Effect of Ovarian Injury on Date of First Egg in Fowls

Previous papers by the author have shown that both ovarian and bodily injury caused certain fowls to lay more eggs. It was true also that other hens in the same experiment had their egg production retarded, hence a greater variability among the operated animals (Steggerda ’28 and ’30). In the present experiment the ovary of six-weeks old pullets was injured to note the effect upon the length of time until the first egg was laid. The results indicate a similar stimulation due to the operation since the operated pullets layed on the average sooner than did the control birds. The experiment was carried on at the Poultry Department of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, with birds owned by the College. The author wishes to express his thanks to Prof. J. C. Graham and Supt. John Vondell for the use of the birds and the keeping of the records, also to his . . .