Ontogeny of mating behavior in the chicken
Wilson, J.A.; Glick, B.
American Journal of Physiology 218(4): 951-955
1970
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9513 PMID: 5435427 Document Number: 21256
Eggs were injected with 1 mg testosterone propionate (TP) in sesame oil on days 6, 9, 11-15, or 18 of incubation. The chickens were injected i/m with l mg TP from the 25th to 48th day after hatching. Male mating behaviour was observed from the 41st to 48th day of age. Waltzing and mating attempts were significantly reduced in males hatched from eggs treated before the 13th day of incubation. Oestradiol benzoate interfered with normal male mating behaviour when injected into the egg prior to the 13th day of embryonic development. Thus the critical period for the chick occurs before the 13th day of embryonic development.