SHORT-TERM EGG PRODUCTION AND PHYSICAL EGG CHARACTERISTICS IN A FLOCK OF HYBRID HUBBARD LAYERS

Abstract

Short-term egg production and characteristics were studied using a total of 200 Hubbard hybrid layers under the battery cage system for four months. Birds were fed on battery layer mash (4080 kcal/kg M.E., 15.31% crude protien). Age at first egg (AFE) was 146 days. The highesthen-day egg production was 60.84% obtained at the 4th week in lay. Average hen-day and hen- housed production percentages for the study period stood at 50.08 and 48.05 respectively. Average egg weight was 53.24g ± 3.07 (Standard) with mean egg-shell thickness of 0.48mm ± 0.02. Average daily feed intake was 153.05g ± 1.82 per bird giving an average feed consumption of 3.7kg per dozen eggs. Mean albumen, yolk and shell weights were 33.81g, 13.52g and 6.06g respectively.