Albumen quality of eggs laid by induced moulted hens

A study was carried out to find out the effect of induced moulting of commercial SCWL laying hens at 60, 65 and 70 weeks of age group. A control group was kept without moulting at their respective ages. The layers were reared in cages for the entire experimental period adopting standard managemental and moulting practices. The birds, which were force moulted at the age group of 60, 65 and 70 weeks, had numerically higher egg production, lesser broken and shell less eggs after induced moulting, as compared to their respective control groups. Moulting improved the egg quality characteristics viz. albumen index and Haugh unit. As per experimental results observed, it is concluded that moulting can be induced in layers at the age of 70 weeks for improved egg quality characteristics.