EFFECT OF CHAMOMILE ESSENTIAL OIL ON EGGS PRODUCTION AND WEIGHT OF LAYING HENS HISEX BRAUN

Sixteen laying hens, Hisex Braun hybrid, of 15 weeks in age were used in this model experiment.
They were kept in conditions using the breeding cages system and had water administered ad libitum. Animals were divided into two groups, 8 hens in each – a control group and an experimental group (CG, EG). The experimental group was fed a mixture containing doses of 0.1% of chamomile essential oil daily for the period of 8 weeks.
Weight of eggs as well as weight of body in CG and EG were recorded daily.
No significant differences were recorded in the egg production in both groups (CG and EG) during the whole experiment.
The mean egg production was only slightly influenced at week 6. Concerning the body weight of laying hens, the only limited differences were recorded from the second week of the experiment till the end of the experiment.
After this pioneering experiment, in future higher doses of the oil and longer period of experiment should be processed.

I International Symposium on Chamomile Research, Development and Production

J. Poráčová, M. Zahatňanská, M. Blasčáková, B. Taylorová, I. Sutiaková, K. Tanishima, H. Takabayashi, B.J. Cheng

egg production, chamomile, laying hens, productive parameters, weight

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.749.24