Cycling for Egg Production in the Pheasant

Abstract

Two groups of ring-necked Chinese Pheasants (Pbasianus colchicus torquatus) were cycled to lay in different periods of the year in two 12-week periods of egg production within one year, by subjecting the birds to alternating periods of stimulatory (16L:8D) and nonstimulatory (8L:16D) light. During each period of lay, six hens were mated to one male. Eggs were gathered three times daily and set in the incubator every 14 days. Following the onset of stimulatory light, the first egg was laid in 12 or 13 days, and 50% rate of lay was obtained in 9 to 14 days after lay of first egg. Hens cycled to lay during the spring months laid 8 or 9 more eggs per bird in their two cycles than did comparable birds starting their first cycle of lay during the summer months. Peak egg production was reached during the 4th and 5th weeks of lay for the second and first cycles, respectively, regardless of when lay was started. Average fertility and hatchability of eggs from hens cycled to lay their first egg during the spring months was about 6 to 7% higher than for comparable hens starting their first cycle in the summer months. Egg weight varied only slightly among periods of lay. Based on our results, a lighting regimen for cycling pheasants to lay on a year-round basis was proposed.