should be
fingers. monitored from the start and throughout the rearing period.

60 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 61


2 - Density 3 - Light
Rather than a theoretical density it is the genetic types However, from the age of 4 weeks, the recommended The lightning program makes it possible to control the sexual REMINDER: STARTING
installed, the material conditions of rearing (open or closed densities for rearing future breeders are provided in the maturity of SASSO breeders: early laying for the females and As we have seen, it is important to let the chicks rest for one
building), the farmer’s experience and the local climate table opposite. In it you will also find recommendations for testicular development of males. hour after the first day.
which indicate the numbers of animals which can be placed the space available at the feeders and drinkers. We recommend rearing males and females in different Then the night duration is increased by one hour so that at 5
in a rearing barn. In particular, we start by assessing the buildings because this allows dedicated program for each days the animals have 5 hours of night.
accommodation capacity in the building depending on the sex. If this is not possible, following the light programme for
feed and watering equipment. females is suitable. At this time, they can be given 18 h of night to allow some
animals with digestive or cardiac fragility to catch up.
We are going to distinguish the two programs by detailing
the light duration and the light intensity required. At this period the intensities used are quite high to stimulate
Place at the feeder, drinker as well as rearing densities for SASSO strains the chick and facilitate the discovery of its environment.

Rearing Place at the feeder Place at the bell drinker Density

7-8 hens/m2
in an open building

SA51A, SA31A 10 cm/hen 1 drinker for 80 to 100 females


8-10 hens/m2
in a closed building
with water cooling
A - Lightning program for females
SA31L 12 to 15 cm/hen 1 drinker for 80 5-6 hens/m2

20 cm/rooster in a longitudinal feeder


A.1 - Light duration
To know how to regulate the duration of the day, it is important to remember the following rule which applies for females:
7 roosters per automatic feeder
Roosters 1 drinker for 80 5 to 6 roosters/m2

8 to 9 roosters in a hopper depending on


the hopper
THE DURATION OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AT 10 WEEKS MUST BE EQUAL
TO THE DURATION OF NATURAL LIGHT AT TRANSFER
Figure 109: For each category of SASSO strains (dwarf and non-dwarf females, males), it is important to respect precise ratios for feeding and
drinking space as well as for space occupation.

This duration must never be less than 10 h or more than 14h to Here we will give three examples of lightning program for
leave the farmer with a margin of action in his management the different installation dates. In temperate countries the
of the farm. In fact, he could need to reduce the duration duration of natural day varies widely over the course of the
of the day or increase it to control sexual maturity, but year and requires an appropriate light programme. Your
without exceeding the limits which could deteriorate batch SASSO technician is able to provide you with the right light
performance. programme for each batch.
In countries near the Equator the duration of the day does
From Week 1 to Week 10, depending on the Week 10 light not vary much during the year (about 12 h) So it is possible
duration objective, the farmer determines the rhythm of the to use the same light programme for all the SASSO batches
time change. For one added hour of night we recommend received.
adding 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the
evening.
It is important to make the artificial night phase coincide the
natural night as much as possible.

62 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 63


1) Rearing installation, duration of natural light at transfer at 20 weeks = about 12 h 2) Winter rearing, duration of natural light at transfer at 20 weeks = about 16 h
This light programme also suits countries near the Equator (tropical climate) In this case we do not go up to 16 h of artificial light to leave a 2-hour margin in case we need to increase the light duration (especially
for stimulating laying). If we were to use 16 h of light this stimulation would lead to a light duration in production of 17 h, 18 h or even
19 h of light, which would not allow the animals sufficient rest.

Age Light Darkness Observation Light Darkness


Age duration Observation Age Light Darkness Observation Light Darkness
Age duration Observation
duration duration duration duration duration duration
D1 23 1 W13 12 12 D1 23 1 W13 14 10
D2 22 2 W14 12 12 D2 22 2 W14 14 10
D3 21 3 W15 12 12 D3 21 3 W15 14 10
D4 20 4 W16 12 12 D4 20 4 W16 14 10
D5 19 5 Visit in W17: if females too mature D5 19 5 Visit in W17: if females too mature
W17 12 12 the light duration is reduced by 2 h W17 14 10 the light duration is reduced by 2 h
D6 6 18 (here 10 h) D6 6 18 (here 12 h)
D7 18 6 W18 12 12 D7 18 6 W18 14 10
W2 17 7 W19 12 12 W2 17 7 W19 14 10
W3 16 8 Transfer date, may vary depending W3 17 7 Transfer date, may vary
W4 16 8 W20 24 0 on the farmer 24 h day for W4 17 7 W20 24 0 depending on the farmer 24 h day
acclimatisation for acclimatisation
W5 15 9 W5 16 8
Standard date of start of laying
Standard date of start of laying
W6 15 9 W21 12 12 (1% of laying), generally variable W6 16 8 W21 14 10 (1% of laying), generally variable
by two weeks more or less by two weeks more or less
W7 14 10 W7 16 8
W22 13 11 W22 15 9
W8 14 10 W8 15 9
W9 13 11 W23 14 10 W9 15 9 W23 16 8
Estimated natural light duration W24 15 9 Estimated natural light duration W24 16 8
W10 12 12 on transfer = 12 h W10 14 10 at transfer = 16 h, go for 14 h
W25 16 8 W25 16 8
to have a margin
W11 12 12
W26 16 8 W11 14 10 W26 16 8
W12 12 12
W27 16 8 W12 14 10 W27 16 8
Figure 110: Light programme if the daytime duration at the transfer is about 12 hours.
Figure 112: Light programme if the daytime duration at the transfer is about 16 hours.

LIGHT DURATION 23H LIGHT DURATION


NIGHT DURATION IN BUILDING 23H NIGHT DURATION
IN BUILDING IN BUILDING IN BUILDING

DAY DURATION DAY OF


DAY OF AT TRANSFER ACCLIMATISATION
ACCLIMATISATION 16H 8H 16H 8H
DAY DURATION 16H
AT TRANSFER
12H 12H 12H TRANSFER
STIMULATION
TRANSFER OF LAYING
STIMULATION
LONG NIGHT OF LAYING LONG NIGHT
OF REST OF REST
6 H
18 H
6 H
18H

1 10 19 21 1 10 19 21
TIME TIME
STARTING REARING START PRODUCTION (WEEKS) STARTING REARING START PRODUCTION (WEEKS)
OF LAYING OF LAYING
Figure 111: Light programme if the daytime duration at the transfer is about 12 hours. Figure 113: Lightning program if the daytime duration at the transfer is about 16 hours.

64 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 65


3) Summer rearing, duration of natural light at transfer at 20 weeks = about 8 h
In this case we do not use 8 h of light at 10 weeks but 10 h. In fact if the batch is too mature at 17 weeks it will be possible to reduce the
A.2 - Light intensity
light duration by 2 h. If we start with 8 h of light we would not have the potential to reduce the light duration because 8 h of light is ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED
the minimum for rearing the future breeders.
As a reminder the intensity at the beginning is 90 lux for the Erreur
When rearing “broilers” strains using very low intensity
Light Darkness Light Darkness chicks. For females from 8 days a light intensity of 30 lux is
Age Observation Age duration Observation light is recommended. For SASSO strains this method of
duration duration duration provided for the entire rearing duration.
rearing is not recommended because it encourages the
These values are indicative and it is very difficult to asses
D1 23 1 W13 10 14 females to lay on the floor. Hens from coloured strains
light intensity using a light meter. The light intensity should
D2 22 2 W14 10 14 absorb much more light than the “broilers” strain hens
always be adapted to the behaviour in the building.
D3 21 3 W15 10 14 with white feathers. The right intensity must be found
to prevent excessive agitation of the batch whilst
D4 20 4 W16 10 14 Too high an intensity may cause nervousness or even feather
maintaining a sufficient level of activity. If you cannot
D5 19 5 Visit in W17: if females too mature plucking.
W17 10 14 the light duration is reduced by 2 h see the end of your building from the entrance, it is
Conversely too low a light intensity may create problems
D6 6 18 (here 8 h) probably because there is not enough light. Ask advice
during laying.
D7 18 6 W18 10 14 from your SASSO partner during a technical visit.
W2 17 7 W19 10 14
W3 16 8 Transfer date, may vary depending
W4 15 9 W20 24 0 on the farmer 24 h day
for acclimatisation
W5 14 10
Standard date of start of laying
W6 13 11 W21 10 14 (1% of laying), generally variable
by two weeks more or less
W7 12 12
W22 11 13
W8 12 12
W9 11 13 W23 12 12
Estimated natural light duration W24 13 11
W10 10 14 at transfer = 8 h, go for 10 h to have W25 14 10
a margin
W11 10 14 W26 15 9

W12 10 14 W27 16 8
Figure 116: Too much natural light can cause discomfort to the Figure 117: Coloured strains such as SASSO strains absorb a lot
Figure 114: Light programme if the daytime duration at the transfer is about 8 hours. animals, and the building can become very hot. By using curtains of light, so be careful to find the right intensity for activity in
that are humidified by a sprinkler system, the chickens can be relative calm.
LIGHT DURATION 23H NIGHT DURATION cooled and protected from direct sunlight.
IN BUILDING IN BUILDING

In sum, the aim of the lightning program for females is to When laying starts at about 21 weeks, then the hens should
DAY OF
ACCLIMATISATION
allow optimum growth (good development of the bony be encouraged by rapidly increasing the feed ration and by
skeleton and muscle mass) and to reach sexual maturity at sending a positive light signal: increase of one hour per week
16H 8H the right time (generally about 21 weeks of age). before arriving at the optimum production duration (16 h and
At about 10 weeks the light duration stabilises to a value increase in light intensity).
which depends on the natural light conditions at transfer.
TRANSFER The rearing light intensity must allow females to express CASE OF SA31L:
DAY DURATION their natural behaviour whilst preventing serious agitation. The indications developed in this part are valid for the dwarf
AT TRANSFER
STIMULATION In some rearing systems sexual maturity is reached too early strains SA51A, SA31A and SA51N. The maturity of these hens
8H OF LAYING and, if nothing is done, the hens will start to lay too early is often early and one of the aims of the lightning program is
(about 18 weeks) with eggs that are too small to be incubated. to delay the start of laying so as not to produce eggs that are
6H 18H
too small. In the case of the SA31L it is the opposite: without
LONG NIGHT Maturity should be controlled by the feed (not having adequate stimulation the first eggs will only arrive at Week
OF REST overweight hens) and light. At 17 weeks it is, in fact, 24 or 25. The general principle of the lightning program for the
possible to push laying back by 10 days by reducing the light SA31L is the same as for the dwarf strains but the stimulation
duration by 2 h. This sends the following signal to the hens: per light duration should occur at about Week 19 (or even 18).
1 10 19 21 “It's not the right season, you need to wait! “. This stimulation must go along with a sudden increase in the
STARTING REARING START PRODUCTION TIME feed ration (see next section).
OF LAYING (WEEKS)
Figure 115: Light programme if the daytime duration at the transfer is about 8 hours.

66 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 67


B - Lightning program for males As a result of this light programme testicular development OBSERVATION POINT
is slowed for the entire rearing duration. With the light
Point
stimulation triggered before laying starts, the testicles Itd’observation
is always awkward to give recommendations in lux
We recommend rearing the males separately to control their Light programme - Males develop very quickly, enabling the males to reach satisfactory
growth and sexual maturity better. to be reached to adjust the light intensity. In fact, the
Light duration Darkness
sexual maturity and the eggs to be fertilised. position of the light meter in relation to the light source
However, if this is not possible, the males should be reared Age duration Observation
following the females’ lightning program. and its orientation are parameters that may change
The aim of a light programme for males is to put testicular D1 23 1 90 lux the values obtained a lot.
growth to sleep to control sexual maturity. This is obtained D2 22 2 90 lux
by progressively reducing luminosity to 1.5 lux and the D3 21 3 90 lux
duration of day to 8 hours. At this light intensity it is still D4 20 4 90 lux
possible to see in a building but the luminosity in insufficient
D5 19 5 90 lux
to stimulate testicular growth.
D6 6 18 90 lux
The objective is to place mature males in the presence of D7 18 6 75 lux
55 MM
females which are equally ready to mate. Maturity of a male D8 17 7 75 lux
is obtained very quickly: with good stimulation it is possible D9 17 7 75 lux
to obtain mature males in one week.
The objective is therefore to control the maturity of the
D10 16 8 75 lux

females and when it is felt that laying is imminent the males D11 16 8 75 lux
are stimulated. One week later the males and females are D12 15 9 75 lux
placed together in the production building (as the males D13 15 9 75 lux
need more time to adapt to a new environment they are D14 14 10 60 lux 10 16 19 20 21 22 23 24 AGE
transferred before the females). (IN WEEKS)
D15 14 10 60 lux
D16 13 11 60 lux 1.5 LUX 90 LUX
LIGHT
D17 13 11 60 lux STIMULATION
TESTICULAR GROWTH REPRODUCTION
D18 12 12 60 lux TESTICULAR GROWTH
SLOWED ACCELERATED
D19 11 13 60 lux
D20 10 14 60 lux Figure 119: The testicles are asleep until light stimulation.
D21 9 15 60 lux
W4 8 16 45 lux
W5 8 16 30 lux
W6 8 16 15 lux
W7 8 16 1.5 lux
W8 8 16 1.5 lux
W9 8 16 1.5 lux
W10 8 16 1.5 lux
Figure 120: Building under 90 lux measured Figure 121: Building under 30 lux measured Figure 122: Building under 1.5 lux measured
W11 8 16 1.5 lux
(starting intensity). (female breeding intensity). (male breeding intensity).
W12 8 16 1.5 lux
W13 8 16 1.5 lux
W14 8 16 1.5 lux
OBSERVATION POINT
W15 8 16 1.5 lux Point
Several studies show that the hen is an animal that is very Furthermore, the noises around (wild birds, human
W16 8 16 1.5 lux d’observation
sensitive to light, even at low intensity. A so-called “dark” activity, insects, etc.) are picked up very well by the hen
30 lux
Rapid increase building often allows in enough light for the hen to consider and interpreted as signs of a diurnal period even if the
W17 (e.g. 10 h) (Start of stimulation
2 weeks before transfer) it to be daytime (including when there is a full moon, i.e. building is dark.
Rapid increase about 0.4 lux). All these elements should be remembered in the
W18 (e.g. 11 h) 60 lux
management of the animal’s maturity.
Figure 118: Light programme to control testicular development.
Female 90 lux
Female
W19 duration (e.g. duration TRANSFER. Same light
12 h) programme as for the females

68 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 69


4 - Weight management for future B - Feed
The farmer’s objective during the rearing period is to obtain their entire genetic potential in the reproduction period.

breeders
the most regular growth curve possible, as close as possible At this stage observation of the batch is mandatory.
to the SASSO weight recommendations, in order to express

ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED
A - Weighing Feed quality
Erreur
From the first week the farmer must check and manage the Above all do not think that animals in a pen can be
growth of future breeders. chosen randomly. The large animals are easier to spot Uneaten feed will be removed in order to prevent any In order to guarantee optimum hygiene quality monitor the
and it is easier to trap them as they cover the small humidification and the development of fungi or mycotoxins. storage conditions for this decontaminated feed and the
This control is performed each week by weighing a sample ones. To compensate the farmer may then choose the The feed chains or hoppers must be empty before the light hygiene of the feed supply lines. By using two silos you have
of fasting animals. For this control to be effective, the smallest. In all these cases there is a bias. is turned out. the potential to empty, wash and disinfect each silo whilst
farmer always weighs the animals on the same day of the We recommend penning the animals and weighing allowing normal distribution of the feed.
week, at the same time, preferably on the day when feed 100% of the penned animals. If it is thought that there Feed is one of the vectors for the introduction of salmonellae
is not distributed so that they are fasting, or before feed are too many it is better to open the pen and close it in the rearing of breeders. The recommended method for Dividing orders is recommended so that you always have
ration distribution when using the 7/7 system. Making this again on a smaller number (minimum 1% for females) decontaminating the feed is short-term heat treatment. fresh feed (by preventing damp from forming blocks in the
day as close as possible to that of their arrival in rearing is rather than stopping during weighing, at the risk of Today feed manufacturers offer a range of products storage containers or the feed overheating).
recommended (ideally a day without feed is this day). having taken the largest as a priority. generally including feeds that are thermally decontaminated
and offering satisfactory safety. These days, feed manufacturers offer feed cycles including
Method of performing the weighing: three or four phases: starting, growth, pullet as a minimum.
- Group together 1% of the females (minimum of 60 subjects)
For each weighing the table must be filled in using, for the
and 10% of the males in a trapping pen always placed in the
first column, a series of weight values around the objective
same location.
to be achieved (one weight every 10 g for example for young
- Weigh the females individually, then the males noting the
weights and the number of individuals measured in order to
calculate the average weight of the batch, the coefficient
animals, every 20 or 30 g for older animals). Each animal is
weighed and its weight is recorded by a cross in a box on Feed quantity
the corresponding line. As weighing progresses the most
of variation and uniformity to plus or minus 10%. All the
penned animals must be weighed.
represented weights in the sample are seen. If the curve B.1 How should the feed ration be developed?
obtained is close, this means that the weights do not vary
much around the majority value, which is good (uniform If there was only one rule to remember in this chapter it would be this:
batch). It is important that these weights are close to
SASSO targets. Conversely a relatively wide curve shows
TECHNICAL TIP low uniformity and must show concerns on the conduct of
“FEED RATION IS FUNCTION OF GROWTH”
rearing (feed distribution, grading, etc.). Our objective is that
Astuce 80% of the animals are about target weight, to plus or minus
When weighing, if you observe a deterioration in
technique 10% (e.g. for a target weight of 800 g, 80% of animals should
uniformity the animals must be divided into pens have a weight between 720 g and 880 g). You will find a blank This means that our recommendations for the feed quantity This work may be carried out in collaboration with the SASSO
according to their weight. This is grading, detailed in table to print at the appendix to this guide for each weighing are very theoretical and are general indications for the first team, don’t hesitate to ask their advice.
the next section. performed. batches. In no circumstances should they be applied to the The feed quantity increases over time in the rearing period. It
letter, especially from 3 weeks of rearing. is important that his animals are weighed regularly in order
Weight uniformity monitoring table (example) The farmer should assess the growth of the batch regularly to control weight change (weekly weighing).
Weight Population and adapt the feed ration as a consequence. His rearing
(g) 5 10 15 20 25
The average weight obtained enables you to find your 600 system, the formulation of his feed and the geographical When a batch exceeds the weight objectives it is necessary to
position in relation to the theoretical weight curve provided 20 area where he is will quickly help in determining the correct bring it back to the theoretical curve by reducing the increase
40
by SASSO. It enables you to ration future breeders by 60 feed quantity enabling him to achieve the recommended in the feed ration or even by keeping the same quantity of
80
adjusting the quantities of feed distributed. 700 x x x x x weight objectives. feed for several weeks in a row. An animal in full growth
20 x x x x x x x x
40 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x After approximately the third batch, the farmer will have will gain weight even if the feed quantity remains constant.
Feed rationing is an essential step in rearing future SASSO 60 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x sufficient experience to determine what is suitable in terms Some cases require a reduction in the feed quantity but we
80 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
breeder hens. By rationing you obtain pullets with a correct 800 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x of feed for his case. He could then break free from SASSO recommend you ask your SASSO partner in order to estimate
20 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
body composition at the start of laying, with a good size and 40 x x x x x x x x x recommendations for feed quantity and use his own feed the quantity to decrease correctly.
no excessive fat. 60 x x x x x x programme to reach the weight objectives.
80 x x x x
900 x x x
20 x x x x

70 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 71


B.2 How can uniformity be improved? Grading B.3 How can growth be rectified?
Grading makes it possible to improve batch uniformity by adapting the feed ration to be as close as possible to requirements. It Many feed formulations are very rich in energy and consequently the hens become too heavy.
involves dividing the batch into pens according to weight. In this case, it is necessary to act quickly by reducing the weekly increase in the feed ration or even blocking it for several weeks to get
the birds back in the recommended weight curve.

WEIGHT
FEMALES: MALES CASE 1: ANIMALS TOO HEAVY
WEIGHT OBJECTIVE
We recommend sorting the females according to their Generally we recommend rearing the males separately from PROGRESSIVE RETURN Figure 123: When you notice that
weight from 4 or 5 weeks-old. the females, in a different building. If this is not possible, it is TO THE OBJECTIVE your weight is slipping away
from the recommendations, you
At least three categories must be distinguished: preferable to rear them in a separate pen. This is especially
should slow down or even stop
animals close to the weight objective, those too light and important for the heavy C and X strains, Only the light the weekly increase until the
those too heavy. T strains can be reared with the females, but it is necessary weight returns to the target.
to add feeders that are only accessible to the males from
Each category will receive a feed ration suitable for its 10 weeks. EXCESSIVE
GROWTH
condition so that light animals catch up, those at the right
weight remain within the reference objectives and the
animals that are too heavy have their growth slowed.

In fact, the “small” animals and the “too heavy” animals will TECHNICAL TIP ADJUSTED
BLOCKED FEED
be subject to competition suitable for their size during the FEED
meal, which will enable them to return to the curve if the Some
Astuce
livestock farmers choose to raise the males from
technique
feed ration is correctly adapted. light lineages (T) in the same enclosure as the females. NORMAL FEED
In this case hoppers specifically dedicated to roosters
Beyond the 15th week, catching up is difficult. should be added from the age of 11 weeks to meet their TIME
In fact, all the tissues (bone, muscle and fat) do not form at higher dietary requirements. IDENTIFICATION OF EXCESS
the same time or the same speed. In the first 10 weeks, it is WEIGHT
mainly the skeleton that develops. → REACTION
Animals that are too light must catch up. Before the age of 10 weeks the increase in the feed ration may be fast because the ration will
Between 10 and 20 weeks fat synthesis is important and hens For males reared separately, between 4 and 8 weeks, the mostly be converted into muscle mass. However, after this age a feed ration that is increased too quickly will result in an excessive
receiving too much energy through the feed (hens that are uniformity of the flock can be improved as follows: synthesis of fat. So from the age of 10 weeks it is necessary to increase progressively.
too heavy) risk developing hemorrhagic livers.
So in this period, if too much feed is given to a hen that is - Make two pens WEIGHT CASE 2: ANIMALS TOO LIGHT WEIGHT OBJECTIVE
“delayed” on the curve she will not convert her feed ration - Sort the males into two categories (one per pen):
into muscle but rather fat and could damage her liver. large and small. Figure 124: When it is noticed
This is why it is necessary to anticipate deviations from the - Remove those with rickets or those having significant that the weight is insufficient,
curve and adapt the feed ration as early as possible in the growth retardation the ration should be increased
PROGRESSIVE
animal's life. - Feed these two pens differently. The objectives are as RETURN TO THE more rapidly until the weight
follows: OBJECTIVE returns to the target.
- Progressively reduce the growth of the heaviest
ADJUSTED
individuals. FEED
- Progressively increase the weight of the lightest
individuals.
TECHNICAL TIP - Repeat the operation every week. INSUFFICIENT GROWTH
Astuce INCREASE GREATER THAN
Roosters
technique have a tendency to ingest clean litter, which RECOMMENDATIONS
forms fibrous blockages in their digestive tract! They
then consume a lot of water to try to move it down
but this generally does not work. Distributing grit (50 NORMAL FEED TIME
kg for about 500 roosters) makes it possible to resolve
this problem.
IDENTIFICATION OF A WEIGHT DEFECT
→ REACTION

72 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 73


Rationing in 5 to 7 days In practice, the weekly quantity of feed chosen by the farmer
must be retained but it should be divided into 5 daily feed
Example of conversion of a feed ration 7 days out of 7 into a feed
ration 5 days out of 7 (values given as an example):
rations instead of 7. The days without feed are set and do
The rationing system of 5 days out of 7, or 5/7, involves only not follow each other. Cracked corn or whole wheat as well If the feed ration distributed 7/7 is 39 g/day/animal the
distributing the feed ration on 5 days a week. It is put in place as grit may be distributed on the days without feed in order calculation is as follows:
between the 4th and the 6th week. It considerably improves to occupy the animals and maintain the litter by scratching. - calculation of the weekly feed ration:
the performance of the batch because: It is unnecessary to give too much as it is simply used to 39 g x 7 days = 273 g/animal/week
stimulate the animals. - conversion to 5 days out of 7 distribution:
- It makes it possible to control the competition between 273 g/5 days = 55 g/day/animal on the days of feed
animals when accessing the feeder distribution.
- It makes it possible to prepare the animals to ingest a
significant ration of feed at the peak of laying by increasing The increase in the daily feed ration is therefore 40%.
the volume of the crop. The farmer wishing to put in place a 5/7 system must
determine which will be the two days without feed
distribution. Often Sunday is chosen to lighten the work load
5/7 INGESTION CAPACITY 7/7 INGESTION CAPACITY during the rest day. The other day without food will be the
day on which the animals are weighed. As far as possible
TECHNICAL TIP
this day should also be close to the day on which the batch Astuce
arrived on the farm. For example if the batch arrived on a On technique
the two days which precede the first day without
Tuesday, the second day without feed could be Wednesday. feed, give the 5/7 feed ration (more than their normal
If the batch arrived on a Friday, the day without food would ration per day) so that the animals are quiet when
be Thursday. there is no feed distribution.
The 5/7 feed system stops at transfer and then we return to 7/7.

7/7 feed system 5/7 feed system

Week Day Feed quantity/ Feed quantity Week Day Feed quantity/ Feed quantity
day (g) /week (g) day (g) /week (g)
4 Monday 33 231 4 Monday 33 231
4 Tuesday 33 4 Tuesday 33
4 Wednesday 33 4 Wednesday 33
4 Thursday 33 4 Thursday 33
4 Friday 33 4 Friday 33

130 G 115 G 4 Saturday 33 4 Saturday 33


4 Sunday 33 4 Sunday 33
5 Monday 39 273 5 Monday 55 273
5 Tuesday 39 5 Tuesday 55
5 Wednesday 39 5 Wednesday 55
Figure 125: By eating a larger volume of food at each meal, a hen raised in a 5/7 system increases her feed intake capacity. It will cope better
with a rapid increase in feed intake (up to 130g at peak) than a hen reared in 7/7. 5 Thursday 39 5 Thursday 0
5 Friday 39 5 Friday 55
5 Saturday 39 5 Saturday 55
5 Sunday 39 5 Sunday 0
6 Monday 43 301 6 Monday 60 301
ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED 6 Tuesday 43 6 Tuesday 60
6 Wednesday 43 6 Wednesday 60
Erreur
Above all 5/7 rationing should not be used for males. 6 Thursday 43 6 Thursday 0
If the males are reared in the same building it is 6 Friday 43 6 Friday 60
necessary to give cracked corn or whole wheat to the 6 Saturday 43 6 Saturday 60
females on the days without feed in order to occupy 6 Sunday 43 6 Sunday 0
them when the males are fed.
Figure 126: Classic 7/7 distribution system. Figure 127: Improved ration distribution system in 5/7.
The amount per week is the same as in 7/7 but the ration per day
is higher.

74 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 75


5 - Watering B - Water rationing
Water rationing avoids any overconsumption which causes In all cases, the water must not be cut off while there is feed
It is necessary to control the position of the pullets coming to drink and adapt. The chick and then the pullet should not twist its neck digestive problems and deterioration of the litter. It starts in the feed chains.
under a nipples that is too low, or have to rise onto the tips of its toes under a nipples that is too high. with the 5 days out of 7 feed rationing. Remember, this ratio It is necessary to make sure the drinkers are empty and left
is as follows: dry during the night.
- 1.5 to 1.6 in winter From Week 17 until Week 20 it is important to increase the
- 1.8 to 2 in summer, sometimes more. duration of watering progressively until the same duration
The days when feed is not distributed, a distribution of 2 as that of light is reached. In fact, this is the period when the
to 4 hours of water is made or even more depending on the ovarian cluster develops and the physiological requirements
temperature. for water are then greater. Then water rationing can be
restarted.

Figure 128: The animal stands on its toes Figure 129: The neck is twisted to reach the Figure 130: With the neck normally straight
6-R
 ecording
and stretches its neck too far, the nipples
is too high.
teat, the nipples is too low. and the legs flat on the ground, the height
of the nipples is optimal.
during rearing
Manuel élevage SA31A
Breeding manual | Manual crìa
Semaine Âge Poids Aliment Durée de lumière Aliment / Eau Conseils techniques

Throughout the rearing period, the farmer records the


(en jours) théorique Qté théo gr
Week Duration of light Feed / Water Technical tips
Age Body weight Feed
Semana (in days) theoretic theoretical g Duración de luz Alimento / Agua Consejos técnicos

essential data for monitoring the batch on the rearing form: Edad
(en días)
Peso
teórico
Alimento
Cant. teór. g

1ère nuit, minimum 1h de coupure,


puis descendre d’une heure par
nuit pour être à 5h de nuit à 5
jours. Intensité élevée les 12
- average weight of the animals weighed weekly premières heures, puis la diminuer.
1st night, at least 1hr off, then
Aliment démarrage
Faire vider les chaînes à 1 jour
Empty feeder on day 1
1 1à7 90 Ad libitum reduce to 5hr at day 5. High Start feed
- daily consumption of feed and water intensity during the first 12 hours,
then reduce it.
Alimento inicio Vaciar las cadenas
o platos el 1er día
1ª noche, mínimo 1h de corte,
- daily mortality después bajar hasta 5h al día
5. Intensidad alta durante las
primeras 12h, luego bajar.
- daily reading of temperatures in the various controlled Aliment Poulette
2 8 à 14 176 27 Female breeder feed
zones Alimento de gallina reproductora
3 15 à 21 271 34
- duration of lighting
A - General data
4 22 à 28 367 38
Décroissance linéaire
« phase automne » Jour sans aliment distribuer du
- health and/or prophylactic procedures. 5 29 à 35 462 42
Linear reduction
“autumn phase”
Passer en alimentation 5/7
Switch to 5/7 feed
maïs concassé ou blé entier + grit
On days off feed, give crumble
corn or wheat (and grit)
Disminución lineal Distribucion de alimento en 5/7
“fase otoño” Día sin alimento distribuir maíz
triturado o trigo entero + grit

The quantity of water distributed is defined depending on: During the first two weeks the drinkers are cleaned daily. 6
7
36 à 42
43 à 49
558
653
46
49

- the hardness of the crop when the water is cut off: a crop that Then the frequency is reduced to reach a minimum of It is important to use the forms for filling in supplied by 8
9
50 à 56
57 à 63
749
844
51
53

is too hard may indicate that watering is insufficient and cleaning once a week. SASSO during rearing and production. The explanatory
La durée de lumière à ce moment
doit être égale à la durée de
lumière naturelle au transfert
Objectif « haut de courbe »
min 10h max 14h
a crop that is too soft means that watering can be reduced technical data sheets are all available on our website: The duration of light at this time
should be equal to the duration of
pour développer la carcasse
Objective “top of curve”
10 64 à 70 940 55 to grow body
a little. Throughout rearing, the farmer must control the water https://www.sasso-poultry.com daylight at transfer min. 10hr
max. 14hr
La duración de luz en este
Objetivo “alto de curva” para
desarrollar la carcasa/

- temperature: the WATER/FEED ratio changes with the


osamenta
consumption. The height of the water in the drinkers must momento debe ser igual a
la duración de luz natural en la
transferencia mín. 10 h máx. 14 h

weather. In winter it is about 1.5-1.6 and rises to 1.8-2 in be controlled in order to prevent any waste (max. 1 cm). 11
12
71 à 77
78 à 84
1030
1105
57
59

summer (sometimes more when it is very hot) 13


14
85 à 91
92 à 98
1180
1260
61
63

- the condition of the litter: litter that has deteriorated too In addition to the quantity of water distributed, its quality 15
16
99 à 105
106 à 112
1340
1410
65
67
Augmenter quantité d’eau pour
much is the consequence of droppings that are too liquid must be monitored by the farmer. « phase hiver »
Diminuer la durée de lumière
développement grappe ovarienne
Increase water to grow the egg
Visite obligatoire du techniciene
Compulsory technician visit
17 113 à 119 1485 68 de 2h
and this is sometimes explained by excessive watering. If To do this he can; “winter phase”
Reduce light duration
cluster
Aumentar la cantidad de agua para
el desarrollo de la grapa ovariana
Inspección obligatoria del
técnico
by 2 hours
the crops are hard, watering should nevertheless not be - check its potability. It may be necessary to use chlorine to 18
19
120 à 126
127 à 133
1540
1595
69
70
”fase invierno”
Bajar duración de luz Au transfert, distribuer l’aliment en 7/7
Période de transfert
reduced even with deteriorated litter (it is better to change improve the potability 20 134 à 140 1650 71
de 2 horas
At transfer period switch to 7/7 feed
Al transferencia dar alimento
Transfer period
Período de transferencia
the ventilation parameters). - prior to vaccinations via the drinking water, check there
en 7/7 días
Au 1er œuf on arrête
l’alimentation 5/7
is no chlorine or any other disinfectant substance in the 21 141 à 147 1730 75 At the 1st egg, stop 5/7 feed
Al 1er huevo, parar el
alimentación en 5/7
The water supply is closed at night to limit the development drinking water. If necessary, use a neutraliser. Figure
148 à131: This type of data sheet, available on the website,
Commencer stimulation Début de ponte
22 154 1790 94 Begin stimulation Start laying
of undesirable micro-organisms in the drinkers outside the allows you to have the SASSO standards for weight objectives,
Comenzar estímulo Inicio de puesta

consumption phases. ration evolution, light program.. SA31A - Normes techniques Technical data Datos tecnicos 3

76 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 77


At the end of the rearing period the males and
females have reached the target weight and are
sexually mature.
The next step involves transferring them to the
production building. In some rearing systems the
livestock building also serves as the production
building (nests are simply added).
The males will mate the females from transfer
onwards and the first eggs laid will be fertile.
We will detail these stages in the following section.

78 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO


5-
PRODUCTION

The success of production depends mainly on starting and the rearing phase.
It is now too late to correct the animals’ weight. If all the recommendations have been followed
there is no reason why production should not be well done. A hen in good health, at the right
weight and the right stage of sexual maturity will be a good layer. A male in good health and with
adequate testicular development will be a good breeder.
In this section we will see how to move from rearing to production and how to reach a laying
peak as high and sustainable as possible. We will also deal the the subject of male fertility
and its optimisation.

5 - PRODUCTION
Management Guide 2022 - SASSO
Furthermore we encourage the roosters to find the feeders
as follows:

- remove the litter under the roosters’ feeders


- place the roosters’ feeders at floor level
- distribute the feed in the presence of the roosters.
- drop feed around the feeders so that the roosters, floor fed
in the rearing house, find the feeders.
- in the days before the arrival of the hens, the roosters’
feeders will be raised progressively so that when the
females arrive in the building, only the males can access TECHNICAL TIP
them.
Astuce
For roosters of the T lines possibly reared with hens, which Thetechnique
transfer takes place in the morning so that the

PRODUCTION
are rationed, it is necessary to add hoppers as in the previous environment is explored during the first day.
point.

1 - Transfer A.1 Management of sexual maturity


When the animals are transferred into the reproduction There is a wide variety of reproduction buildings: dark or
buildings the flocks’ data should accompany the batches. In open, with automatic or manual nests, with or without The males may be too mature or not mature enough, or If it is thought that the roosters are too mature, it is
order to limit the effects of transfer, the animals should be duckboards, etc. Most of the buildings allow good the batch may have males at different stages of maturity. recommended that they are introduced progressively, by
placed in a building in which the hygrometry and temperature reproduction and laying on condition that several batch Fine-tuning of the introduction of males into the batch of 3% stages every week for example. The introduction of
conditions are equivalent to those of the rearing building. management rules are respected. females is suitable. the males should be performed in the evening to facilitate
The increase of temperature in the reproduction building will their integration.
therefore be planned as a consequence. It should be noted that some production systems use the Males that are insufficiently mature compared to the females: As a priority the most mature roosters should be introduced
same building for rearing and production. Manual nests In the case where the males are too immature, they should progressively.
The transfer is generally performed between the 19th and are added at about the 18th week in order to accustom the be left in the rearing house until they are ready, without
the 20th week. This operation makes it possible to control females to climb on them. the females gaining the upper hand and making the males SASSO genetics offer excellent fertility. Depending upon the
the sexual maturity of the flock. It is compulsory for it to In this case transfer simply involves mixing the males and fearful (which would result in low fertility). quality of the management it is possible to have optimal
take place 2 to 3 weeks before the hens start laying in order females. results with only about 7 to 8% of males.
to facilitate the mixing of males and females, to encourage Males that are too mature compared to the females:
them to get used to a new environment and to limit floor Roosters that are too mature or too numerous would
laying. frighten the females, which would cause very high fertility
initially. Females that have become fearful will not long
tread, drastically reducing the fertility of eggs in the
following period.

A - Transfer of the roosters


We recommend making the transfer between 19 and floor. This procedure prevents the males from losing weight
20 weeks. at the critical moment at the start of production (which will
Depending on the temperature, the farmer will not hesitate harm their fertility greatly).
to heat the building before the arrival of the roosters. To encourage their feed intake and their distribution in the
The males are transferred 3 to 5 days before the females building, hoppers and chains will be distributed additionally
so that they become accustomed to finding their food, along the length of the building.
particularly after rearing with feed chains or pellets on the

82 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 83


B - Transfer of hens
We recommend making the transfer between 19 and 20 FROM TRANSFER THE FEED RATION MOVES FROM THE
3 - Nutrition for roosters
weeks. 5/7 SYSTEM TO THE 7/7 SYSTEM.

Transfer causes disruption to the hen’s habits and several As the roosters are in the presence of the hens and cannot
hours may elapse before she can have access to water. It endure the 5/7 regime, it is important to move the females The roosters must be maintained at the correct weight, i.e. ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED
is important to promote rehydration of the hens by only onto 7/7. in the interval described in the SASSO recommendations.
offering feed 2 to 3 hours after the transfer to leave them the In order to facilitate adaptation to a new environment the The weight should be sufficient to allow good carcass Erreur
As SASSO hens are bantams (apart from SA31L) many
time to drink. quantity of the 5/7 ration can be kept each day for one or two development and good sexual maturity when the time comes. farmers are worried about the idea that mating will not
days before distributing the 7/7 ration. take place properly and they prefer to ration the males
By increasing the duration of lighting on the first day
to limit their weight gain as much as possible. Mating or
(24 hours) we ensure that the hen discovers her new Example: hens on 5/7 are transferred at 20 weeks. Up until
To provide the males with a sufficient quantity of feed in the treading is brief and take place correctly if the animals
environment correctly, drinks and feeds correctly. In fact, then they received a feed ration of 98 g on the days with feed.
presence of the females, additional feeders are place at a are on a stable support.
hens are very sensitive to various changes. High stress After transfer 98 g of feed every day is kept for one or two
encourages panic reactions and therefore suffocation days and then they have 70 g of feed distributed each day. height for the roosters.
situations.
If the hens are overweight it is preferable to keep the 7/7
quantity after transfer.
TECHNICAL TIP
Feed consumption will be stimulated by allowing the feeders
Astuce
to empty between meals (in order to prevent the finest part To technique
prevent males developing the habit of eating in the
of the ration being routinely left), by limiting the number feeders for the females, thus depriving them of their
of distributions and using a suitable, so-called “pre-laying” feed ration whilst exceeding the weight objective (which
formula. deteriorates their fertility), railings which only allow
the heads of females to pass through must be used.

2 - Light programme
applied to breeders
When laying has not started (less than 0.5% laying) the light This duration should be stabilised at 16 h of lighting per day
duration remains equal to the duration of natural light at throughout the entire production of a batch. Here also it
20 weeks. is necessary to make the duration of artificial day and the
duration of natural day coincide as far as possible.
From transfer at 19-20 weeks the light intensity is increased to
the maximum. Keeping a low light intensity increases the risk
of floor laying.

Once production starts (0.5% laying) the duration of lighting is


increased by one hour each week (+30 minutes in the morning,
+30 minutes in the evening). Figure 132: A cock feeder is used to feed males that do not have Figure 133: The use of screens allows only females, which do not
access to the protected feeding chains. The smaller hens have a highly developed crest and have a smaller head, to access
(especially the dwarf SA51A, SA31A, SA51N) are not allowed access. the chain. The males are fed via separate dedicated feeders
It is important to raise them sufficiently. placed high up.

84 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 85


4 - Nutrition for hens
As the feed ration is increased the period when the feeders are
empty must be controlled.

The feed ration must never increase to the point where the TECHNICAL TIP
A - Laying peak empty feeder duration is less than 3 h.
Astuce
This limit is generally reached when approaching peak To technique
know when to give each part of the feed ration the
A.1 Quantity of feed production. Each day the feed ration is increased by one gram exterior temperature can be taken into consideration
and we ensure that the empty feeder duration is sufficient. (especially in an open building). A feed ration consumed
Throughout the rearing period the feed ration is given - The feed ration increases by about 5 g/day from 0.5% to 1% in the morning when it is cool stimulates consumption
depending on growth. It is therefore the body weight which daily laying and with the objective of 120 to 125 g of feed per and allows digestion when it is hottest. The other part
When the limit is reached, increasing the feed ration is stopped
is the main indicator for the calculation of the quantity of day between 30% and 40% laying (for our SA51, SA51A, SA51N of the meal could be taken at the end of the day.
(this should be close to 130 g of feed depending on the strain,
feed to be given. and SA31A strains).
the feed formulation, the climate and the rearing system).
Once laying has started the daily ration is given depending on
the laying rate. The body weight is no longer such a relevant - The feed ration increases by about 1 g/day as soon as 85%
indicator and, furthermore, it is too late to change it. laying is reached, until 130 to 135 g/d is reached at the peak.
The quantity of feed must increase each day. On the one
hand the hens must be encouraged to lay by sending a signal Whatever the scenario, distributing the feed should be
of abundant resources and, on the other hand, enable them TECHNICAL TIP avoided:
to cover their needs linked to egg production.
The following objectives should be adhered to: Astuce - when the hens are mainly in the nests.
To technique
facilitate mating and scratching as well as
preventing annoyance and suffocation, each day - if the feed chains are not empty,
the farmer distributes heat-treated whole wheat or
cracked corn once or more often during the afternoon. - during very hot weather.
Grit must always be provided to facilitate the digestion
ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED A.2 Reminder : Protection of the liver of these cereals. When the climate exposes the animals Peak laying generally ends 4 to 5 weeks after the start of
to high temperatures it is however not recommended laying. Then, week after week, a progressive decrease in the
Erreur
Oftenly SASSO recommendations for the rapid change When the feed consumption increases the liver is under
to encourage activity by these distributions. laying rate is observed. The objective is that this reduction
in the feed quantity are not followed. In many cases in greater stress. It is important to ensure that it is in good
health to prevent any problems. should be as slow as possible.
fact it is seen that the increase in the feed ration is too
slow. The consequence of this is obtaining a laying peak We recommend applying the following protocol:
that is maybe correct but cannot be maintained.
As the hens produce one egg per day in this period, if the - reach 20 weeks with the target weight recommended by
feed ration is insufficient they will draw on their own SASSO
reserves and cannot maintain the laying frequency. In - as soon as the first eggs appear, add a hepato protect for
three weeks
fact, at this stage almost all the feed ration energy is
used for laying. - repeat the use of a hepato protect every 6 weeks. B - After the laying peak
As laying is increasing and until the peak, the increase in the It is very important that the development of the egg weight
feed ration makes it possible to support laying activity. This is regular, i.e. in parallel with the egg weight evolution curve
decreases progressively during the entire life of the animal provided by SASSO.
in a natural way. The feed ration should be adapted to limit
fattening of the breeding hens, which would accentuate the So an egg weight slightly below the objectives must not be
reduction in laying. brought up to standard but should develop at a regular rate.
A.3 Meal duration TECHNICAL TIP
Even if the peak has not been particularly high, it is important In practice, an evolution of +1 g of egg weight leads the feed
With the increase in the feed ration, the hen will take longer to slow the decrease in laying as much as possible to collect ration to be decreased by -1 g.
Astuce
and longer to finish her meal. It istechnique
importantto give 50% of additional feed ration the maximum number of hatching eggs over the whole
When the average duration of the meal exceeds 3 h, the feed the day before the first day when the feed ration is production period. For example, let us take the case of 39-week SA51A hens with
ration should be split into two (morning and evening). split into two. In fact, the hens will be less surprised a daily feed ration of 124 g of feed and an egg weight of 60.1 g.
to only receive half a feed ration at the first meal if THE PARAMETER TO BE MONITORED HERE TO At 42 weeks the egg weight is 61.1 g so the feed ration must
they have eaten more the previous day. In this way CONTROL THE FEED RATION IS THE EGG WEIGHT. be adapted and moves to 123 g per day.
stress and floor laying due to waiting at the feeder
are avoided. The weight of the egg increases naturally with the animal's
age as well as with the feed ration.

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B.1 Nutritional requirements of breeders Several basic principles should be remembered. In terms of calcium requirements:
- these requirements are important for the formation of the
The feed formula is determined in collaboration with the feed manufacturer. In terms of energy needs: egg shell, which takes place during the night
However, some major elements absolutely must be taken into account so as not to deteriorate laying or the condition of the - a reduction of 2 kCal per kg of body weight and per °C must - the digestibility rate for calcium varies according to the
breeder flock. be observed between 20 and 25°C ambient temperature laying rate, between 70% during shell formation and 35%
- a reduction of 15% of the feed ration is required when the in the absence of egg formation. Increasing the calcium
The table below shows some effects of under- or over-feeding. hens are housed in cages (because their energy needs are level at the end of the production period is recommended.
less than floor rearing).
When observing these different elements, the ideal feeding
Effect of incorrect diet on breeders In terms of protein requirements: period calculated as a function of the calcification period of
Value Effect of Effect of - requirements vary depending on growth and the hens’ the egg is late afternoon.
proposed under-feeding over-feeding production levels A feed distribution 3 to 4 hours before the light is turned off
Increase in egg weight - deficiencies in essential amino-acids (sulphur amino-acids facilitates calcification of the egg and enables the animals to
As a function of essential amino-acid content, such as methionine and cysteine) should be avoided and a have a significant energy reserve, particularly in the winter
Crude Proteins (%) 16.5 reduction in egg weights and their number Negative effect on hatchability if its value
is too high safety margin for these amino-acid intakes should be provided period.
Appearance of double eggs, of hens that are too
Reduction in the number and weight of eggs
Energy (kcal/kg) 2750 Reduction in the weight of the hen fat
Reduction in fertility. B.2 Watering of breeders
Linoleic Acid (%) 1.8 Reduction in egg weight Increase in egg weight
Water rationing is an essential element in the dietary The ratio should be checked daily. Waste will also be
conduct of breeding hens. It makes it possible to prevent: prevented by adjusting the height of the drinkers and the
Calcium (%) 3.4 Reduction in shell quality Reduction in nutrient availability
- digestive disorders level of water in them. Water should never be cut off whilst
- deterioration of the litter. there is feed in the distribution circuits.
Available phosphorus Reduction in egg production and hatchability
0.39 Reduction in shell quality
(%) Increase in bone fragility in breeders.
REMINDER: Rationing is carried out according to the The distribution of water takes place half an hour before feed
quantity of feed consumed daily. The quantity of water distribution. It is cut off one hour before the light is turned
Figure 134: Effect of poor feeding on female breeders. consumed over quantity of feed consumed per day ratio off in the building, except in periods of extreme heat when it
should be equal to: can be distributed ad libitum.
- 1.5 to 1.6 in winter It is necessary to make sure the drinkers are empty and left
1.8 to 2 in summer, even more depending on the temperature. dry during the night.

Here we offer you a feed formula Nutrient levels in laying period for the SA51A breeder
suitable for SASSO breeders.
Breeder hens 1 Breeder hens 2 Male TECHNICAL TIP
22/23 - 38 weeks > 38 weeks
Age Average egg weight < 61 g Average egg weight> 61 g Astuce
Hens and roosters have a strong gregarious instinct and
technique

Recommended presentation Mash Mash Mash it is not unusual to see them in groups around a single
This theoretical formulation is not feeder or drinker (nipples here). However, it is always
always available. A SASSO batch Metabolisable energy (ME) kcal/kg 2700/2750 2700/2750 2650 necessary to make sure there are enough drinkers for
may be reared correctly with many Proteins % 16.5 16 12-13 all the flock and that these operate correctly.
formulations by adapting the quantities Lipids % > 3.5 2.8 3.50
to growth and taking care not to create Fibres % <6 < 6.5 >8
deficiencies. Digestible amino-acids
Lysine % 0.68 0.65 0.66
Methionine % 0.34 0.3 0.32
Methionine + Cysteine % 0.6 0.54 0.60
Threonine % 0.52 0.49 0.55
Tryptophan % 0.16 0.15 0.14
Linoleic acid % > 1.8 1.3 0.80
Calcium % 3.2-3.4 3.4-3.6 0.80
Available phosphorus % 0.38-0.4 0.35 0.40
Sodium % 0.15-0.16 0.15-0.16 0.16-0.18
Figure 136: Incorrectly adjusted drinking troughs (in this case, Figure 137: Chickens are gregarious animals, which can lead to
Chloride % 0.18-0.25 0.18-0.25 0.18-0.22 nipples) interfere with the animals' water consumption and lead high densities in various places, such as here at the watering
to wastage and a deterioration in the quality of the bedding. hole. However, enough space should be provided for watering
Figure 135: Nutrient levels during the spawning period for the SA51A breeder.
troughs to optimise breeding and production.

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5 - Control of production 6 - Different types of nests
There are two main nest types in reproduction:
- manual nests in wood or metal

A - Control of the weight of the animals and sorting of roosters - nests with automatic collection.

As in the rearing phase, the farmer weighs 10% of the males The weekly control of the females’ weight is essential up to
and 1% of the females weekly. 35 weeks. Beyond that a monthly control is sufficient.
A - So-called manual nests 2
The weekly control of the roosters’ weight is compulsory if During an animal weight control, it is essential to reproduce
you want to manage their sexual activity (males that are too the weighing in similar conditions each week: same day, same Wooden nests must be soaked in chlorine during the cleaning
fat will be less fertile). time. and disinfection of the building phase.

Sorting of roosters must be performed during the whole The perch on the level at the bottom of a manual nest must
reproduction phase (as during the rearing period): make it possible to access the top level, which itself should
- remove the lightest males be easily accessible.
- pen them. 1
- feed them with a rationing plan higher than that of males Example: 3 bars for the perch on the bottom level to enable
located in the middle of the hens. taking flight comfortably and a minimum of 2 bars on the
- never feed the males ad libitum. upper level to allow good reception (see figure opposite).

The perches must be mobile and capable of locking access


to the nests 1 . Ideally these perches are raised at night to
prevent the females coming to sleep in the nests and soiling
3
them with their droppings. Of course this means going into
the building in the morning when the light is turned on to

B - Control of the weight of the eggs and laying rate open all the nests before laying.

Figure 138: Illustration of a two-storey manual metal nest.


From the start of laying the farmer should control the This average egg weight makes it possible to control lack of
average weight of the eggs. To do this about 100 eggs should feed, water or possible diseases.
be weighed daily taken from the start of the belt in the case The farmer must also record daily the number of eggs laid in
of a nest with automatic collection or in the same nests in order to determine the laying rate of his flock.
the case of manual nests.

ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED To produce eggs with good hygiene quality and good TECHNICAL TIP
REMINDER: When the peak is passed and the laying rate commercial chicks, it is essential to control the cleanliness of
Erreur
Do not weigh only the potential hatching eggs. All the starts to decrease, it is the egg weight which determines the the nests and the floor. To do this it is necessary: Astuce
To technique
prevent the hens perching on the nests, several
eggs (apart from the double-yolkers, the very small change to the feed ration and no longer the weight of the hen. - to remove the droppings from the nests every morning systems can be put in place like rollers, thin cables or
eggs and completely broken eggs) must be weighed, The evolution of these two weights must be progressive. The before laying starts
SASSO egg weight curves are precise and any increase in egg mobile pallets 2 .
which in particular includes the dirty and cracked - to put shavings or straw in the nests once a week
eggs. In fact, it has been observed that the potential weight should be accompanied by a suitable reduction in the - to empty the nests and refill with litter if broken eggs
hatching eggs are on average 1 gram heavier compared feed ration. For one extra gram of egg weight recorded, the are found or if the nests are soiled. Never leave a nest
with the total average daily feed ration should be reduced by one gram. without litter.

2 to 3 times during the laying period, the nests must be


emptied completely and the litter totally renewed. So as
not to disturb the flock, this operation is performed several
times, by series of nests.

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The nest height must be sufficient to allow the passage of Similarly rooster feeders are placed along the partition of the closed. The day after the hens arrive the nests are opened so
the roosters, otherwise the females can hide themselves building so that the males do not prevent the females from that the hens start to visit them.
there and lay on the floor or even sit on the eggs. accessing the nests by forming a barrier. The feed chains for
Another solution is not to place the nests too high so that the females are placed on the floor or on the slats. In the case With this type of installation floor laying must be monitored
the females cannot access them. In all cases the feet must be of installation with 2/3 of the floor surface covered by a slats, in particular. Eggs laid on the floor must be collected several
removable 3 . a chain on the floor will favour the activity of the males. times a day because the hens stimulate each other to lay on
the floor and sit on the eggs.
The reception capacity of each compartment depends of the The farmer must monitor the opening and closing of the
strain of breeding hen: nests as well as the tension of the egg collection belt
SA51A/SA31A: 4-5 hens per nest (to prevent cracked eggs).
SA31L: 3-4 hens per nest
The day the animals arrive, the openings to the nests are

ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED Figure 139: The females are hidden under the nests, the males The dimensions of an automatic nest compartment are
cannot come and disturb them. The females take advantage of 45 cm deep with a length of 1.15 m. For these dimensions
Erreur
When the buildings are open (as is often the case in this shady and quiet refuge to lay eggs on the ground and the visiting frequency is 53 hens for the dwarf strains
tropical areas) care must be taken so that the nests incubate them. The nests should be raised further or lowered so (SA51A, SA31A, etc.) and 43 hens for the non-dwarf strains
are not placed along the building near the openings. that even the females cannot get through. such as SA31L.
Sunlight could heat the nests (particularly metal nests)
6.25 M
and dissuade the hens from using them.
The ventilation air circuits must never be directed onto
the nests because the hens hate draughts, particularly
when laying.

B - Nests with automatic collection


This type of nest improves livestock farmers’ quality of life REMINDER: Rows of nipples block access to the automatic NESTS
whilst providing impeccable egg quality. It requires careful nests on the slats when they are used. Bell drinkers make it
1 2 3
installation and particular attention paid to the equipment possible to keep easy access to the nests whilst facilitating
surrounding it. drinking. In addition, the nipples system is difficult to
regulate when dwarf strains (like the SASSO females) and 0.4 M
Access to the automatic nest is facilitated by: non-dwarf strains (like the SASSO males) are reared at the DUCKBOARDS
same time.
- slats for which the slope remains moderate and the height We therefore recommend the bell drinker system when the
of which does not exceed 40 to 45 cm, building has automatic nests.
- the drinker, located on the slats, but not facing the nest 0.7 M 0.95 M 0.95 M 0.6 M 2.3 M 1.5 M
entrance so as not to block access.

Figure 140: Organisation of a building with automatic nests and rooster feeders 1 , bell drinkers 2 and hen feeders 3 .

The optimal width of a laying building is 12.5 m in order to by a grille as mentioned earlier). A second row of female
allow good transverse ventilation. feeders is laid out and then slats with a maximum height of
40 to 45 cm.
The rooster feeders are located against the walls, raised and A row of additional female feeders and a line of drinkers may
Figure 28: The animals stand along the row of nipples, which Figure 29: The spaces between the siphon troughs are clear, covered with a protective gutter. Then a row of drinkers and be set out on the slats. The drinkers will be preferably bell
makes it difficult to access the nests. allowing easy access to the nests. feeders for females is arranged (protected from the roosters drinkers so as to leave easy access to the nests.

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7 - Specific behaviour B - Brooding Layers
The presence of broody hens in a batch of SASSO breeding

in production
hens must be checked when the batch reaches peak laying.

This check is performed:

- in the evening for manual nest boxes. The farmer counts
the presence of broody hens in the laying nests.
Amongst all the phenomena that may deteriorate laying Conversely some behaviours should be encouraged to - when feed is distributed for automatic nest boxes. The
quality is floor laying and the phenomenon of brooding promote the welfare of your animals. farmer checks whether there are hens in the nests or
layers. grouped on the floor or on the slats.

Vigilance should increase if the number of broody hens


increases every day.

A - Floor laying
There are many reasons for this phenomenon:
During the eversion of the oviduct, which occurs during - insufficient collection of eggs on the floor (the hen finds her
laying, the hen needs to isolate to avoid any risk of aggression egg on the floor, she continues to lay on the floor and thus - floor laying (main cause)
and to feel safe. The nest, whether individual or collective, causes her contemporaries to do so) - hens that are too heavy
should protect her during this delicate phase. - presence of eggs in the nests in the evening in manual
- feeding and watering durations too short creating a waiting collection nest boxes
However, numerous phenomena can cause floor laying: behaviour in the female which therefore does not lay. - nests closed too early in automatic collection nest boxes
- stress of any kind (disease, heat, etc.)
-
starting laying in the rearing building before transfer - draughts: for example in winter a draught on the slats will - at start of laying, insufficient feed ration between 30% and
to the reproduction building (this may happen when dissuade the hens from accessing the nests. Generally the 40% of laying: the hens are hungry and wait, which may
the light programme is not adhered to or the intensity birds will always seek to remain as close as possible to the cause broody behaviour.
recommendations for rearing have not been applied floor to protect themselves from cold.
(insufficient light intensity)
When floor laying is observed, it is possible to place fencing The behaviour of these hens can be improved. Ask advice Figure 141: This hen is a brooder: she does not move away when
- period between transfer and start of laying too short, less around the floor laying areas in order to prohibit access, from your SASSO technician. the breeder passes by, she ruffles her feathers to look imposing
than 2 weeks. In particular, the transfer should not be made but it is necessary to ensure that this does not hinder the and keeps her eggs which she incubates all the time.
after 20 weeks. movement of males and females in the building.

- lighting duration too short preventing good egg synthesis.

- males that are too aggressive. C - Positive behaviour


- insufficient number of nests in the nest box with manual
collection.
OBSERVATION POINT
Point
- laying surface insufficient in automatic nest box. The litter must be dry, friable and homogeneous to
d’observation
allow the hens to express many natural behaviours.
- access to the nests limited by feed chains that are too low, Dust baths are essential for their well-being because
by a slats that is too great, or by any other obstacle they enable the quantity of fatty substances on the
feathers to be regulated. Other behaviours are also
- not very attractive dirty nests, cold nests a proof of a positive mental state in hens: stretching
of wings and legs, exploration (with the beak or the
- feed distribution while the majority of females are in the feet by scratching), toileting of the feathers, etc.
nests It is important to observe these behaviours in your
animals.
Figure 142: Normal behaviours and indications of good animal
welfare: dust bathing, stretching, exploring, scratching, etc.

94 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 95


Breeding
traditional
poultry Thunder N
Sussex

Ruby TN
Thunder X

Rainbow X
Gris Cendré
T44NI

T55NPB
Ruby N

Rusty

Ruby T Ruby XL

Mamba N

SA51A SA31A

Live body weight

2.200kg
Rainbow T
Ruby C
Mamba
SA51N SA31L Gold

yellow skin white skin


Appendix Notes
Weight uniformity monitoring table ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

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Weight (g)
5 10 15 20 25 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

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98 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 99


Notes Notes
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100 Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 101
Find out about our range
of coloured laying hens

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Silv r ca
S

Ivory rlet Ciara


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I r Thanks
The writing of this guide would not have been possible without the precious help from Jean-René Grelier. Here SASSO offers him its warmest
thanks for being so kind as to place his wealth of experience in the hands of a new generation of technicians.

Copyright 2021 - All rights reserved - Any full or partial reproduction of this guide is prohibited | The illustrations in this guide are the property of
Hendrix Genetics. Photo credits: Ezhvin Bellec | January 2022 Edition | Printed in 100 copies by EGE&AGA

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Management Guide 2022 - SASSO Management Guide 2022 - SASSO 103


Route de Solférino
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Management Guide 2022 - SASSO

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