Interrelationships Among Time of Oviposition, Egg Weight, Shell Weight, and Rate of Egg Production of Laying Hens

Abstract

Abstract A total of 7,273 eggs laid by 270 Hisex Brown hens for 31 days, beginning at 29 weeks of age, was identified individually. Each egg was recorded for time of oviposition, and egg and shell weights were measured. The average time of oviposition of all eggs was 0940 ± 0226 hr (mean ± SD) and the average egg weight and shell weight were 55.1 ± 3.6 and 5.24 ±.43 g, respectively. Eggs laid early in the morning were heavier than those laid later during the day. Egg weight decreased thereafter and remained relatively constant after 0930 hr. Shell weights decreased during the morning and gradually increased again in the afternoon. Hens with higher rates of production tended to lay earlier and showed less variation in time of oviposition. No consistent relationship was found between production rate and egg weight or shell weight. A positive correlation (r = .54) was found between egg weight and shell weight.