Maintaining fertility throughout the production period requires a balanced female to active male ratio. Higher than recommended mating ratios can lead to issues with over-mating, as well as reduced flock fertility, egg numbers and animal welfare. Therefore, a planned reduction programme should be used to avoid high mating ratios and maintain optimal fertility during lay.

To avoid high mating ratios:

• Review mating ratios weekly
• Establish a well-planned male-reduction programme
• Use recommended mating ratios as a guide only, and adjust them to local circumstances and flock condition.

Assess mating ratios weekly, check for signs of over-mating from 25 weeks of age.

Remove males if:

• Alertness and activity has declined
• Body weight is not on target
• Legs and feet are not straight or show signs of bent toes or footpad abrasions
• Body condition is not as expected
• Comb and wattles are not an intense red color and the beak is not uniform
• Males exhibit no feather loss around the shoulders or thighs
• Vent is pale in color with no signs of feather wear
• Females show visible damage or excessive feather loss.