Effect on shell strength of feeding supplemental sources of calcium to adult laying hens given insoluble grit during the rearing period

Abstract

1. An experiment was conducted to determine the separate and combined effects of giving insoluble grit during the rearing period and small or large particle size (0.3 mm and 3 to 8 mm in diameter) limestone or oyster shell, as extra sources of calcium, during the laying period.

2. For the entire laying period the extra sources of calcium resulted in improved shell strength but, overall, grit‐supplements during the rearing period did not affect either egg shell strength or other performance traits.

3. An analysis for interactions however revealed that limestone of larger particle size coupled with rearing period‐grit resulted in improved egg‐shell strength during the last quarter of the laying period.