Reproductive performance of three strains of chickens in colony-cage and floor-pen environments.
Genetic strains, ages, and housing environments were studied for their effects of egg production, gains in weight and fertility over an eight-week interval.  Rate of egg production in small floor pens was clearly superior to that in high-density, commercial type colony cages.  Fertility was influenced by all major variables and by interactions among some of them.  One genetic stock was clearly superior to two others.  Differences between strains were more clearly evident in the rigorous colony-cage environment than in floor pens.  Fertility in colony cages was lower than in floor pens over the eight-week test, but the difference decreased with time.  Young males had higher fertility than older ones.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004531:Eggs; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition; D012098:Reproduction; D012737:Sex Factors