Influence of Cage Size and Frightening on Incidence of Body Checked Eggs

Little is known concerning the cause of body checked eggs. Romanoff and Romanoff (1949) suggested that body checks might be caused by birds becoming excited or being handled roughly. In a recent study, Wilson and Jones (1964) found that the incidence of body checks was slightly higher with three birds per cage as compared to one bird per cage. The purpose of this paper is to present evidence of a cage size effect and frightening on the incidence of body checks. Five experiments were conducted concerning the effect of cage size on the incidence of body checks. One thousand White Leghorn pullets were used in the study, 600 of which were in 8″×18″ wire cages and 400 in 10″×18″ cages. Eggs were collected in filler flats the day they were laid and candled for body checks the next day with an incandescent light. Eggs were considered…