Why is the Sexual Maturation Period so Important?
The sexual maturation period is the time between photostimulation (increase in the number of hours of light per day) and peak production. Lighting stimulates the production of sexual hormones that in turn stimulate the development of reproductive organs. A few things to keep in mind: * The state of the ovary at sexual maturity has long term implications for egg production and health. Overfeeding as the birds come into production is linked to reproductive disorders and poor persistency of lay. Large decreases to feed intake can negatively impact egg production. Always make changes gradually. When faced with nutrient shortages, the hen may consider egg production a frivolous activity; it may not rank as important as maintaining body condition. Figure 1 illustrates how nutrients are allocated within the chicken. Fat, egg production, ovary development, muscle, bone, vital organs and maintenance are the reservoirs that nutrients flow into. In the hydrostatic nutrient partitioning model, thi
