Floor eggs represent a loss of production, a hygiene risk to the hatchery, and will reduce hatch and chick quality.

Attention to detail avoids floor eggs:

• Train birds to use nests
• Maintain the correct environment to encourage nesting
• Remove alternative nesting sites

Training

Introduce perches or platforms at 28 days of age.

Nest boxes

• Keep clean
• Close during dark period
• Keep secure and well maintained
• 3-4 hens/nest box for manual or 40 hens /linear m (12 per linear ft) for automatic.

Feeding

Avoid feeding in the period when most eggs are laid; between 30 mins and 6 hrs after lights on.

Environment

• Eliminate poorly lit areas or shadows
• Avoid draughts in nests
• Ensure ventilation is evenly distributed throughout the house
• Walk the house regularly during lay (10-12 times during the first 3 weeks)
• Collect floor eggs regularly.