Force Molting (Interruption of Egg Laying) in White Leghorn Hens by the Use of Enheptin (2-Amino, 5-Nitrothiazole)

A FORCE molt to the husbandman means to make hens stop egg laying. This is accomplished with variations in severity by radical diet changes, fasting, and darkness. The object of this practice is to switch the period of productivity in order to accrue later advantages. A procedure for causing molt is described in the Washington Extension Bulletin 323 (1947). It has been shown by Berg and Bearse (1947) that force molting results in the improvement of egg quality characteristics when comparing “just prior” and “after” molt eggs. The force-molted hens were not able to recover the level of pullet-year egg quality characteristics. Van der Meulen (1939) reporting on hormonal control of molt was able to force the molt by oral doses of desiccated pig thyroid. He showed that induced hyperthyroidism precipitates molt and interrupts egg production, the duration of which varies with the season. Previous reports by Hudson and Pino …