TechFocus_EGGS 0325 - Manual Egg Collection and Nest Box Ma…

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Manual Egg Collection and Nest Box Management By Pieter Oosthuysen, Senior Manager, Accounts and Technical, Cobb South Africa

The general purpose of a nest is to support production of clean, fertile hatching eggs. Manual collection nesting systems are still popular in regions of the world with lower labor costs and higher labor availability. In these nesting systems, eggs are collected manually, hand packed, and graded into trays.

Some important aspects of manual nest management covered in this article: • Design • Repair and maintenance • Hygiene • Introducing young hens to the nest • Nest egg collection procedures

• Floor egg management • House layout and type Nest box Design

Image 1: Example of a wooden nest

Implementing an anti-perch system on top of the nest box is essential to prevent hens from perching and soiling the nests. Some nests feature loose cardboard or plastic inserts at the bottom which often shift or fall out, causing the nesting material to leak. They are uncommon due to challenges and management difficulties. These nests are difficult for hens to access, leading to floor eggs (Image 2).

The nest must be the most attractive place in the house to lay the egg. The design and maintenance of nest boxes is probably the biggest reason for challenges farmers experience with nest management. Wood or metal nests? Historically, nests were mainly constructed from wood, which is not suitable for washing and sanitising since they are not waterproof. Wooden nests (image 1) are prone to breakages and damages, and present biosecurity risks as insects can settle in the cracks and joints. The legs of the manual nests should be adjustable to accommodate height increases as needed. Proper perch rail placement and height are essential for encouraging hens to jump and access the nesting holes. Perches directly beneath each other obstruct access to upper-levels. The bottom perch should be wider, giving hens space to jump to the next level, ideally positioned 45 cm from the ground. Once floor eggs are reduced to 1 %, the height can be lowered to 25 cm for older or heavier hens.

Image 2: Example of nests with frames and loose inserts. Note the covered area under the nest box to prevent entry.

(Image 3). Ensure the depth of the nest is correct as nests that are too shallow will cause eggs to roll out or hens drop them outward during lay (Image 4). Other desired features of manual nests include: - The nest edge must be strong enough to support a hen stepping in while being high enough to prevent eggs from rolling out. - Ensure sufficient ventilation openings to allow air movement through the nest and light penetration. Dark nests are no longer desired. Repair and Maintenance Proper repair and maintenance of nest boxes are essential for optimal hatching egg yield and cleanliness. Perches must be functional, and nest bottoms should hold shavings to encourage hens to enter. Nests without or with non- functional bottoms will increase the number of hens per nest and contribute to higher numbers of floor eggs, and more toe punched eggs. Nests are expensive to replace, with longevity and durability preferred. Avoid cheaper versions with thin metal sheets as they dent easily and appear worn within months. Nest Hygiene Regular cleaning and prilling of nests are essential to prevent fungal infections. Nests should be prilled or fumigated every 15 days using 1 teaspoon of paraformaldehyde fine powder, stirred and mixed into the nest material (check local legislation for chemical use). Avoid pellet types to prevent

Image 3: Example of a nest with a concrete block as a base

New nest designs feature a slide-out bottom tray or a center tray to collect roll-away eggs. Be careful with this design which may require additional help to hold this collection tray and collect the eggs. Egg rolling can cause cracks. Nest sizes are important to minimise floor eggs. The Cobb Breeder Guide recommends nests 25 cm wide, 30 cm high, and 25 cm deep. Ensure nest depth is at least 15 cm to offer females a sense of protection. Provide sufficient bedding to fill the nest at least ½ but no more than 2/3rd full. A concrete block as a base is preferred over an open base to prevent birds from accessing and laying eggs under the nests

Image 4: Example of shallow nests cause eggs to be laid outside of the nest.

the fumigation room. Next the second-floor collection is completed, followed by handwashing and sanitising before the second nest collection. Typically, three collections occur before midday, with a fourth collection in the late afternoon to ensure all nests are clean. As hens get older, they lay eggs later in the day, so collection times can be adjusted to align with peak laying periods. If there are more than three eggs in a nest, revise the egg collection schedule as this suggests an inefficiency in the egg collection process. Farms may employ different approaches to an egg grading area, influenced by whether a bogey/trolley system is used which may double as a grading table. If no trolley system is available, a table at the house entrance is needed for regrading or packing eggs into setter trays. Ensure egg trays are not stacked on the litter and avoid placing clean trays on the litter during collection. Be aware of the impact of radiant heat and house temperature from metal roof sheets. Do not store eggs in areas with low ceilings to prevent excessive heat exposure. Proper training in the collection process and workflow is essential for staff efficiency, speeding up the process. Untrained staff can slow down operations, causing double the work as a result of poor grading or damaged eggs. Eggs must be fumigated and cooled down as quickly as possible. Do not leave them in a warm environment for longer than necessary. Floor Egg Management Manual nests typically have 1 to 1.5 % floor eggs at any time. Initially, this may be 15 to 20 %, but with effective management, it should reduce to 1 % by 30 weeks of age at peak production. In the beginning, floor eggs should be removed and placed into the nest to encourage young hens to lay there. Once daily production reaches approximately 5 %, all eggs should be removed from the nests, collection started, and recorded as hatching eggs. To rapidly reduce floor eggs at the start of egg production, frequent removal is essential. If the percentage of floor eggs does not decrease quickly, an immediate investigation is necessary. Typical causes include nest height, nest access (maintenance), and the number of hens per nest. Additionally, assess the number of unusable nests. Identifying the locations of floor eggs, such as under nests, feeder lines, and in corners, provides insights into laying behaviours. Corners (being dark spots) or nests created by a hen, attract other hens to lay there. Eggs found under feeder

hens from ingesting them, which can lead to poisoning. Nest shavings must be completely replaced monthly and topped up in-between as required. Avoid overfilling the nest with material to minimise material waste as the hens will scratch it out. It is crucial to fumigate and thoroughly dry any nest materials entering the house to prevent aspergillosis. Introducing Young Hens to the Nest Introducing hens to the nests should start in the production house after they arrive. As they approach laying their first egg, nesting behaviour begins. During this three-week period, it is crucial to maintain clean, prepared nests filled with appropriate materials. Farmers typically place nests flat on the floor at this stage to help hens find a nest. Young hens often soil nests before laying eggs. Regularly remove droppings from nests to encourage the hens to enter. Begin nest sanitisation with prilling early to acclimatise hens to the scent. Delaying this process until peak egg production may lead to increased floor egg laying as hens avoid the nests. Egg Collection Procedures Establish a daily routine for both workers and hens to familiarise themselves with the system. Egg collection must be prioritised above all other tasks in the chicken house, performing at least four complete collections daily with manual nests. Begin the first round of floor egg cleanup early in the morning. After feeding, the hens will begin laying eggs. The first nest collection is completed, eggs graded and moved to Image 5: Example of a single row layout of nests in longer or wider houses

lines indicate the feeding time is too late. Young hens begin laying around 30 minutes after dawn, lights on, and many can lay by 07:30 AM. Oviposition timing is influenced by the start of the dark period, and adjusting this within the natural dawn to dusk period in open-sided housing can affect laying times. Incorrect adjustments can lead to increased floor eggs during feeding. From day 1, proper planning and system setup are crucial to mitigate this issue. Eggs found under the nest may indicate overcrowding or hens accessing the darker area beneath the nest box. This space can also serve as a refuge from male attention. Therefore, nests should be positioned either 45 cm up or 0 cm down, in-between heights can cause floor laying. Placing trays around the facility to collect floor eggs is a best practice. These trays can be attached to nest box rooftops for convenient collection later. Incorporating “A” frames and perches during the rearing phase assists training young hens to jump and develop their perching leg muscles and behaviour. In houses with trough and chain feeder systems, these structures can serve dual purposes, including as perching facilities. However, in houses with pellet feeding systems, perches become essential since other equipment to encourage jumping is absent. Nest Setup in Tunnel Versus Open-Sided Houses In longitudinally ventilated poultry houses, it is recommended to position the nests sideways (image 6). This orientation helps to minimise airspeed and wind on the hens. To ensure females are not deterred from the nests, the central passage between the nests should not be dominated by males (image 6). The extra water line helps keep males in the center, reducing the need for them to move to the sides for water access. Proper male and female mixing enhances fertility.

Image 6: This image indicates the ventilated house layout with nests facing sideways.

Summary • Ensure there is no more than four hens per nest. • Nests must be in a good state of repair and functional at all times. • Collect eggs at least four times per day. • Effectively managing floor eggs from the start ensures a smooth cycle with low percentage of floor eggs. • Nest hygiene is important to produce clean hatching eggs • Sanitise and wash hands after floor egg collections. • House layout and nest access are important to encourage hens to lay inside a nest.

About this author Pieter joined Cobb Europe in October 2012 to support distributors in the Africa region, based in Durban, South Africa, he travels extensively in Southern and East Africa. He holds a BSc Agric (Animal Science) and BSc Agric Honors in Reproduction from the University of the Orange Free State. Additionally, he has management qualifications from the University of Stellenbosch Business School (dux student, 1997) and the University of Cape Town’s Business School (Leadership course in complexity and problem solving, 2010). With over 29 years of experience in breeder management, customer service, and problem solving, Pieter has authored a wide range of technical literature on parent stock management and chicken production in Africa. His objective is to share his knowledge and experience with customers to help them achieve optimal benefits from the Cobb 500.

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