Feeding of hatchery egg shell waste as a calcium source to laying chickens

Dried and powdered egg shell as waste from hatchery was fed as a source of calcium to White Leghorn laying birds of 52 weeks of age. Four test diets were prepared by replacing calcium sources viz., limestone and oyster shells of the basal diet at 0,100,100 and 83.33% level, respectively by hatchery egg shell waste in TI to T4 diets and dicalcium phosphate at 50 and 100% level, respectively in T3 and T4 diets. The equivalent amount of phosphorus content of ofdicalcium phosphate was supplied through potassium dihydrogen phosphate. The egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, external and internal qualities of eggs were studied during the experimental period of63 days. HESW contains 1.2% crude protein and 34% calcium. Results showed that egg production increased significantly (P<0.05) in T2 & T3 groups. FCR and egg weight was comparable among diflerent dietary treatments. Egg shell thickness differ significantly due to Ca and P sources but specitic gravity remained uninlluenccd. It is concluded that the hatchery egg shell waste as a calcium source instead of limestone or oyster shell could maintain the egg production and egg quality traits in laying birds.