The Influence of Egg Weight on the Pre-Hatching and Post-Hatching Growth Rate in the Fowl

FOR years it has been known that egg weight exerts a control on the weight of baby chicks at hatching time. A small egg produces a small chick, large egg produces a large chick. One would be apt to assume that such a start in life extends back into embryonic development prior to the hatching of the egg. Further, one might assume that any disadvantage suffered by the chick hatched from a small egg would be continued on through to maturity. Evidence was presented by Benjamin (1920), Hablersleben and Mussehl (1922), Upp (1928), Graham (1931), and Munroe and Kosin (1940) which showed a highly significant, positive relationship between egg weight and chick weight at hatching time. Jull and Quinn (1925) reported an influence of egg weight on body weight differences between male and female chicks, but contrasting results were published by Munroe and Kosin (1940) who used percent of egg . . .