The Response of Laying Hens to Sudden Feed Changes

Abstract

NUMEROUS cautions and warnings have been issued by leaders in poultry husbandry against sudden feed changes. These warnings stated that birds will go off feed and suffer an interruption in the rate of growth; that laying hens will suffer a loss in egg production, and probably go into a partial or complete molt as the result of sudden feed changes. Other workers have not shared the view that sudden feed changes result in economic losses.Stout (1926) states that: “If changes are made from one feed to another, they should be gradual.” Jaff (1905) in discussing the subject of changing feed expressed the view that even though the nutritive ratio may be maintained, palatability may be changed, and sudden changes may be disastrous. Jones, Davis, and McDonald (1917) expressed the view that feed formulas may be changed to take advantage of lower prices and obtain more economical production.Card and .