Early post-hatch feeding and drinking behavior and body weight development in white and brown layer chickens.
- 1Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, 6700 AH, The Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].
- 2Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, 6700 AH, The Netherlands.
- 3Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, 6700 AH, The Netherlands.
Abstract
Effects of early post-hatch feed and water deprivation on eating and drinking behavior and body weight development have been mostly investigated in broiler chickens. However, little is known about these aspects in layer chickens. This study investigated the eating and drinking behavior of white (Dekalb White) and brown (Lohman Brown Classic) layer chickens early post-hatch, as well as the feed and water intake and body weight development. A total of 352 in-ovo sexed female eggs on day 18 of incubation were allocated to 16 pens (8 pens per strain, 22 eggs per pen) and hatched in the pen. The first eating and drinking moment, and the eating and drinking frequency and duration in the subsequent 12 h period were determined. Feed and water consumption and body weight were measured every 6 h from hatch to 96 h of biological age. White layer chickens started eating and drinking on average at 8 and 34 h post-hatch, whereas brown layer chickens began at 5 h and 26 h, respectively. During the first 12-96 h post-hatch, each chicken consumed approximately 15 g of feed and 25 g of water on average. White layer chickens consumed more water than brown layer chickens, while feed intake did not differ. Both strains spent approximately 2 % of their time eating and drinking within the first 12 h after their first eating and drinking post-hatch. White layer chickens exhibited a higher drinking frequency and longer drinking duration than brown layer chickens, whereas hatch moment did not affect these variables. Body weight of both strains decreased during the first 30 h post-hatch and returned to its initial value at approximately 60 h post-hatch. It can be concluded that layer chickens start eating and drinking soon after hatching, but the frequency of eating and drinking remains low thereafter. Layer chickens initially lose body weight post-hatch even when feed and water are available immediately post-hatch. The exact timing of the first eating and drinking event and subsequent drinking behavior appears to be strain dependent.
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BibTeX
@article{wu2026early,
title = {{Early post-hatch feeding and drinking behavior and body weight development in white and brown layer chickens.}},
author = {Zhanyue Wu and Henry van den Brand and Bjorge Laurenssen and Monique Ooms and Ilona van den Anker and Teresa Johansson and Ingrid C de Jong and Roos Molenaar},
journal = {Poultry science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2026.107896},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42868846},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Early post-hatch feeding and drinking behavior and body weight development in white and brown layer chickens.
AU - Zhanyue Wu
AU - Henry van den Brand
AU - Bjorge Laurenssen
AU - Monique Ooms
AU - Ilona van den Anker
AU - Teresa Johansson
AU - Ingrid C de Jong
AU - Roos Molenaar
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Poultry science
DO - 10.1016/j.psj.2026.107896
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42868846
AB - Effects of early post-hatch feed and water deprivation on eating and drinking behavior and body weight development have been mostly investigated in broiler chickens. However, little is known about these aspects in layer chickens. This study investigated the eating and drinking behavior of white (Dekalb White) and brown (Lohman Brown Classic) layer chickens early post-hatch, as well as the feed and water intake and body weight development. A total of 352 in-ovo sexed female eggs on day 18 of incubation were allocated to 16 pens (8 pens per strain, 22 eggs per pen) and hatched in the pen. The first eating and drinking moment, and the eating and drinking frequency and duration in the subsequent 12 h period were determined. Feed and water consumption and body weight were measured every 6 h from hatch to 96 h of biological age. White layer chickens started eating and drinking on average at 8 and 34 h post-hatch, whereas brown layer chickens began at 5 h and 26 h, respectively. During the first 12-96 h post-hatch, each chicken consumed approximately 15 g of feed and 25 g of water on average. White layer chickens consumed more water than brown layer chickens, while feed intake did not differ. Both strains spent approximately 2 % of their time eating and drinking within the first 12 h after their first eating and drinking post-hatch. White layer chickens exhibited a higher drinking frequency and longer drinking duration than brown layer chickens, whereas hatch moment did not affect these variables. Body weight of both strains decreased during the first 30 h post-hatch and returned to its initial value at approximately 60 h post-hatch. It can be concluded that layer chickens start eating and drinking soon after hatching, but the frequency of eating and drinking remains low thereafter. Layer chickens initially lose body weight post-hatch even when feed and water are available immediately post-hatch. The exact timing of the first eating and drinking event and subsequent drinking behavior appears to be strain dependent.
SN - 0032-5791
SN - 1525-3171
ER -