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Abstract
1. Three experiments were performed to determine the effect of feeding time on shell quality and oviposition time in broiler breeders.
2. Mean eggshell thickness was increased significantly by 3·5 µm (approximately 1%) per h delay in feeding time when hens were housed in individual cages. However, eggshell thickness was not significantly affected by feeding time when birds were housed on litter floors.
3. Mean oviposition time was delayed relative to lights on by 5 min per h delay in feeding time.
4. Egg weight was not significantly affected by feeding time, suggesting that differences in shell thickness and oviposition times were not due to increased oviducal transit times.
5. Producers who wish to implement delayed feeding may have to turn lights on earlier than usual to compensate for delayed oviposition times.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Cobb-Vantress for financial support and for provision of 1-d-old chicks, Dr M. Ciacciariello for help in the running of experiments, and Dr P.D. Lewis for suggestions on manuscript preparation.