Link to MGH turkey nest assembly videos on Youtube

         

Preparing for the hen placement

• Open the nest open
• Make sure the traps are at working position or upper position (according to the breeder’s decision)
• Place a pile of straw / shavings in each nest.
• Flap clip up with the flap retainer (if your training includes straw in the nests).

     * All preparations must be completed before the hens are placed

From hen placement to the first egg

• Activate the nests 1 – 2 times a day.
• Minimize the entries to the barn, avoid staying at the front of the barn.

From the first egg to the third day

• Enter the barn a few times a day to collect floor eggs and place them in the nests

* If you frequently find eggs on the same place of the floor, there must be a reason for it. Identify the problem and solve it.  The hens acquire their laying habits fast, so resolving the problematic spots needs to be done ASAP.

From the fourth day to 30% of production

• On the 4^th day, remove all the eggs from nests. From this stage on, the eggs will be collected for incubation.
• On the 4^th day, collect the eggs three times a day by activating the nests manually. Place the eggs on belt by hand.
• Add 1-2 collections every day according to the increase in production.
• When no more straw is left in the nests, release the flap from the flap retainer.
• At 20% of production, gradually lower the traps to a working position (do it within 3-4 days).

From 30% to peak production

• Close the nests at night.
• Set the system to automatic mode. The nests should be closed for five minutes.
• The collection cycle (the time interval between collections) should be at least one hour.
• Avoid unnecessary activity near the nests until the hens reach peak laying.

Training the birds should be done carefully and gradually by means of a stepped process.

• Collection intervals – When the hens reach peak daily production, activate the nests every hour. The interval between collections should be at least one hour. The morning and afternoon intervals can be longer than one hour.
• In order to increase the percentage of hen replacement in the nests during collection, the nest should be closed for five minutes.
• It is important to synchronize the collection of floor eggs during the automatic collection. The worker should walk along the ramp and remove the hens from the ramp.

One of the advantages of the MGH Egg Collection System is its durability. On  many of our customers’  farm’s we  see  systems  that  have  been  working for  25 years. A system with such a  long  life span needs to be well maintained. On our many visits to   clients, in  Israel  and all over the world we have noticed a common phenomenon of neglect to the pneumatic systems particularly with regard  to the  pistons.

The main reasons for this are:

• In  contrast   to  other parts like  the  spring, the  trap, the  mat   and  more,

where  the  difference between a damaged  part and  a functioning  part is

clear, the piston is a kind of “closed box”. The parts are  concealed  inside

and  the  deterioration  in performance quality is slow.

• Compared to  the  maintenance of  the remainder of  the system, which is

characterized  by   quickly   and  simply  replacing  parts, maintaining  the

pistons requires a  high  technical  competence, a “clean” technical  work

area and appropriate tools.

According to MGH performance criteria a “non-functioning nest” means 5 hens without  a place to lay eggs. In other words: every nest is important. The problem  becomes  critical

in the case of  the  pistons  because each  piston  is  responsible for operating  32  nests. Therefore  the  importance of  a  proper functioning of the pistons is critical !!!

The purpose of this document is to give you, dear customers, tools and recommendations with respect  to  the  pistons and  the pneumatic  system, information  on issues  such as: fault  detection and  characterization; preventative maintenance; planning  and  operating  correctly  and more. We hope that this document will enable the desired quantum leap  in quality.

Recommendations:

Tests and fine-tuning:

1. Fine-tuning the pistons:

• Because the piston fork is fixed, the piston rod tends to turn and therefore the piston length changes. The result: Loss of adjustment of the doors.
• One  must  tighten  the  nut under  the piston  fork  towards  the fork itself in order to prevent the fork turning.
• If  the  doors  associated  with a particular piston are not  aligned with the rest of the pistons then one needs to “close” or “open” the piston fork and in so doing, to adjust the doors to the desired alignment. Then you need to adjust the doors so  that in the position of “open nest” all the flaps are in contact with the cable.
• The  rule of  thumb for  the adjustment  of the piston  fork is: there  should  remain a margin  of 3mm until  the  beginning  of  the thread on the piston rod after tightening the nut.

1. Testing for leaks.

Check systematically that there are no air leaks in the system:

• Around the piston rod.
• Disconnect the pipes connected to the piston, one by one in order to find leaks in the pistons.
• Check the air connectors and the pipes along the length of the nests (in the case of damage to the general pipe system.)

Operating Principles

1. Pistons of 100 mm diameter will “run” 30 regular nests (modules of 5)  or 32 wide nests (modules of 4). There is a high likelihood that the pistons will not have enough power to push a larger amount of nests.
2. Pistons of 80 mm  diameter (if there are still any)  will “run” a  maximum of  20 nests. In general it’s recommended to work only with pistons of 100mm diameter.

 

1. It is recommended to initiate replacement of the gaskets once every 10 years in order to ensure proper operation of the pistons.

• While replacing the gasket, check to see that the piston’s pipe is  whole and that  the piston rod is not scratched.
• Before  inserting  the “sliding seal” (the  seal on the piston  rod) check that the piston rod is not worn.
• Record the replacement dates on the piston after replacing the piston seals in a way that  won’t be erased over the years.
• A number of coops should  not be operated concurrently as this reduces pressure in the system.

Compressor

Water in the compressor: Water  in the  compressed air causes damage to  the  pneumatic system and accelerates deterioration.

• Drain the compressor tank a number of  times a day (it  is  recommended  to do this automatically using a tap with a timer.)
• Make sure that a water drainage unit is installed at the beginning of the lines.
• Install greasers in order to lubricate the valves and the other parts of the system.
• Install an air dryer.

Air pressure

• In the compressor: 8 -10 atmospheres.
• In the pressure regulator at the beginning of the line: 8 atmospheres.
• Make  sure that  appropriate nozzles are  installed at inputs to the piston, including filters  before  and  after  the  nozzles (to  prevent  blockages). Pistons  of 100 mm diameter – nozzles 18 mm and pistons of 80 mm diameter – nozzles 14 mm.

Dedicated to serving turkey breeders for over 30 years