effect of fennel and thymus vulgaris extracts with and without flaxseed on performance and eggs quality of laying hens

this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of fennel and thymyus valgaris extracts with and without flaxseed on performance and egg quality of laying hens (hy line w-36). the experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 200 laying hens in 5 treatments and 5 replicates (with 8 hen in each replicate) for 12 weeks. the hens were fed isocaloric and iso nitrogenous diets according to nrc 1994 but differ in the plant extracts. the plant extracts used in this study consisted of an alcoholic extract of fennel and thyme that the value of 40 ml/kg feed was sprayed. the results of this study showed that egg production, egg mass and feed conversion ratio not significantly but feed consumption and egg weight has significantly effects (p>0/05).the index of yolk color in the group received thymyus valgaris and flaxseed was significantly different from other treatment groups (p<0/05). in entire period, haugh unit in the treatment contained thymyus valgaris was highest (p<0/05). the shell strength in diets contain plant extract was higher than control treatment (p<0/05). the egg weight in diets contain flaxseed significant difference than other treatments (p<0/05). the experimental diets has significantly effect on palmitic acid, estearic acid and linolenic acid values (p<0/05), but on oleic acid and linoleic acid has not significantly effect. the results of this experiment showed that extracts of thyme and fennel laying hens performance and egg quality factors and using flaxseed with thyme yolk fatty acids and cholesterol had improved.