Feed Size and Shape: What Makes Hens Happy and Healthy?

A recent experiment looked at how different feed sizes and shapes affect the well-being and productivity of laying hens. The study focused on hens aged 44 to 60 weeks, a crucial period for egg production. The hens were split into six groups, each with a different combination of feed size and shape. The feed sizes were either fine or coarse, and the shapes were mash, pellet, or crumble. The results showed that the size and shape of the feed didn't affect the hens' final weight, death rate, or overall egg production. However, when the feed was coarse and in mash form, the hens ate more each day. This might seem like a good thing, but it's not always better for the hens. More food doesn't necessarily mean better health or more eggs. Interestingly, coarse feed and pellet or crumble shapes helped the hens convert food into eggs more efficiently. This means they produced more eggs for the amount of food they ate. On the other hand, fine feed improved the eggshell quality and a measure called the Haugh unit, which indicates egg freshness. But, the yolk color was less vibrant with fine feed. Pellet feed had a negative impact on shell quality and yolk color. However, the shell strength wasn't significantly different from mash feed, and yolk color wasn't significantly different from crumble feed. So, pellets aren't all bad, but they're not the best either. The study also found that coarse and mash feeds made the hens' gizzards heavier. The gizzard is a part of the hen's stomach that grinds up food. A heavier gizzard might mean the hens are working harder to digest their food. This could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it. Overall, the experiment showed that pellet or crumble feed and coarse particle size improved the hens' performance. Crumble feed didn't harm egg quality, which is a plus. However, it's important to note that this is just one study. More research is needed to fully understand how feed size and shape affect laying hens.