Effects of hen age and cage density on hen performance and egg quality in hot weather

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine effects of hen age and cage density on egg production and egg quality characteristics. In this experiment at higher environmental temperatures 25 wk-old Isa Brown hens were placed in 40 x 50 x 40 cm cages at the rate of four and five hens per cage. Eggs were collected once a week in all cages until the end of study to determine characteristics of egg quality. It was determined that hen age had significantly reduced the feed consumptior (P<0.05), and improved the percentage hen-day egg production and feed efficiency (P<0.01). Characteristics of egg quality such as shell thickness, albumen index and Haugh unit were significantly affected by age of hen (P<0.01). Hens at higher cage density level had lower percentage hen-day egg production than hens at lower cage density level (P<0.05). Effects of cage density on characteristics of egg quality were non-significant.