Hen Management & Egg Production

Egg Quality Manual

It is important that the egg industry has a guideline on egg shell quality and internal quality that can realistically be achieved in a commercial setting.

Australian Eggs has produced the Egg Quality Manual to allow farmers to compare the internal and shell quality of their eggs with typical industry data and help make informed production decisions.

The Egg Quality Manual is available at this link.

Vaccination training manual

The manual will help egg farm staff gain the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to become a competent vaccinator. Competent vaccinators are essential for the egg industry, as vaccination is effective only if it is carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions. To do this you must receive, transport, store, prepare and administer vaccines correctly so that an effective dose is applied to each bird.

Vaccination improves bird health and welfare, and maximises egg production by preventing infectious disease outbreaks. It allows farm managers to prevent, rather than try to cure, disease. This is an essential part of ensuring the viability of individual farms and the egg industry as a whole.

Follow this link or click the cover image below to download the manual.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Framework

Antimicrobial stewardship is important for ensuring humans and animals can be treated effectively now and in the future with antimicrobials. This guide provides detailed advice for developing and implementing a responsible antimicrobial strategy for the farm.

Click on the image below to access the Framework.

Lighting Management Factsheets

These factsheets were an output from a research project which investigated best practice lighting. The 4 sheets can be helpful training and education tools and provide key facts on:

The importance of lighting on egg farms
The impact of lighting on production
The impact of lighting on bird health
The impact of lighting on bird behaviour

Click here to access the factsheets online.

Alternative protein-rich ingredients for layers

A recent research project was undertaken in order to explore viable alternative ingredients which can potentially replace the soybean meal and still maintain a balanced diet for laying hens. This review concluded that the key 3 key alternative feeds are:

Factsheets containing crucial information about these options have been created for your use. Please click on the above links to access the factsheets online.

Management practices to mitigate floor eggs

Floor eggs result from multiple factors, including genetics, nest box design, rearing conditions, early training, production cycle influences, and even individual hen preferences. They pose financial losses, food safety risks, and increased labour demands. However, with proactive management, tailored strategies suited to the flock, and continuous adjustments based on bird behaviour, floor eggs can be effectively minimised.

Please click here to read our factsheet about Management practices to mitigate floor eggs.