In autumn, as temperatures drop, many layer farmers notice a problem: although their hens are eating more than they did in summer, egg production and egg weight have not increased accordingly. When they do the math, the feed-to-egg ratio has actually crept up. In layer farming, what really determines profit or loss is not how much feed the hens consume, but how many eggs that feed produces. So how can you keep the feed-to-egg ratio in check in autumn?
I. Why the feed-to-egg ratio rises: a physiological necessity for laying hens
As temperatures drop in autumn, laying hens naturally increase their feed intake as their basal metabolic energy expenditure rises to maintain body temperature. Studies show that, with dietary energy held constant, when the ambient temperature for brown-egg-laying hens falls below 18°C, feed intake increases by about 1.5 grams for every 1°C drop in temperature; below 10°C, feed consumption increases further. Much of the extra feed consumed by the flock in low temperatures is used to maintain body temperature and is not fully converted into eggs, thereby pushing up the feed-to-egg ratio.
Use new corn
New-season corn comes onto the market successively in autumn. It has relatively high moisture content, and its resistant starch has not yet fully matured. If it directly replaces old corn, the flock may develop loose droppings and pass feed undigested more easily, nutrient absorption may decline, and egg production and egg weight may fluctuate, causing the feed-to-egg ratio to rise sharply. This is what is commonly known in poultry farming as “new corn syndrome.”
Intestinal and liver burden
As the weather cools in autumn, chickens eat more, increasing the burden on the intestines. This is also a peak period for intestinal diseases and liver metabolic problems. Chickens may eat more, yet fail to maintain their weight or even lose weight. This is often not due to an insufficient feed supply, but because the nutrients they consume are not being adequately absorbed and utilized.
Environmental and lighting changes
In autumn, the day–night temperature difference increases and natural light exposure shortens, inhibiting gonadotropin secretion in laying hens and reducing their egg-laying potential. Improper ventilation and unstable lighting can stress the flock and disrupt both feeding and egg-laying rhythms, leading to increased feed intake and a decline in egg production, further raising the feed-to-egg ratio.
II. How to stabilize the feed-to-egg ratio: nutrition should “follow the seasons”
As temperatures fall in autumn, laying hens need more energy to maintain their body temperature. Dietary metabolizable energy can be increased moderately to reduce the need for hens to rely solely on increased feed intake to meet their energy needs, helping stabilize the feed-to-egg ratio. When switching to new corn, be sure to allow a transition period: new corn can account for 20% in the first week, increase to 40% in the second week, and rise to 60% in the third week. After observing that the flock’s feed intake, droppings, and egg production show no abnormalities, gradually complete the replacement.
The environment should be “stable.”
Keep temperature differences inside the poultry house under control. Ventilate so that the air stays fresh and free of pungent odors, and avoid cold drafts blowing directly onto the chickens. During the laying period, keep the lighting duration stable at 16 hours; never shorten it arbitrarily. Keep the light intensity stable as well, avoiding sudden changes between bright and dim, to reduce stress and provide the flock with a stable living and egg-laying environment.
Health requires “close monitoring”
Regularly weigh the flock and calculate the feed-to-egg ratio. Monitor three indicators: egg production rate, egg weight, and body weight. Also keep an eye on the condition of the droppings. If you find that the flock is “eating more but not producing more eggs,” do not blindly increase the feed. First check the flock’s body weight, the temperature inside the poultry house, and the lighting conditions, then examine intestinal absorption and liver metabolism.
The flock needs to be “improved”
Autumn is a good time to optimize the flock. Culling sick and weak hens, low-producing hens, and hens that have stopped laying in a timely manner reduces feed consumed without productive output and can significantly lower the overall feed-to-egg ratio.
The key to autumn management is not to make hens “eat more,” but to ensure that every jin of feed goes toward egg production. By combining management with nutrition through the Aige Duo precision nutrition program, every gram of feed can be converted into actual eggs, maximizing returns during autumn, the golden season for egg production.
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