PERFORMANCE OF HENS MOLTED BY VARIOUS METHODS

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the following force molt techniques: 1) feed and water starvation; 2) injected progesterone (40 mg); 3) 6 chloro A -17-acetoxy progesterone (CAP) fed at the level of 13.2 mg/kg for 21 days; 4) CAP fed at the level of 13.2 mg/kg for 35 days; 5) CAP fed at the level of 39.6 mg/kg for 5 days and and 13.2 mg/kg for 16 days; 6) 5000 ppm iodine added to diet. In addition, a 17% protein laying diet and an 8.27% protein diet were compared during the 35-day molt period. All techniques effectively induced a feather molt and an associated rest period. Egg production was increased by molting but was not significantly different from controls during the combined molt and post-molt periods. Feeding a low protein diet increased the severity of the molt and extended the rest period. CAP appeared to mask the effect of dietary energy level on feed consumption during the time it was fed. Most birds lost body weight during themoltperiod and gained at a faster rate than controls after the molt. Egg weights and albumen quality were not affected by molting. Shell thickness was increased significantly by molting in only one experiment.