Abstract:
The proposed research project is being conducted at Kamalia Chicks and Kamalia Poultry Breeding Farms, Kamalia. Two thousand egg laying breeder female chicks along with males were purchased from market by the Industrial Partner (Co-PI). The birds were reared under standard management conditions. Complete data of production performance of the birds is being taken for the first production cycle. At the start of the premolt period, one thousand eight hundred breeder hens will be divided into twelve experimental units of 150 birds each. These experimental units will be allotted at random to feed deprivation, two levels of aluminum and control group, respectively. The birds will be monitored for body weight, molt scoring and hematological profile during induced molting. The performance data of layer breeder flock will be recorded accordingly in the second production cycle. The data thus collected will be subjected to statistical analysis.

Problem Statement:
The method most widely used for induced molting is to off feed the hens for 7 to 14 days in case of laying hens and layer breeder. Feed withdrawal results in severe stress, which lowers the immunity and increases mortality losses of the birds. Induced molting by feed withdrawal has been criticised vigorously by both animal welfare and food safety concerns. It is the need of the time that such molting policy be devised that will be acceptable to poultry farmers and animal friendly and having more potential than the existing feed withdrawal method. Keeping in view, present project was planned as an alternate strategy to feed withdrawal method, minimising stress, lowering mortality and devising non feed withdrawal induced molting method.
Objectives:

1. To determine production performance of layer breeder stock in the first production cycle.
2. To investigate the influence of induced molting techniques on postmolt performance of layer breeder stock.
3. Enhance research activities and to develop linkages with the poultry industry.
4. Work out the economics for the egg laying breeder hens in 1st and 2nd production cycle.

Methodology:
The proposed research project is being conducted at Kamalia Chicks and Kamalia Poultry Breeding Farms, Kamalia. Two thousand egg laying breeder female chicks along with males were purchased from market by the Industrial Partner (Co-PI). The birds were reared under standard management conditions. Complete data of production performance of the birds is being taken for the first production cycle.
At the start of the premolt period, one thousand eight hundred breeder hens will be divided into twelve experimental units of 150 birds each. These experimental units will be allotted at random to feed deprivation, two levels of aluminum and control group, respectively. The birds will be monitored for body weight, molt scoring and hematological profile during induced molting. The performance data of layer breeder flock will be recorded accordingly in the second production cycle.

Results and Discussions:
The data collection is in progress for the first production cycle and the results will be available in future.

Conclusions:
From the data of first and second production cycle, conclusions will be drawn later on.

Recommendations:
From the first and second production cycle data, recommendations will be made accordingly.