The effect of water temperature and feed density on the performance of laying hens during heat stress

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in a climate chamber to study the effects 
of water temperature and feed density on the production characteristics of 
laying hens during heat stress. Following a preliminary period of adaptation, 
pullets at 25 weeks of age, were moved to the climate chamber and 
maintained at 38 °C from 8.00 Hrs to 17.00 Hrs and at 28 °C from 17.00 
His to 8.00 Hrs at constant 55% relative humidity. A low density diet 
"A" (15% C.P.; 10.54 MJ/ kg ME) was compared to a high density diet 
"B" (25% C.P.; 12.15 MJ/ kg ME) at cool running water "C" of 7 °C and 
warm stagnant water "W" one °C lower than the ambient temperature in 
the chamber. The treatments were tested with 120 birds, arranged in 24 
groups of 5 birds over 11 periods of 14 days. 
Cool water and high density feed improve feed consumption, egg 
weight, feed efficiency and final body weight (p < 0.01). Apart from egg 
weight, other egg quality characteristics were not affected by water tem
perature.