On the Rhythm of Egg Production

Abstract

The subject matter of this paper presents some points of an investigation still in progress. The term rhythm of egg production is used rather than rate, in order to emphasize the rhythmical character of egg extrusion. Although true that the observed rhythm is by no means regular, still each hen often tends to produce eggs according to a fairly characteristic rhythm. Superimposed on the daily rhythm, are evidences of other rythms having a beat measured by months or years. Of course, from another standpoint egg production is a more or less continuous process. The Rhythm as Shown by the Time of Day the Egg is Laid:—The time of day at which the eggs have been collected from the trap nests has been recorded at half-hour intervals, and as they are collected at least every hour and a half, the time collected represents approximately the time when the egg was . . .