Split feeding in laying hens:

Enhancing precise nutrition and a mechanism for maintaining productivity.

 

Professor Dr. Salah Mahdi Hassan/ Consultant and Poultry Health and Production Expert

A review study titled “Split feeding for laying hens: a step beyond precision nutrition” was published on April 24, 2025, in the journal Poultry Science. The study examined an innovative feeding strategy known as split feeding, designed to improve the nutritional management of modern laying hens. Numerous studies on poultry nutrition indicate that conventional feeding practices often lead to nutritional imbalances due to the physiology of the reproductive cycle in chickens, resulting in variability in nutrient requirements throughout the day (see Figure 1).

Traditional feeding practices for laying hens typically involve providing complete feed ad libitum, usually in the form of pellets or pellets, with the feed intake of the hens being regulated primarily by their energy requirements and the form of feed provided.

In advanced poultry farming methods, chickens are unable to adjust their feed intake to match their physiological needs and production requirements. This often leads to overconsumption of nutrients, such as calcium, which plays a pivotal role in eggshell formation. It is important to remember that the ultimate goal of egg production in newly developed chickens is to achieve specific production targets, including extending the production cycle to achieve an average production of 500 eggs in 100 weeks. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to conduct studies and research focused on improving eggshell quality.

It is scientifically accepted that the feeding behavior of laying hens is significantly influenced by egg production. Field observations indicate increased feed intake on days of laying compared to days of non-laying. Taylor (1970) postulated that feed intake during egg formation is primarily driven by calcium requirements rather than energy needs. Furthermore, Hughes (1972) indicated that calcium intake is regulated on an hourly basis by the requirements of egg formation. He reported that laying hens tended to consume approximately 2% more feed on days of laying compared to days of non-laying.

The eggshell performs a vital function by providing mechanical protection against potential external damage and creating a suitable environment for gas exchange during embryonic development. Furthermore, the shell serves as a distinctive “envelope” for eggs intended for human consumption. The calcium component of eggshells is composed primarily of calcium carbonate (approximately 97%), a vital mineral in the process of shell formation and a component of the diet of laying hens.

In general, scientific research indicates that birds have the ability to choose their nutrition to meet their growth and maintenance needs. Free-choice feeding systems allow birds to choose their diet based on their maintenance or production needs, thus providing a significant advantage over traditional feeding methods. The ongoing quest to develop diets that meet the ideal requirements of chickens aims to increase productivity and production quality, as well as to explore the optimal feeding method to achieve these goals.

Chickens need to consume large amounts of protein and energy in the morning to support yolk and albumin formation, and increased calcium intake in the afternoon to facilitate eggshell development (see Diagram 1). Traditional feeding methods of offering feed in one go can lead to excess or deficient nutrients at inappropriate times, negatively impacting chicken health and egg quality.

Separate feeding addresses this challenge by providing specially formulated feeds at different times – high in protein and energy in the morning, and high in calcium during the afternoon and evening, thus enhancing eggshell quality and overall production performance.

The concept of split feeding centers on providing the bird with different types of feed throughout the day, adapting the feed to the hen’s metabolic needs at different times of the day, to achieve improved shell quality. By providing specific amounts of calcium at different times throughout the day, the feed provided closely matches the hen’s daily needs, which in turn takes into account the hen’s metabolic fluctuations. This method helps the bird reduce the use of its bones to provide calcium for shell formation and the subsequent risk of leg injuries, and continually improves eggshell quality throughout the production period, especially for chickens approaching the end of production.

Two feeds are provided at different times of the day:

• The morning feed is designed to meet the nutritional requirements of energy, protein, and phosphorus for albumin formation, ovulation, and egg laying.
• The evening feed is designed to meet the nutritional requirements for eggshell formation—especially high calcium levels.

 

It has been shown that chickens naturally seek calcium in the afternoon and are ready to form shells overnight. Scientists have conducted experiments on what is known as selective feeding, where chickens can choose between feeds containing different levels of calcium, energy, and protein. They found that chickens chose to consume feeds with higher energy and protein in the morning, and those with higher calcium levels in the afternoon.

The basic idea behind split feeding is that a chicken’s nutritional needs change throughout the day. In the morning, as soon as the egg is laid, hens begin laying the egg white around the yolk in the oviduct. Nutritionally, they need available amino acids and energy. Eggshells are not formed until late afternoon, before darkness sets in. This is why hens are often seen pecking at available limestone in the afternoon. Offering chickens different feeds in the morning and evening provides opportunities for greater nutritional efficiency by more precisely matching the nutrient supply in the feed to the hen’s requirements at different times of the day.

Based on these principles, two types of feed were developed: one fed in the morning, known as morning feed, and one fed in the afternoon, known as evening feed. The morning feed is higher in protein and energy (Table 1), while the evening feed contains higher levels of calcium (Table 1). Because the morning feed requires less limestone, there is more room for fiber in the feed mix (Table 1), which also has positive benefits for the bird. A high-fiber feed in the morning means that chickens will feel full by midday. This is a time when chickens often feel hungry and may start pecking. It has been scientifically proven that adding fiber and anti-stress herbal supplements makes pecking very unlikely.

The switch to evening feeding occurs in the afternoon when the focus shifts to improving calcium intake. In terms of feed distribution, 40% of the feed is provided in the morning and 60% in the evening, which is consistent with the natural variation in feed intake during the day.

The primary goal of split feeding is to more accurately meet the bird’s requirements, thereby improving productivity and sustainability. It’s important to note that in some cases, farmers use this strategy as an opportunity to reduce feed costs, although this isn’t the primary goal. Continuity of egg production is of particular importance, thus increasing the production cycle. Split feeding helps chickens produce eggs for a longer period, particularly during the final laying period.

The economic benefits of split feeding, resulting from improved nutrient utilization based on the bird’s metabolic processes, will provide significant advantages to table egg producers, including a lower cost per ton of feed. Amid rising global feed prices, the financial benefits will increase through reduced daily feed consumption and improved feed conversion ratios. This feeding method also provides effective control over egg size, with fewer broken eggs and fewer light-shelled eggs.

This feeding system is characterized by very low nutrient loss, as the chickens are fed only the feed they need at that time of day. Scientific studies have shown that chickens treated with this feeding method have reduced excreted nitrogen (10%), phosphorus (5%), and calcium (4.1%). This means that there are lower levels of environmental pollutants that need to be eliminated, and therefore less ammonia is produced in the rearing halls or waste stores. Another incentive is the increased focus on reducing the impact of carbon pollution. Therefore, it is an environmentally friendly mechanism. In this context, adopting the split feeding method leads to a reduction in the use of soybeans in the feed, which is an important and expensive protein source in feed and at the same time one of the largest environmental pollutants in poultry production.

Significant genetic advances in laying hens have led to changes in many critical physiological aspects, particularly those related to homogeneity. Therefore, ensuring adequate nutrition, along with proper health care and management, is vital to enable chickens to fully express their genetic productive potential. A significant proportion of the nutritional requirements of laying hens is linked to the productive performance of laying hens, which is influenced by several factors such as the bird’s immunity, health status, age, and nutritional interventions. These factors can therefore impact digestibility, negatively impacting chicken performance.

Global sources and feasibility studies indicate that, with the rising cost of feed, adopting a split-feeding mechanism allows producers and feed mill owners to save $11 to $14 per ton of final feed. In conclusion, split feeding meets the specific nutritional needs of laying hens by providing time-restricted feedings, ultimately improving egg quality, enhancing feed efficiency, reducing nutrient waste, and possibly extending the productive life of laying hens.

Sources:

Carlos Henrique do Nascimento et al. (2025). Split feeding for laying hens: a step beyond precision nutrition. Poultry Science, 104; 105158.

Hughes, B.O.A., (1972). Brit.Poult.Sci. 13, 485-493.

Taylor, T.G., (1970). In: 4th National Conference for Feed Manufactures, pp. 108-128.