Preparing Pullets - What to Expect for the Transition to Lay

The transition from the pullet to the laying phase is critical to a bird's success throughout production. There are a lot of moving parts, especially in larger operations. Let's break down some key factors and strategies to set your birds up for success.

Pullets should be sufficiently developed, both in body size and organ development, before light stimulation occurs. Body weights can be a good indicator of these, so leading up to and throughout this transition, they should be monitored closely. Weekly body weights on a representative sample of your flock can help make sure that they are on track and make any needed adjustments to their feeding program.

These weights vary across different breeds and strains. Before you make the transition into the laying phase, ensure pullets have reached target body weights with little variation in overall uniformity in the flock.