Intermittent Watering and Feeding Programs for White Leghorn Layers

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of intermittent watering on White Leghorn layers. In addition in Exp. 2 the performance of layers subjected to intermittent feeding was also compared with the performance of control and intermittently watered layers. Providing hens two 1-hour or three 15-minute watering periods per day, after 5 months of lay on an ad lib. watering program, reduced egg production, feed per hen-day and weight gain, but had no effect on average egg weight (Exp. 1). When the three 15-minute watering periods were initiated prior to laying (Exp. 3), there was no effect on egg production, egg specific gravity or Haugh units; however, feed per hen-day, per egg, and per gram of egg, and average egg weight were reduced by 5.0, 11.0, 0.1, and 2.6 g., respectively. Providing five 15-minute watering periods per day had no effect on egg production, average egg weight or mortality. However, in two comparisons with controls (Exp. 2 & 3), feed per hen-day, per egg, and per gram of egg were reduced by 0.3 and 3.0, 7.7 and 9.0, and 0.14 and 0.17 g., respectively. Scheduling one 15-minute watering period each hour had no effect on egg production, feed intake or weight gain. Providing layers two 2-hour feeding periods per day significantly reduced feed consumption and weight gain, but had no significant effect on average egg weight or on egg production as compared to controls with feed and water ad lib. Haugh unit scores were higher when compared to the intermittent water treatments.