The Pre-Peak diet is introduced after the Pre-Lay and is fed for approximately 2 weeks or until production has reached 50%. This diet is used for a gradual increase in calcium, and a lower ME to encourage feed intake and increase body weight prior to peak production.

Following peak when essentially all the hens are in production and feed consumption has stabilised, diets should be adjusted according to actual feed consumption and level of production. Surges in body weight in the adult hen are a result of excessive caloric intake. The layer must be fed to meet her daily requirements, no more no less.

As a critical input, birds should have access to an appropriate diet at all times to maximize performance. It is also important that routine monitoring of body weights (particularly in the early stages), feed intake and water consumption be carried out and recorded. This information will assist in deciding the optimum time to increase day length and ensure the flocks come into lay correctly.

Subsequent monitoring will be necessary to determine when a diet change is appropriate in order to achieve persistence of lay, control egg size and help with shell quality.

During the laying period the choice of dietary specification is dependent on many factors such as stocking density, age, temperature and feed intake and level of egg production and egg weight.

It is recommended that the above aspects are discussed with your feed supplier in conjunction with your Hy-Line representative, but not forgetting the requirements of your egg packer.