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Body weight at the age of 5 weeks is a key indicator of proper pullet rearing and high productivity. Achieving this target requires timely access to high-quality feed in sufficient amounts. Modern egg-laying crosses are highly demanding in terms of nutrient supply. Feed intake in the first days of life is low, while nutrient requirements are at their highest.

After placement, feed intake should begin as soon as possible. To ensure that the chicks have started consuming both feed and water, crop fill should be monitored. A full, soft, and rounded crop indicates that chicks have access to both feed and water. If the crop is full but the texture of the feed can be felt, this indicates insufficient water intake.

From birth to 12 weeks, feeding should be directed towards achieving the upper range of the target body weight. This will enable good skeletal and gastrointestinal tract development. After 12 weeks, prevent excessive weight gain to avoid the accumulation of abdominal fat. During the growing period, diet changes should only be made once target body weight has been achieved.

When rearing layers, weigh the birds weekly from 0–30 weeks of age and before any planned diet changes. The flock should be approximately 90% uniform.

The starter diet for chicks aged 1–8 weeks should contain sources of easily digestible protein, essential amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, energy, vitamins, and minerals so that free-feeding chicks do not experience a deficiency in essential nutrients.

During the development period from 8 to 18 weeks, the diet should support achievement of target body weight, promote proper feeding behaviour, ensure digestive tract development, and maintain good flock uniformity. The nutrition should support uniform development of the crop, skeleton, reproductive organs, and medullary bone tissue of tubular bones, which is essential for achieving and maintaining high productivity.

From 18 weeks onwards, a laying hen production diet is introduced, which provides laying hens with amino acids for growth and performance, as well as calcium for shell formation, when feed intake remains relatively low and the hens have not yet reached adult body weight. By 28 weeks, laying hens are still growing, so the protein requirement for further growth is combined with the requirement for egg production.

From week 46 onward, a second phase laying hen diet is introduced, which ensures sustained high egg production, but has a cost-effective formulation. During this period, body weight gain is minimal. The requirement for high amino acid levels is reduced.