Question

Amount of feed (grams) that an adult layer hen consumes per day

• A. 150
• B. 70
• C. 110
• D. 30

Hint:

The standard daily feed consumption for a commercial laying hen is approximately 110 grams (or 110 kg of feed per 1000 birds per day).
This intake must be monitored to ensure birds receive enough calcium (approx. 4 grams/day) for strong eggshell formation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Managing feed intake in poultry farms is essential to optimize egg production, avoid feed waste, and control feed costs, which represent up to 70% of total egg production expenses.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the daily feed consumption pattern of a commercial layer hen (e.g., Single Comb White Leghorn) during its active laying phase:
- A commercial layer hen weighs approximately 1.5 to 1.8 kg during its laying cycle.
- The daily feed intake of a laying hen is governed by the energy density of the feed, ambient house temperature, and its rate of egg production.
- Under standard tropical or subtropical climatic conditions, an adult layer hen consumes an average of 110 grams of balanced mash or crumble feed per day (typically within the range of 100 to 115 grams per day).
- This daily feed allocation provides the necessary metabolizable energy (approx. 290--310 kcal), crude protein (approx. 16--18 g), and calcium (approx. 3.8--4.2 g) required to maintain body weight and produce one high-quality egg.
- Intakes lower than this (e.g., 70 g) are typical of young growers, whereas intakes higher than this (e.g., 150 g) lead to overfeeding, fat accumulation, and reduced laying efficiency.
Therefore, the standard daily feed consumption of an adult layer is 110 grams.

Step 3: Final Answer:
An adult layer hen consumes approximately 110 grams of feed per day.