The characterization of the follicular hierarchy and the expression of the mRNA for the inhibin/activin subunits was investigated in the follicles of 2 lines of turkey hens selected for over 40 generations for increased egg production (Egg line) or increased body weight (Growth line). The follicular hierarchies of 6 hens from the Egg and Growth lines were characterized in middle (45 wk of age) ...

Osteoporosis in laying hens has been a production and welfare concern for several decades. The objective of this study was to determine whether differing opportunities for exercise during pullet rearing influences long-term bone quality characteristics in end-of-lay hens. A secondary objective was to assess whether differing opportunities for exercise in adult housing systems alters bone qualit...

Four trials were conducted to evaluate whether prior infection with Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium (S. typhimurium) or Salmonella enterica serovar muenchen (S. muenchen) would modify the severity or the transmission of Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis (S. enteritidis) challenge in hens undergoing molt via feed withdrawal. Hens were separated into two groups where one group recei...

Dopamine (DA) and corticosterone (CORT) are involved in regulating animals’ response to stress. The objective of this study was to examine whether alterations of DA concentrations and adrenal function are associated with behavioral response to social stress in two strains of White leghorns hens that were selected for high (HGPS) and low (LGPS) group productivity and survivability resulting from...

Tight junctions in the mucosal epithelium have essential roles as a mucosal barrier to prevent invasion of microbes into the hen oviduct tissue. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the egg-laying phase and estradiol on the expression of tight junction molecule "claudins" in the lower oviductal segments in hens. White Leghorn laying and molting hens were used. Molting hens were...

Public concern about the welfare of hens kept in conventional cages has become an important issue worldwide. This study examined the effects of conventional cages (CC) and floor pens (FP) on hens’ health and egg production. A total of 84 19-wk-old Bovan Brown hens were randomly assigned into 2-bird cage (n = 12), providing 968 cm2 floor space per hen or 10-bird floor pens (n = 6), providing 371...

Adult White Leghorn hens (Hy-Line strain W-36) were inoculated with either northern fowl mites or chicken body lice, and the ectoparasite populations were monitored over periods of 9 to 16 wk. Two beak conditions (beak trimmed or beak intact) and 2 housing densities (1 or 2 hens per 25 × 31 cm suspended wire cage) were tested. Populations of both ectoparasites were at least 10 times lower on be...

Both stocking rate and housing systems are main factors influencing the occurrence of feather pecking in laying hens raised in conventional cage system. This study examines the effects of different type of cage and stock density on feather pecking behaviour in hens. Total of 216 Hisex Brown hens at 16 weeks of age were randomly selected and put into 2 types of battery cages: conventional cages ...

The changes in egg production, in broodiness index and in plasma concentrations of LH, prolactin, oestradiol and progesterone were monitored throughout the first period of laying in turkey hens. The hens were subsequently classified according to their ability to express broodiness (33%) and their laying persistency; 25% were out-of-lay by the end of the experiment. A high percentage (67%) of th...

The influence of timing of artificial insemination on fertility and hatchability of breeder hens was carried out by inseminating breeder hens at 10:00 hr and 15:00 hr with pooled semen from Shikabrown White breeder cocks for four weeks. Fertile eggs were collected two days after the first insemination and stored at a temperature of 16 C for seven days before incubation. Fertility was higher (P ...