When does peak gut health sensitivity occur in brown layers, and when should prebiotic and probiotic supplements be introduced?

The gastrointestinal tract of a brown layer undergoes profound physiological changes at the onset of lay. The sudden increase in feed intake, combined with the stress of hormonal changes and moving from rearing to laying sheds, makes the gut extremely sensitive to dysbiosis, necrotic enteritis, and coccidiosis flare-ups between 17 and 22 weeks of age. To build a robust intestinal mucosal barrier and establish a beneficial microflora (primarily Lactobacillus species), prebiotic and probiotic supplements should be introduced preemptively at 16 weeks of age, continuing through the peak production phase. This enhances nutrient absorption and reduces feed conversion ratios (FCR). Gut health manuals are indexed in the Poultry Encyclopedia, premium organic acids, prebiotics, and veterinary probiotics are sold on Poultry Plaza, feed raw material rates are on Poultry Rates, and high-uniformity pullet flocks are found on Murghi Mandi.