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ALTHOUGH the physiology of reproduction of the female domestic fowl has been very, carefully studied by a large number of investigators, relatively mew studies have been made with the male. Important contributions have been made in this field by Hutt (1929), Penquite, Craft, and Thompson (1930), Burrows and Quinn (1937), Burrows and Titus (1939), Munro (1935, 1938, and 1938a), and most recently by Sampson and Warren (1939). The purpose of these investigations was to obtain information concerning the sexual activity and sperm production in the male domestic fowl. EXPERIMENTAL The data presented herein are based upon observations with New Hampshire males which were hatched early in the spring of 1938. Unless otherwise indicated, the semen was collected by means of a semen collector especially devised for use in the studies (Parker, 1939). The males were all given 36 hours of sexual rest before they were released into a small enclosure . . .

THE development of the sex organs in the male domestic fowl is of concern to poultry breeders as well as scientific workers. During the late summer and fall months relatively large percentages of infertile eggs are often produced by matings in which yearling and older cocks are used. With an increasing tendency toward fall hatching in some sections this infertility results in considerable economic loss. The possibility of using early hatched cockerels as breeders makes it desirable to have information on the sexual development of young males. Additional data on the normal development of the sex organs of chicks should prove of some interest to the endocrinologist. The studies described herein constitute one phase of a project investigating some factors affecting the fertility of the domestic cock. The work was done at the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Studies of the development of testes and combs of male . . .

Published October 1951. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog