Centre for Research on Poultry, Division of Livestock Production and Management, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shuhama, Alusteng, Srinagar-190006 (J&K)
*Corresponding author: e-mail: azmatalamkhan@gmail.com
The performance of Chabro birds subjected to different durations of post-hatch delay in feeding was studied for a period of 6 weeks. 400 day old Chabro chicks were randomly divided into 5 groups, with 4 replicates of 20 birds each. Chicks allotted to the first group, G1 (control) were offered feed at hatchery itself. Feeding in groups G2, G3, G4 and G5, was initiated after the delay of 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours. The results indicated that the weekly body weights decreased from G1 to G5 and the difference in the body weight of 48 and 72 hours delay groups differed significantly from control. The body weight gain also showed a regular decrease and feed consumption showed an increasing trend from G1 to G5. Delay in feeding by more than 24 hours resulted in higher FCR at all age intervals as well as on over all bases. It could therefore be concluded that delayed feeding by more than 48 hours resulted in significantly lower body weight, lesser weight gain, higher feed consumption and adverse FCR.
Body weight, Chabro, delayed feeding, FCR, feed consumption
