Characteristics of oviposition patterns of turkey hens and the influence of different wavelengths of light

Abstract

1. Characteristics of individual oviposition patterns of turkey breeder hens were determined for 160 d of photostimulation with fluorescent blue, green or red light and with incandescent light. 2. In all treatments most eggs were laid during the afternoon and evening. The maximum frequency occurred at 14.00 to 15.00 h (8 to 9 h after light onset); about 15% of all eggs were laid in the dark period. 3. The hourly oviposition distribution remained unchanged and was specific to individual hens throughout the study period. However, it was highly variable between hens, ranging from highly dispersed to tightly clustered. 4. The total number of clutches per hen did not differ between treatments and eggs were laid in relatively short clutches; 65% were of two eggs or fewer, 30% of three to 5 eggs and only 5% of 6 eggs or more. 5. The oviposition time of the first egg in a clutch was very variable; however, oviposition time became more clustered and uniform as the position of the egg in a clutch increased. 6. Mean time of lay, mean interval between eggs and total lag time were not influenced by light treatment. Mean interval was about 27 h for all eggs and was not influenced by clutch size. 7. Light quality at the intensity used in this study did not appear to play an important role in oviposition patterns of turkey hens.

Circadian Rhythm of the Preovulatory Surge of Luteinizing Hormone and Its Relationships to Rhythms of Body Temperature and Locomotor Activity in Turkey Hens1

“…First, the period between intra-sequence surges was 25.7 h on a 14L: 10D lighting schedule, but it was 27.9 h on constant light. The interval between LH surges is in general agreement with Pyrzak and Siopes [27], who reported intrasequence oviposition intervals ranging between 25.7 and 27.6 h in commercial laying turkey hens throughout a production period of 160 days. Second, re-entrainment of laying turkeys to a 14L:10D lighting schedule synchronized LH surges in 7 of 8 hens (the exception being bird C-3, Fig.…”

“…In laying turkey hens, however, this restraint may be quite variable in comparison to that of laying egg-type chicken hens. Laying domestic turkey hens have been reported to have considerable variation in the 24-h distribution of ovipositions with a photoschedule of 16L:8D [27]. Some hens showed a ''dispersed'' pattern in the frequency distribution of ovipositions, and other hens showed a ''clustered'' pattern in the frequency distribution of ovipositions.…”

“…Some hens showed a ''dispersed'' pattern in the frequency distribution of ovipositions, and other hens showed a ''clustered'' pattern in the frequency distribution of ovipositions. The hens maintained the clustered or dispersed pattern in the frequency distribution of ovipositions throughout the 160-day production cycle [27]. This is in contrast to the domestic chicken selected for egg production, in which most of the ovipositions are clustered [22,28].…”

Genetic relationships among time of egg formation, clutch traits and traditional selection traits in laying hens

“…The laying rhythm has been studied for several species of domestic fowls, for instance laying hens (Lillpers and Wilhelmson, 1993;Luc et al, 1996, Bednarczyk et al, 2000, ducks (Simmons and Hetzel, 1983), geese (Rosinski et al, 2006) and turkeys (Pyrzak and Siopes, 1989). In general, the results seem to be promising.…”

Laying pattern parameters in broiler breeder hens and intrasequence changes in egg composition

“…For these sequences, high values of mean cumulative lag were recorded. Pyrzak and Siopes (1989) considered that oviposition time in long sequences and the last oviposition in the sequence are better controlled at the physiological level than for eggs laid in short sequences and at the start of sequence. The results lead us to conclude that egg collection at the initial period of reproduction in broiler breeder hens should precede the beginning of the photoperiod.…”