Effect of stinging nettle powder (Urtica dioica) supplementation on productive and physiological performance of laying hens.

This study investigated the effect of stinging nettle powder (SN) supplementation on productive and physiological performance of laying hens. A total of 72 Inshas strain laying hens (30 weeks old) were randomly distributed individually and divided into three treatment groups (n = 24 hens per treatment) with three replicates per treatment, 8 birds/ replicate. SN0 (the control), SN0.5%, and SN1%, respectively. Egg numbers were collected and weighed daily, and body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, egg production, and egg mass were measured and calculated monthly. Two internal and external egg quality, biological parameters, and some body parts’ weight from the carcass test, and the results were as follows: The productive performance was not affected by SN supplements nor the internal and external egg quality, except that shell thickness was significantly increased (p ≤ 0.001). Hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets were significantly increased (p ≤ 0.001). Additionally, plasma phosphorus levels increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05). In contrast, plasma enzymes (U/L) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid were decreased considerably (p ≤ 0.01) as a result of dietary interventions. In contrast, there was a notable rise in egg production, egg weight, and egg mass when 1% SN supplementation was added compared to control and 0.5% SN. Neither carcass traits nor some body parts were affected by SN supplements. Based on these findings, we propose that feeding laying hens 1% SN will enhance their egg quality and biochemical profile.