The table below shows experimental data from poultry scientists. Examine the table to answer
the following questions.
Oviposition time, egg weight, chicken hatch weight and hatch weight/egg weight from young
and mid-age broiler breeder flocks.
Flock
age Oviposition
time (h) n Egg
weight (g) Chicken hatch
weight (g) Chicken hatch weight/
egg weight (%)
Young Early 168 59.3±0.2a 38.8±0.2a 65.4
Middle 168 58.2±0.3b 37.8±0.3b 65.0
Late 168 58.7±0.1b 38.1±0.2b 64.9
Total 504 58.9±0.1 38.3±0.1 65.0
Mid Early 252 66.8±0.2a 45.8±0.2a 68.6
Middle 252 65.5±0.2b 44.0±0.3b 67.2
Late 252 66.0±0.2b 43.2±0.2c 65.5
Total 756 66.1±0.1 44.1±0.1 66.7
3) Which hypothesis were the poultry scientists likely testing?
A) The time of egg laying (oviposition) has an impact on egg weight.
B) Bigger eggs result in larger mature chickens.
C) Young hens have a harder time laying eggs than do older hens.
D) Egg weight is related to the weight of the hatchling (newly hatched chick).
4) What are (is) the main factor(s) causing differences between the chick hatch weight and the
weight of the egg when it is laid?
A) The only factor that causes the chick to weigh less than the egg when it is laid is the removal
of the shell.
B) Not only does the hatchling have no shell, but it has lost some of its mass (weight) to the air
during development.
C) During development, the chick gains new parts so the weight increases.
D) Egg weight at oviposition includes a lot of water that evaporates during development.