Increasing the environmental temperature later in lay and performance of the fowl

Abstract

1. For laying fowls fed on a conventional diet increasing the environmental temperature from 21 to 27 °C at 333 d of age resulted in a depressed rate of egg output (333 to 500 d).

2. Egg output for birds kept at 27 °C from 333 d could not be increased to the maximum rate of output of birds at 21 °C for this period by feeding a diet of equal energy content containing increased proportions of protein‐rich ingredients.

3. The difference in both food intake and egg output between hens maintained at 21 and those maintained at 27 °C appeared to decrease when the higher temperature was introduced at 416 d of age.