Effect of environment on the intake of food and water, body weight, egg production and plasma concentrations of corticosterone and prolactin in turkey hens

During the first 4 weeks of egg production, there were no differences in the plasma concentrations of prolactin and corticosterone, egg production, body weight and the consumption of food and water between turkey hens which were maintained in cages or in floor pens. The plasma concentration of prolactin increased to the same extent in both environments during the period of peak egg production. A further rise in concentration of prolactin occurred in association with the termination of oviposition in 15 of the 19 hens which stopped laying eggs. Prolactin appeared to be progonadal and then antigonadal, once a threshold concentration was exceeded. This threshold value was higher in caged turkey hens. After laying ended, high concentrations of prolactin in hens maintained in cages were not maintained in the absence of a stimulus or stimuli associated with the nests.