Relation of Time of Laying and Embryonic Mortality

A RELATION of time of laying to embryonic mortality has been reported by Hutt and Pilkey (1930). In their studies the eggs from two flocks during the hatching season of 1929 were used. Every egg was marked with the time it was taken from the trapnest and later incubated. These workers were able to demonstrate a significantly lower embryonic mortality from eggs laid before 9 a.m. in comparison with eggs laid after 12 noon. This difference was greatest in March and did not appear after April 15. Embryonic abnormalities were lowest in eggs before 9 a.m. and increased gradually with eggs laid during the day. Hutt and Pilkey believe that the eggs laid before 9 a.m. are more likely to carry embryos developed beyond the critical period prior to or early in gastrulation because of longer retention within the hen’s body. The writer using the method of these investigators and . . .