Calcium intake in relation to ovulation and oviposition when access to oyster shell is time-restricted or unrestricted.

White Leghorn hens were fed either a conventional diet containing 40 gCa/kg from oyster shell, or one low in Ca (3 g/kg) with oyster shell offered separately. In experiment 1 access to oyster shell was unrestricted; in experiment 2. Access was time-restricted to the first 6 h of the photophase of the 14L:10D photoperiod. Irrespective of time-restriction, hens offered oyster shell laid heavier eggs, but shell thickness was reduced. On days on which only ovulation occurred, time-restricted hens consumed significantly less Ca than unrestricted hens. In contrast, on days on which only oviposition occurred, time-restricted hens consumed significantly more Ca than unrestricted hens. These results suggest that when access to oyster shell is time-restricted to morning hours Ca consumption occurs in response to a Ca deficit persisting from the previous period of shell calcification.