Sandbox your play area

Broiler breeder hens are typically provided a restricted amount of feed once a day. This feed is rapidly consumed; therefore, the hens fast for an extended period of time before their next feeding. In the current research, the effects on reproductive performance of implementing a twice-a-day vs. a once-a-day feeding program after photostimulation were investigated. Pullets and cockerels were reared on a skip-a-day feeding program. Pullets were weighed at 20 wk of age and then distributed into 30 laying pens such that each pen had a similar BW distribution. Each individual laying pen consisted of 35 hens and 4 roosters. At 21 wk of age, the birds were photostimulated for reproduction and 15 of the laying pens were placed on a once-a-day feeding schedule, whereas the other 15 pens were placed on a twice-a-day feeding schedule. The total amount of feed provided per day to all the laying pens was the same. Birds fed once a day received all their feed at 0630 h, whereas birds fed twice a day received 60% of their total feed allotment at 0630 h and the other 40% at 1500 h. Even though both treatment groups began egg production at the end of wk 23, birds fed twice a day laid more (P