EFFECTS OF AGE ON EGG NUMBER AND WEIGHT IN CHICKENS

Abstract

The study was conducted at Federal College of Forestry, Jos. The objective of the study was to determine effects of age on egg number and egg weight in chickens. A total of 500 pullets were obtained from a reputable hatchery in Ilorin and received in Jos. They were brooded for six (6) weeks during which all recommended vaccines were and antibiotics were administered, they were further transferred to battery cage at fourteen weeks (14). Records were taken daily for total feed consumed per bird per day by weighing feed left over, mortality, egg lay, weight of egg (egg weight was measured using a digital scale) and clutch length. The experiment lasted for twenty (20) weeks from first day of lay. Birds were fed with predetermined weight of feed once a day. Commercial diet was used as the experimental diet. The result showed that a positive and strong significant (P ˂ 0.01) correlation was observed between age of hen and weight of eggs (r = 0.092). Weak positive correlation (P ˂ 0.01) was observed between age of hen and number of eggs (r = 0.017). From the finding of this study, it was concluded that, there was a positive relationship between age of birds and egg number. Positive relationship also exist between age of birds and egg weight. However it should also be noted that the correlation between age and egg weight was stronger than the correlation between age and egg number. Further research was recommended.