This short video, first produced for the Laying Hen Welfare Forum, features our pullet rearing manager Keiran Wheatcroft and poultry specialist James Wilson, and shows how the Humphrey Feeds & Pullets team works together to ensure the transition for a pullet, from rearing to laying house, is as stress free as possible.

It is really important to have a seamless transition so that the birds get used to their new environment quickly, know where to get their feed and water and start to lay eggs faster.

In rear

Ensuring a good pullet is produced starts before they come into rear as chicks.

To match the rearing house to the laying house we make sure the drinker lines are the same so that they peck at the nipples straight away and find the water.

The same with feeders. If the laying house has feed pans we will use feed pans, likewise with feed tracks.

Ramps are also put onto the slats to encourage the birds to climb up onto them early, so that when they go into a multi-tier system on the laying farm, they will walk around confidently and come into lay faster.

The chicks are provided with a good quality grit so that they grow quickly in the first 6 weeks and develop a good frame that can produce a good egg size.

Bedding from wheat and rape straw is laid down which remains friable throughout the 16 weeks of rear, encouraging the pullets to dust bathe, scratch around, promoting their natural behaviours and welfare.

Kieran and his management team socialise with the birds as much as possible, sitting down with them so that they are not worried about humans when they reach the laying house.

The birds are observed all the time and weighed weekly to maintain an even flock. Feather cover is constantly monitored and if any pecking behaviour is seen, preventative measures can be implemented immediately.

‘Ball pit balls’ are extremely popular with the birds, giving them something to amuse themselves with and a distraction from pecking each other.

Transition and beyond

Stress is kept to a minimum by organising transport well and minimising the amount of time the birds are on the lorry. Most importantly the birds are caught in a very calm and stress free manner, eliminating any injuries they might otherwise receive.

When a customer receives their pullets at 16 weeks they will get the lighting and feeding patterns, and the full list of vaccinations that the birds have received, providing them with all the information they require to make sure the changeover to the laying farm is as stress free as possible.

However, it does not stop there! James and the team work alongside our customers to make sure the laying performance is optimised, and are on hand to advise on feed, light, water and bird welfare issues to ensure targets are met.

For more information please contact us on 01962 764 555 or email enquiries@hfandp.co.uk.