Nutrient requirements of egg laying chickens

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The intake of nutrients is a function of the amount of feed eaten and the nutrient levels in the diet.

Feed consumption

There are a number of factors that influence voluntary feed intake. These are discussed in the section on Feed intake. Table 1 provides data on typical feed consumption for modern brown-egg laying hens in relation to target body weight. From Week 18, hens start to enter their laying period, reaching peak of lay around 32 weeks of age, and typically maitaining egg production until 65-68 weeks of age. Feed intake will increase to a steady level of 100-105g per day and hen body weight will reach a mature level of 1700-1800g.

Table 1. Body weights and associated feed consumption for a brown-egg laying breed during the growing period

Age (wk)	Body weight (g)	Feed consumption (g/bird/day)	Age (wk)	Body weight (g)	Feed consumption (g/bird/day)
1	70	13	11	960-1080	61
2	115	20	12	1050-1117	66
3	190	25	13	1130-1250	70
4	280	29	14	1210-1310	73
5	380-390	33	15	1290-1370	75
6	480-500	37	16	1360-1430	77
7	580-620	41	17	1500-1540	80
8	680-750	46
9	770-860	51
10	870-970	56

Source: Hy-Line Variety Brown Commercial Management Guide 2009

Growing period nutrition recommendations

Chicks require a diet that can provide the nutrients needed for rapid growth and feather development. Chicks are given relatively high levels of energy, protein and the vitamins and minerals for the starter period. Once the chicks are fully feathered their energy requirements are reduced. Feeding management for layer pullets aims to maintain a growth rate that will lead to the pullet reaching sexual maturity at the desired age while avoiding obesity. The stage at which a pullet will start laying eggs is affected by age, bodyweight and day length.

On a percentage basis, layer pullet diets have lower energy and protein levels than chick diets. Different breeders recommend different feeding strategies for their birds, including the number of different diets fed during the pullet growing stage. Many breeders recommend a pre-lay diet that increases some of the nutrient levels, such as calcium, that will be required by the bird when it begins to lay eggs. Table 2 provides data on typical nutrient levels for layer diets for the growing period.

Table 2. Growing period nutrition recommendations

Product Age in Weeks			Starter    0-6	Grower  6-12	Developer   12-15	Pre-Layer15-1 %Production
Nutrient
Protein:	%	Min	20.0	17.50	15.50	16.50
Metabolisable	Mj/Kg		11.5-12.4	11.5-12.6	11.3-12.4	11.4-12.4
Energy	Kcal/Kg		2750-2970	2750-3025	2700–2970	2725-2980
	Kcal/Lb		1250-1350	1250-1370	1225-1350	1235-1350
Lysine	%	Min	1.10	0.90	0.66	0.80
Methionine	%	Min	0.48	0.41	0.32	0.38
Methionine + Cystine	%	Min	0.82	0.71	0.58	0.65
Tryptophan	%	Min	0.20	0.19	0.18	0.19
Threonine	%	Min	0.73	0.55	0.52	0.55
Calcium	%	Min	1.00	1.00	1.00	2.75*
Av Phosphorus	%	Min	0.45	0.43	0.42	0.40
Sodium	%	Min	0.18	0.18	0.18	0.18
Chloride	%	Min	0.18	0.18	0.18	0.18

• At least 30-65% of the added limestone should have a minimum particle size of 2250 Microns.

Source: Hy-Line Variety Brown Commercial Management Guide 2009

Nutrient levels for layer diets

The aim of layer diets is to optimise egg production, provide the nutrition required to safeguard health and maintain the desired bodyweight. This can be in terms of egg numbers, egg size or egg mass. As with layer pullets, different breeders recommend different feeding strategies for their birds, including the number of different diets fed during the laying stage. Calcium is increased in the ration for egg shell formation. Table 3 provides data on typical nutrient levels for layer diets.

Table 3. Examples of layer diets (at 100g per day intake level)

Nutrients	Units	1%-32 weeks	32-44 weeks	44-55 weeks	55 weeks and beyond
ME	MJ/kg	11.60-11.97	11.41-11.97	11.20-11.97	10.68-11.83
ME	kcal/kg	2770-2860	2725-2860	2675-2860	2550-2825
Crude protein	%	19.80	17.50	17.00	16.00
Lysine	%	1.02	0.93	0.89	0.83
Methionine	%	0.51	0.46	0.41	0.38
Linoleic acid	%	1.10	1.60	1.60	1.60
Calcium	%	4.40	4.25	4.50	4.75
Available phosphorous	%	0.48	0.40	0.36	0.35

Source: Hy-Line Variety Brown Commercial Management Guide 2009