Best Time to Feed Layers for Maximum Egg Production in Nigeria

I still remember the day Mr. Chukwuka came to my farm in Oyi with frustration written all over his face. His layers were eating well, but egg production had dropped to 40%.

After watching his feeding routine, I discovered his mistake. He was feeding his birds at random times, sometimes 7am, sometimes 11am, depending on when he woke up.

Three weeks after I helped him fix his feeding schedule, his production jumped to 78%. That’s when I knew I had to share this knowledge with more farmers.

The best time to feed layers for maximum egg production isn’t just about throwing feed into the pen whenever you remember. It’s about understanding your birds’ natural rhythm and working with it, not against it.

After eight years of raising layers here in Anambra State and training over 200 farmers across the Southeast, I’ve seen how simple timing changes can boost production by 15-30%. This isn’t magic. It’s science mixed with practical experience.

Why Feeding Time Matters More Than You Think

Many Nigerian farmers focus on feed quality and ignore timing. Both matter equally.

Layers have internal clocks. Their bodies expect food at certain times. When you feed randomly, you stress them. Stressed chickens lay fewer eggs.

I learned this the hard way in 2017. My first batch of 500 birds produced only 60% peak production. My neighbor, using the same feed brand, hit 85%. The difference? His feeding schedule was consistent. Mine wasn’t.

Research from the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) shows that consistent feeding times can improve feed conversion ratio by up to 12%. That means less waste and more eggs.

How Chickens Process Food

Chickens don’t have teeth. They swallow feed whole. Their digestive system works differently from ours.

The crop stores food temporarily. Then it moves to the gizzard where grinding happens. After that, nutrients get absorbed in the intestines.

This entire process takes 4-6 hours for layers. Understanding this helps you plan feeding times better.

Dr. Ngozi Okeke from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka explained this during a workshop I attended in 2019. She said layers need enough time to digest feed before nightfall. Otherwise, they can’t convert nutrients properly.

The Best Time to Feed Layers for Maximum Egg Production

Here’s what works based on my experience and research:

Morning feeding: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM Evening feeding: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Why these specific times? Let me break it down.

Morning Feeding (6:00 AM – 7:30 AM)

Layers wake up with the sunrise. Their metabolism is highest in the morning.

When I feed my birds at 6:30 AM, they rush to the feeders with energy. By 7:00 AM, most have eaten. This gives them nutrients needed for egg formation throughout the day.

Egg formation happens mostly at night. But the nutrients for that process must come from daytime feeding.

Mrs. Adaobi from Nteje, one of my training students, increased her production from 65% to 82% just by shifting morning feeding from 9:00 AM to 6:30 AM. She documented this change over 8 weeks.

The morning feed should contain 60-65% of daily ration. This is when layers eat most actively.

Evening Feeding (4:00 PM – 5:30 PM)

The evening meal is equally important for the best time to feed layers for maximum egg production.

This feeding provides nutrients that birds will use overnight. Remember, egg formation intensifies after dark.

I feed my birds around 4:30 PM. They have time to eat, digest partially, and settle before nightfall.

One mistake I see often: farmers feed too late. If you feed at 7:00 PM, chickens can’t see well. They eat less. Production suffers.

Evening feed should be 35-40% of daily ration. Don’t overfeed at night. It can cause obesity and reduce laying.

What About Mid-Day Feeding?

Some farmers ask about feeding three times daily.

For commercial layers in Nigeria’s climate, two times works better. Our hot afternoons reduce appetite anyway.

I tried three-times feeding in 2018. Production didn’t improve. Labor costs increased. I went back to twice daily.

However, if you raise heavy breeds or during harmattan when temperatures drop, mid-day supplementation might help. Just give small amounts of greens or kitchen scraps, not main feed.

Feeding Schedule Based on Season

Nigeria has two main seasons. Each affects the best time to feed layers for maximum egg production differently.

Rainy Season Feeding (April – October)

During rains, mornings are cooler. Birds eat better.

My schedule during rainy season:

• First feeding: 6:30 AM
• Second feeding: 4:00 PM

Water availability is good. Birds drink more. They need it for digestion.

One challenge: feed gets wet quickly. I feed smaller amounts twice instead of large amounts once. This prevents wastage.

Dry Season Feeding (November – March)

Harmattan and dry season change things. Heat affects appetite.

My adjusted schedule:

• First feeding: 6:00 AM (earlier than rainy season)
• Second feeding: 5:00 PM (slightly later)

Why earlier morning feeding? Birds are more active before heat peaks. They eat more.

Why later evening feeding? Temperature drops by 5:00 PM. Appetite returns.

During peak harmattan (December-January), I also provide cool, clean water at 11:00 AM. Dehydration kills appetite faster than heat itself.

Mr. Eze from Awkuzu shared his experience at our 2023 farmers‘ meeting. He lost 15% production during 2022 harmattan. In 2023, after adjusting feeding times and water provision, he maintained 80% production throughout dry season.

Practical Feeding Schedule Table

Here’s a detailed schedule I use and recommend:

Common Mistakes Nigerian Farmers Make

I’ve seen these errors repeatedly across Anambra and neighboring states.

Mistake 1: Inconsistent Timing

Feeding at 6:00 AM today, 10:00 AM tomorrow, and 8:00 AM next week confuses birds.

Their digestive system adapts to routine. Break that routine, production drops.

I visited a farm in Ogbaru last year. The farmer fed whenever he finished other chores. Some days 7:00 AM, other days noon. His 1,000 layers produced only 400 eggs daily. After implementing fixed schedule for 4 weeks, production rose to 720 eggs daily.

Mistake 2: Feeding Too Much at Once

Some farmers think dumping all feed in the morning saves time. It doesn’t work.

Birds eat until full, then scratch remaining feed everywhere. You lose money. They lose nutrition.

Split feeding gives better results. It matches their natural eating pattern.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Water Alongside Feed

Water and feed timing must align. The best time to feed layers for maximum egg production includes proper hydration.

Layers need water before, during, and after feeding. An egg is 75% water. Without water, feed can’t convert to eggs.

I provide water 30 minutes before feeding. Birds drink, then eat. Digestion happens smoothly.

Miss Chioma from Abagana learned this lesson expensively. Her birds had feed but limited water. Production stayed at 50%. After fixing water supply timing, production reached 75% in three weeks.

Mistake 4: Night Feeding

Some farmers work day jobs. They feed chickens after returning home at 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM.

This is terrible for production. Chickens’ vision is poor in darkness. They can’t find feed properly. Weaker birds miss meals. Strong birds overeat.

If you work during day, hire someone to feed morning and evening. Or use automatic feeders with timers. Don’t compromise on timing.

Special Considerations for Different Ages

Point of lay pullets and older layers need different approaches.

Young Layers (18-25 Weeks)

These birds are just starting production. They need frequent feeding to support both growth and egg formation.

For this age group, I recommend:

• Morning: 6:30 AM (40% of daily ration)
• Mid-day: 12:00 PM (25% of daily ration)
• Evening: 4:30 PM (35% of daily ration)

Their appetites are smaller. Their energy needs are higher. Three times feeding works better for them.

Peak Production Layers (26-45 Weeks)

This is money-making time. The best time to feed layers for maximum egg production is most critical now.

Follow the standard schedule:

• Morning: 6:00-6:30 AM (65% of ration)
• Evening: 4:00-4:30 PM (35% of ration)

These birds are mature. They have established eating patterns. Consistency matters most.

Older Layers (46+ Weeks)

Production naturally declines after 72 weeks. But you can maintain reasonable output with proper timing.

I keep the same schedule but adjust feed quality. More calcium. More protein. Same timing.

Mr. Okafor from Nkpor maintains 65% production with 80-week-old layers. His secret? Consistent feeding times and quality feed. Many farmers give up on old layers. He proves you can still profit with proper management.

How to Transition to Better Feeding Times

If your current schedule is wrong, don’t change suddenly. Birds need gradual transition.

Here’s my proven method:

Week 1: Shift feeding time by 30 minutes earlier/later Week 2: Shift another 30 minutes Week 3: Shift to final desired time Week 4: Monitor and stabilize

During transition, expect slight production dip (5-10%). It recovers quickly once routine stabilizes.

Mrs. Ifeoma from Awkuzu followed this method. Her morning feeding was 9:00 AM. We gradually moved it to 6:30 AM over three weeks. Production dipped from 70% to 68% during transition, then jumped to 81% by week five.

Feed Quality and Timing Work Together

Best timing won’t fix poor quality feed. I learned this in 2019.

I bought cheap feed to save money. I fed at perfect times. Production stayed at 60%. After switching to quality feed while maintaining good timing, production reached 78%.

What Makes Quality Layer Feed

According to National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), quality layer feed should contain:

• Protein: 16-18%
• Calcium: 3.5-4.5%
• Phosphorus: 0.6-0.8%
• Energy: 2700-2900 ME kcal/kg

I source my feed from reputable mills. I test it occasionally. Better to pay N6,500 per bag of quality feed than N5,000 for rubbish.

Monitoring Production After Improving Timing

How do you know if your feeding schedule change worked?

Track these indicators:

1. Egg count: Record daily for 4 weeks before and after change
2. Feed consumption: Measure how much birds eat per feeding
3. Egg weight: Weigh random samples weekly
4. Feed conversion ratio: Calculate feed per egg produced
5. Bird behavior: Watch for stress signs or contentment

I keep simple records in a notebook. Date, eggs collected, feed given, observations. After eight years, I have valuable data showing patterns.

Expected Results Timeline

Don’t expect overnight miracles. The best time to feed layers for maximum egg production shows results gradually.

• Week 1-2: Birds adjust to new routine
• Week 3-4: Production begins rising
• Week 5-8: Production stabilizes at higher level
• Week 9+: Sustained improvement if management continues

My average production improvement after feeding time correction ranges from 12-25%, depending on how wrong the original timing was.

Connecting Feeding Time with Other Management Practices

Feeding time doesn’t exist alone. It connects with other practices.

Lighting Schedule

Light triggers hormones that control laying. In Nigeria, natural daylight works for most of the year.

But during harmattan, days get shorter. Consider supplementing with 2-3 hours of artificial light in the evening. This maintains 14-16 hours of total light daily.

Feed during lighted hours. Never feed in darkness unless you have adequate lighting.

Health Management

Sick birds won’t respond to perfect feeding times. I vaccinate according to schedule. I deworm every 3 months. I watch for signs of disease daily.

A healthy bird fed at the right time produces maximum eggs. A sick bird fed perfectly still underperforms.

Stress Reduction

The calmest hours for feeding in my experience are early morning and late afternoon.

Avoid feeding during peak human activity times. Don’t combine feeding with other stressful activities like vaccination or moving birds.

Peace during feeding time helps birds eat properly. Stressed birds waste feed and energy.

Economic Impact of Proper Feeding Times

Let’s talk numbers. That’s what matters in business.

Assume you have 1,000 layers. Your current production is 60% (600 eggs daily). Feed costs N6,500 per 25kg bag.

After implementing the best time to feed layers for maximum egg production, production rises to 78% (780 eggs daily).

Monthly improvement:

• Extra eggs: 180 per day × 30 days = 5,400 eggs
• Income increase: 5,400 eggs × N80 = N432,000 monthly
• Annual increase: N432,000 × 12 = N5,184,000

That’s over 5 million naira extra income yearly from better feeding times alone. No additional feed cost. Just better timing and consistency.

This calculation convinced Mr. Ebuka from Nteje to attend my training in 2022. He implemented everything. His annual profit increased by N3.8 million with 800 layers. He thanked me during our 2024 follow-up meeting.

Regional Considerations Across Nigeria

While I farm in Anambra, I’ve trained farmers from different zones. Climate affects the best time to feed layers for maximum egg production.

Southern Nigeria (Anambra, Imo, Abia, Rivers, etc.)

High humidity year-round. Temperatures moderate.

Stick to standard schedule:

• Morning: 6:00-6:30 AM
• Evening: 4:00-4:30 PM

Ensure proper ventilation. Humidity affects feed consumption more than pure heat.

Northern Nigeria

Extreme temperatures. Hot days, cool nights during dry season.

Adjust accordingly:

• Morning: 5:30-6:00 AM (very early)
• Evening: 5:30-6:00 PM (when temperature drops)

One trainer friend in Kaduna feeds even earlier during peak heat months. He starts at 5:00 AM when birds naturally wake up.

Middle Belt

Moderate climate most of the year.

Standard schedule works well. Adjust slightly during extreme weather periods.

Using Automatic Feeders

Modern technology helps maintain consistency. I installed automatic feeders in 2021.

Benefits I’ve experienced:

• Perfect timing even when I travel
• Reduced labor costs
• Less feed wastage
• Improved production consistency

My production rose from 78% to 83% after automation. Not because of the machine itself, but because timing became perfectly consistent.

However, automatic feeders cost N150,000-N400,000 depending on size and type. Small-scale farmers can start without them. Focus on personal discipline first.

Traditional Knowledge Meets Modern Science

My grandfather raised chickens. He fed them “when the sun touched the palm tree” (around 6:30 AM) and “when shadows grew long” (around 4:30 PM).

He didn’t know about circadian rhythms or digestive physiology. But his timing was perfect. His chickens laid well.

Modern research proves what traditional farmers knew through observation. The best time to feed layers for maximum egg production aligns with natural patterns observed over generations.

I blend both approaches. Traditional wisdom guides my intuition. Science confirms and refines it. My students get the best of both worlds.

Troubleshooting Poor Production Despite Good Timing

Sometimes, you do everything right but production stays low. Here’s my diagnostic approach:

Check feed quality first: Get it tested. I’ve seen mills mix below-standard ingredients.

Examine birds physically: Look for parasites, pale combs, or other health issues.

Review water supply: Is water clean? Available all day? Cool enough?

Assess stress factors: New sounds nearby? Predator attacks at night? Overcrowding?

Check age distribution: Mixed-age flocks produce unevenly. Separate by age if possible.

Last month, Mr. Chidi called me. His feeding times were perfect. Production was only 55%. We visited together. Discovered his water source was contaminated. Fixed that, production jumped to 74% in two weeks.

Feeding time matters, but it’s one part of a complete system.

Training and Support Resources in Nigeria

Learning never stops in agriculture. I recommend these resources:

Nigeria Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS): They provide free training and updated research. Website: https://naerls.gov.ng

National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA): Government support programs for farmers. Website: https://nalda.gov.ng

Agricultural Development Programs (ADP): Each state has an ADP office. Visit for local support and training.

I also conduct quarterly workshops in Oyi and surrounding areas. Many farmers in Anambra and beyond have benefited. Contact through local agricultural extension officers if interested.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I feed my layers only once per day?

Single daily feeding stresses layers’ digestive system. They overeat at once, leading to poor nutrient absorption and digestive problems. Production typically drops 15-30% compared to twice-daily feeding. I tested this in 2018 with a control group. The single-fed birds produced 62% while twice-fed birds reached 81%. Split feeding also reduces competition and ensures weaker birds get adequate nutrition.

Can I feed layers at different times on weekends?

Inconsistency confuses birds and disrupts their biological rhythms. While occasional variations of 30 minutes won’t cause disaster, regular weekend changes reduce production noticeably. If weekends require different timing, shift by maximum 1 hour and keep it consistent every weekend. Birds will adapt to this pattern. Mr. Sunday from Onitsha tried weekend variation. His Monday-Tuesday production dropped 10-15% weekly until he maintained consistency.

How does the best time to feed layers for maximum egg production change during molting?

During molting, layers need less feed since egg production stops temporarily. However, maintain the same feeding times (6:00-6:30 AM and 4:00-4:30 PM). Just reduce quantity by 20-30%. Consistent timing helps birds resume production faster after molting completes. I’ve observed birds with consistent molting schedule return to 70% production within 3 weeks post-molt compared to 5-6 weeks for inconsistently fed birds.

Should I adjust feeding times if my layers free-range during the day?

Free-range layers still benefit from scheduled feeding times. Feed them at 6:00-6:30 AM before releasing them, and again at 4:00-4:30 PM when they return. They’ll supplement with forages, insects, and greens during free-range time. This combines benefits of natural feeding with nutritional assurance from commercial feed. Mrs. Ngozi from Nkpor runs a successful free-range operation using this method with 78% production.

What is the relationship between feeding time and egg shell quality?

Calcium absorption happens best when layers are calm and not stressed. Evening feeding provides calcium that birds use overnight for shell formation. Poor timing can lead to soft shells or thin shells even with adequate calcium in feed. I recommend ensuring evening feed has slightly higher calcium content. Also, provide oyster shells free-choice. Birds instinctively eat calcium when needed if available throughout the day.

How do I know if my current feeding time is affecting production?

Track production for 2 weeks with current schedule. Record daily egg count, feed consumption, and feeding times. Then adjust to recommended schedule (6:00-6:30 AM and 4:00-4:30 PM). Continue tracking for 6-8 weeks. Compare results. Also watch bird behavior. Properly timed feeding reduces fighting around feeders and creates calmer flock. Calculate feed conversion ratio (kg feed per kg eggs). Improvement indicates better timing is working.

Can automatic feeders replace manual feeding for maintaining best feeding times?

Automatic feeders excel at consistency, which is critical for the best time to feed layers for maximum egg production. They eliminate human error and forgetfulness. However, they require electricity or battery backup, regular maintenance, and initial investment. If budget allows, I recommend them for farms above 500 birds. For smaller operations, personal discipline works equally well. I used manual feeding for 6 years before automating. Both methods work if you maintain consistency.

Does feed type affect what time I should feed my layers?

Feed quality matters more than timing adjustment. Whether using mash, pellets, or crumbles, maintain the same feeding schedule (6:00-6:30 AM and 4:00-4:30 PM). However, pellets digest slightly faster than mash. Some farmers give pellets in morning for quick energy and mash in evening for slower overnight digestion. I’ve tested both approaches. The difference is minimal (2-3% production variance). Focus on consistent timing and quality ingredients rather than manipulating feed forms for timing advantages.

Final Thoughts

The best time to feed layers for maximum egg production isn’t complicated. It’s about consistency, understanding your birds, and respecting their natural rhythms.

After eight years of practical experience in Oyi, training hundreds of farmers, and managing my own profitable operation, I can confidently say timing makes a huge difference.

Feed between 6:00-6:30 AM and 4:00-4:30 PM. Adjust slightly for season and region. Stay consistent. Watch your production rise.

Remember Mr. Chukwuka from the beginning? His success story can be yours. It starts with one simple decision: commit to proper feeding times starting tomorrow morning.

Your layers are waiting. Your bank account will thank you.