Incidence of Parthenogenetic Development in Eggs Laid by Three Strains of Dark Cornish Chickens

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Abstract
Infertile eggs from 3 strains of virgin Dark Cornish pullets were examined either microscopically at laying or macroscopically after 9-10 days incubation to determine the relative incidence of parthenogenetic development. Results were recorded on both an egg basis and a bird basis, i.e. the number of eggs which showed parthenogenetic development in the total number of eggs laid, and the number of hens which laid 1 or more eggs showing parthenogenetic development in the total number of hens tested. On a bird basis, 100% of Strain A, 83% of Strain B, and 56% of Strain C produced parthenogenetic eggs. Also 63.6% of Strain A, 33.3% of Strain B, and 7.3% of Strain C produced eggs showing parthenogenetic development after 9-10 days incubation. Corresponding figures for the same groups on an egg basis were 100%, 66%, and 43% respectively at laying and 3.9%, 0.66%, and 0.38% after incubation. These data indicate that the incidence of parthenogenesis may vary not only in different strains, but also that the observed incidence may vary with different techniques of observation and different times at which these observations are made.

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