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Effect of Red Plastic Lenses on Egg Production, Feed per Dozen Eggs, and Mortality of Laying Hens

# 1151 Poultry Science Building Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1151; Phone: (317) 494-8009; FAX: (317) 494-9347

Correspondence: Richard L. Adams

Three groups of 256 pullets each were used to study the effects of red plastic lenses on egg production, feed per dozen eggs and mortality. The groups included control birds, which had no lenses, and treatment birds, in which the lenses were inserted when the pullets were 12 or 16 weeks of age. Egg production was compared among the three groups for seven 28 day periods from 22 to 50 weeks of age. Production on a hen-day basis was highest for the control birds, followed by 12 week lens birds, and then by 16 week lens birds. Egg production during period 1 was highest for the control birds. For periods 2 through 5, control birds and 12 week lens birds did not differ, but were higher than 16 week lens birds. Mean egg weight for the 12 week lens birds was greater than that of the 16 week lens birds. Feed per dozen eggs was lower for the control birds for period 1 compared to the other two groups because the control birds laid more eggs. Feed per dozen eggs was essentially the same for all three groups for each of the other 6 periods. Considerable mortality occurred among birds with lenses between 2 and 8 weeks after moving the birds to the layer facility. Mortality was attributed to an inability of the birds to find the feed.

Key Words: Red plastic lenses • layers