Title: Performance of Laying Hens as Influenced by Length of Time Without Feed
Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to study the influence of feed deprivation for various periods of time upon subsequent performance of laying hens. A total of 350 commercial Leghorn-type hens (65 weeks of age, first experiment; 70 weeks of age, second experiment) were housed individually in cages and subjected to 0, 12, 24, 48, or 72 hours of feed deprivation. At all other times feed was allowed ad libitum. Water was supplied ad libitum during feed deprivation and the seven-week period following deprivation. When hens were deprived of feed for 72 hours, a pause in egg production of 7 to 10 days duration was observed, after which time normal egg production was resumed. The 48-hour feed deprivation resulted in a few hens having a 7- to 10-day pause in egg production; however, most hens on this treatment had no pause or a pause of shorter duration. Average egg production for the three-week period following treatment was significantly lower for birds deprived of feed for 48 or 72 hours compared to the control birds. Subsequent egg production was not significantly affected. Feed deprivation for 12 or 24 hours did not significantly influence egg production. Feed consumption, egg weight, specific gravity of eggs, and mortality were not significantly affected by treatment.