The results of molting bearing hens.

The swarm of Hy Line bearing hens (8260 pieces) held in three floor cages were molted at the age of 87 weeks. In the first producing season the swarm did not reach the planned weight and in 87 weeks the average weight of hens was 1768 grams. The reduced body weight caused a slightly smaller production than planned, so the production of eggs on each hen was 335 pieces, and the mass of the eggs on each hen was 20.9 kilos. The average daily meal was 133 grams. The swarm was healthy during the entire production period, and the deaths reached 4,8%. The owner of hens decided to molt when the average production per week was 57.56%, and the percentage of eggs with low quality reached 4.85%. The intense molting was conducted according to a plan of restricting food, water and light, made especially for this swarm. The plan was also adjusted during the production period, because of the low temperatures outside and inside the object where hens were held. Molting lasted for six weeks, hens lost 22% of body weight, and the period of the second egg bearing lasted two weeks. In the second producing season 93% of the eggs was in SS, S and A weight category. Eggs with soft shell were reduced to 0,8%, the amount of food spent per hen daily was 135 grams, during the six months long production, 170 eggs per hen were produced. Death during molting and production period in the second producing season was 6.4%.