Low Protein Starting Diets and Their Effects on Subsequent Pullet Performance

Leghorn-type pullets were fed 14 and 20% protein corn–soya diets to 8 weeks of age. The birds on the low protein diet were significantly smaller and consumed less feed than the higher protein-fed birds. At 20 weeks of age pullets fed the low protein starting diet were still significantly smaller than the 20% protein-fed chicks even though similar diets were fed during the growing period. A corn–feathermeal diet resulted in reduced feed intake and body weight gain when fed ad libitum from 8 to 24 weeks as compared with dietary treatments. None of the starting or growing treatments had any effect on hen house performance except for a reduced body weight of those pullets fed the feathermeal diet. The data suggest that a low protein starting diet, followed by a corn–feathermeal (amino acid imbalanced) diet can be fed ad libitum and still achieve reduced weight gain and delayed sexual maturity without any adverse effect on hen house performance.