Environmental Effects on a Parthenogenetic Line of Chickens

Environmental effects were examined in a parthenogenetic stock of Dark Cornish chickens from 1967–1970. The highest frequencies of embryos were in April and May. Daily fluctuations were observed in the amount of parthenogenesis. Correlations of temperature with parthenogenesis, however, varied from year to year. No consistent correlations were obtained between parthenogenetic development and temperature lag periods. Neither immediate incubation nor cooling consistently influenced parthenogenetic development. Date of hatch appeared significant. Position in the clutch cycle was not significant. Setting eggs directly into the incubator compared with setting them in the cooler for three days showed the same amount of parthenogenetic development.