Egg Components in the Fayomi Fowl During the First Laying Year

THE weight of the egg and its components are highly influenced by domestication, environmental (season, nutrition and management) and genetical factors. The egg components are also controlled by other factors such as the weight of pullet, egg weight, the sequence of laying and the laying cycle. High environmental temperature and sudden changes in temperature decrease egg size while low temperature has no effect on egg size. Seasonal variation in albumen and shell percentage is higher than in yolk. REVIEW OF LITERATURE In wild birds, the egg’s weight ranges from 0.5 gm. in the hummingbird to 1.4 kgms. in the ostrich. In domesticated birds, the egg weight ranges from 17 gm. in the pigeon to 200 gm. in the goose (Tarchanoff, 1884; Groebles and Mobert, 1927; Asmundson, Baker and Emlen, 1943). Large birds lay relatively small eggs in relation to their body size, whilst small birds lay relatively large eggs… .