Effects of age at first access to range area on laying performance and some egg quality traits of free-range laying hens

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of age at first range access to range area on laying performance and egg quality of free range layer chickens. Six hundred 16-week-old Lohman Brown layer pullets were randomly distributed into three experimental groups according to age at first range access as 18 (very early), 20 (early) and 22 weeks of age (coventional-late). Three experimental groups were monitored to collect the data from 24 to 72 weeks of age. Egg number, feed consumption, dead birds, cracked and floor eggs were recorded daily. Egg quality analysis was made to 10 week intervals from 30th to 70th weeks of age. Thirty freshly laid eggs from each group were collected in each analysing period and measured within 24 h. The floor eggs and survival rate of the birds were affected by the timing of the first access to range area (P<0.05). The age at first access to range area had no significant effect on all egg quality traits investigated. The laying period had significant effect on all egg quality parameters (P<0.001). There was no significant age at first access to range area x laying period interaction for all egg quality parameters.