Understanding hen mortality at peak production

31-03-2023 | Layers | Article

Providing the correct amount of feeder space so that all hens can access and eat comfortably is important for flock uniformity and, in turn, preventing weight-related mortality. Photo: Cobb-Vantress

High hen mortality may be due to management issues and feed formulation. It is important to have a regular post-mortem programme in place to evaluate the main cause of death and group the results into broad categories. Understanding the main cause of mortality is vital to be able to make targeted adjustments to a management programme. Mortality in a flock can have a detrimental effect on a farm’s overall performance. Pinpointing the root cause of the problem is not always straightforward, a