Poultry Judging Practice Test

What determines the number of potential eggs a chicken can lay?

1. Age of the chicken

2. Number of functioning follicles

3. Environmental conditions

4. Diet of the chicken

The correct answer is: Number of functioning follicles

The number of potential eggs a chicken can lay is primarily determined by the number of functioning follicles. Follicles are small sacs within the ovary that contain developing eggs. Each hen is born with a finite number of these follicles, and as she matures, some of them develop into ova (egg yolks) that can be ovulated and laid as eggs. The rate at which a hen lays eggs is influenced by the availability and development of these follicles; once a follicle is released, a new one begins to mature. Therefore, hens with a greater number of functioning follicles have the potential to produce more eggs. While age, environmental conditions, and diet can all have an impact on a hen's overall health and egg-laying performance, they do not change the inherent number of follicles that a hen possesses. Age affects the maturity of these follicles and overall laying performance, while environmental conditions and diet can influence the frequency and quality of egg production, but they are not the primary determinant of the number of eggs that can potentially be laid.