Alternative / Laying Period Feeding Recommendations
As a critical input, birds should have access to an appropriate diet at all times to maximize performance. It is also important that routine monitoring of body weights (particularly in the early stages), feed intake and water consumption be carried out and recorded. This information will assist in deciding the optimum time to increase day length and ensure the flocks come into lay correctly.
Subsequent monitoring will be necessary to determine when a diet change is appropriate in order to achieve persistence of lay, control egg size and help with shell quality.
During the laying period the choice of dietary specification is dependent on many factors such as stocking density, age, temperature and feed intake and level of egg production and egg weight.
It is recommended that the above aspects are discussed with your feed supplier in conjunction with your Hy-Line representative, but not forgetting the requirements of your egg packer.
Laying Period Feeding Recommendations
A Phase feeding programme should be practised to ensure correct nutrient intake throughout lay in order to match performance demands and manipulate egg size as required. The number of feeds per day will be important as a feed management tool but careful depth control is essential in avoiding wastage.