Abnormally Small Egg Size Observations

Abstract

Four hens, of the Athens-Canadian randombred population, described by Hess (1962) and maintained at the Southern Regional Poultry Genetics Laboratory, were noted when eleven months of age laying eggs weighing approximately 35 grams each. These hens were first observed when the eggs from approximately 300 hens were set for reproducing the next generation of randombreds.In tracing the pedigrees, hens number 277 and 554 were full sisters and 446 a half sib. The fourth bird, number 373, was not closely related to the other three.Of 25 eggs set, none hatched but most of them were fertile and showed very early embryonic mortality. Subsequent freshly laid eggs were broken and total egg weight was recorded, as well as that of the shell, yolk and albumen. Eighty-five eggs from four hens were observed and the average egg weight was 36.60 grams. The averages, in grams, for the parts were shell 4.58; …