Primary Audience: Researchers, Egg Producers SUMMARY

to 113 wk) was conducted on 2 commercial laying hen farms. A 5-point scale was used to score feathers of hens, where 1 = fully feathered and 5 = very poorly feathered with naked spots and injury to the skin. Feather scores were plotted over time and increased during the first production cycle, indicating deterioration of feather condition. Molt improved feather score, but feather condition did not return to the optimal feather score observed from 21 to 35 wk of age. Feather score increased again during the second production cycle, which lasted 30 wk. The rate of feather condition decline was similar (P> 0.05) across first and second production cycles