Short answer: a layer feeding schedule runs chick starter, grower, developer, a short pre-lay feed, then layer feed. Change feeds when the flock reaches its target body weight, not just on age. At Vital Feeds (Private) Limited, we see that pullets reared to the right weight and evenness lay better for the whole year.
Why does rearing decide laying?
The most common mistake in layer management is treating rearing as a holding period before the real work starts. It is the opposite. A pullet that reaches point of lay underweight or uneven will not lay to her potential, no matter how good the layer ration is afterwards. The Hy-Line Brown Commercial Management Guide says the best predictor of future laying performance is the pullet’s body weight and body type at point of lay, and that flocks entering lay at the correct weight and very even in size perform best.
What is the layer feeding schedule by stage?
Hy-Line advises changing rearing feed only when the flock reaches the target body weight; the ages are a guide. For the Hy-Line Brown, the guide sets these change points. Other breeds have their own targets, so always check your breed’s guide.
| Feed stage | Move to next feed at about | Rough age |
|---|---|---|
| Starter 1 | 190 g body weight | about 3 weeks |
| Starter 2 | 460 g body weight | about 6 weeks |
| Grower | 1,080 g body weight | about 12 weeks |
| Developer | 1,300 g body weight | about 15–16 weeks |
| Pre-lay | first egg (pre-lay for 10–14 days only) | about 17 weeks |
| Layer (peaking) | from first eggs onward | 17 weeks onward |
The rough ages are read from the guide’s weekly body weight table. If your flock is behind the target weight, Hy-Line advises delaying the feed change rather than moving on by date.
What should chicks get in the first 6 weeks?
The goal is frame, gut development and immunity. Starter feed is fine in texture so small chicks can handle it. Brooding temperature and clean water matter as much as the ration during this phase. Keep feed and water in reach from the first hour, and check that chicks are spread evenly under the heat.
How should I feed grower and developer pullets?
The goal is body weight on target and an even flock — not maximum speed. The Hy-Line guide advises weighing about 100 birds every week up to 30 weeks of age, and before each planned feed change. Compare the average with the breed’s target curve. If the flock is behind target, it will come into lay late and peak lower. If it is very uneven, some birds will start laying weeks apart and the production curve will never be sharp.
When should pre-lay feed start?
As the flock nears first egg, calcium demand rises sharply. Hy-Line advises feeding a pre-lay diet for a maximum of 10 to 14 days before point of lay, when most pullets show reddening of the comb, never earlier than 15 weeks, and stopping it at the first egg because it does not hold enough calcium for laying. Pre-lay is also when coarse limestone is first brought in. Moving onto layer feed too late means hens start laying while drawing calcium from their own bones. Too early, and extra calcium burdens immature kidneys.
How should I feed layers in production?
Now two things dominate: steady intake and calcium. A hen puts a large amount of calcium into a shell every day. Practical points that protect shell quality:
- Feed the afternoon. Most of the shell forms overnight, so calcium eaten late in the day goes straight into the shell instead of being pulled from bone.
- Do not let feeders sit empty, especially in the afternoon.
- Keep particle size right. Very fine feed lowers intake; coarse limestone particles sit in the gizzard and release calcium slowly through the night. Hy-Line’s guide moves a growing share of the limestone to coarse (2–4 mm) pieces as the hens age.
- Watch water. An egg is mostly water. Restricted water cuts production quickly.
- Mind the heat. Hens eat less in hot weather. Feed in the cooler hours and see our guide to protecting layers from summer heat stress.
Hy-Line also describes an optional “midnight feeding”: a short period of light in the middle of the night so hens can eat. It can raise intake and helps calcium reach the shell when it is being formed. Try it only with good advice, as it changes your lighting programme.
What do the eggs tell me?
The eggs themselves are your best diagnostic. Thin or rough shells point to calcium intake, vitamin D or heat stress. A sudden drop in egg size usually means intake has fallen. A drop in numbers with normal shells is more often lighting, water or health than the ration. If problems persist, ask your vet to check the flock before changing feed.
Good feed only works if it reaches the hen fresh, so store it well; see how to store animal feed on the farm. If you are planning a flock budget, also read what decides poultry feed prices in Pakistan.
Written by Waqas Rafiq, CEO, Vital Feeds (Private) Limited.
See our layer feed range and the full poultry feed line-up, or message the mill on WhatsApp (UAN 0311 1555136) for a feeding programme suited to your flock.