Abstract
The use of a broody hen treatment program resulted in an additional 13 eggs/hen over a 180-day production period in a randombred control population (RBC1) expressing a large amount of broody behavior and in a randombred control population (RBC2) showing a moderate amount of broodiness. The average gain in egg production obtained by treating hens for broodiness ranged from 5 to 21 eggs/hen in different years.Hens from medium-bodied and large-bodied lines were either not treated for broodiness (control), treated only from 4 to 8 weeks of production (partial broodiness; PB), or treated from 4 weeks of production throughout the entire laying period (full broodiness; FB). The medium-bodied lines originated from the RBC1 line, while the large-bodied lines were from the RBC2 line. Egg production of the PB hens from the medium-bodied lines did not differ (P>.05) from the controls. On the other hand, egg production of PB hens from the large-bodied lines did not differ (P>.05) from that of the FB hens. Treatment of broody hens had only minor effects on intensity of lay. The total days lost from broodiness decreased, and the effective length of the laying period increased with the FB treatment. The gains in egg production obtained by the FB treatment of the medium-bodied and large-bodied hens were 22 and 25 eggs/hen, respectively, when compared to the control groups.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
