Influence of Seasons on Production Performance of Commercial Layer Chicken in Southern Region of Telangana

Background: Effective management strategies and feeding practices are essential for mitigating the challenges presented by the extreme temperatures of the summer season and the increased humidity and disease risk during the wet season. Adapting to these seasonal variations is crucial for maintaining a successful and profitable layer chicken farming. Methods: Influence of seasons (summer, rainy and winter) on production performance of layer chickens in different production cycles (Phase I, II, III and IV) was studied. The commercial layer chicken farms from southern Telangana region were selected with bird capacities ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 lakhs, rearing BV-300 breeds, aged 19-83 weeks, housed in elevated cage systems were randomly chosen. The data was collected from farm records, pre-structured questionnaires and personal interviews. Result: Summer (Phase I: 19-30 weeks) showed decreased egg production (70.57%), increased broken eggs (1.50%) and lower livability (99.95%). Egg production showed improved performance during the winter (90.22%) and rainy seasons (89.40%) in Phase II (31-50 weeks), highlighting the importance of seasonal adjustments for enhancing productivity. Phase III (51-72 weeks) also demonstrated rainy and winter seasons consistently yielding better results, with rainy season notably excelling in higher egg production (89.70%). Phase IV (72 weeks and above) highlighted winter’s superiority in egg production (79.70%) and reduced broken eggs (0.57%), emphasizing the importance of adapting poultry farming practices to mitigate the climatic variability.