Poultry Judging Practice Test

What hormone is known to stimulate the laying of eggs in hens?

1. Estrogen

2. Oxytocin

3. Progesterone

4. Testosterone

The correct answer is: Oxytocin

The hormone that plays a crucial role in stimulating the laying of eggs in hens is estrogen. Estrogen is responsible for the development of the reproductive tract and the regulation of the ovulation process in female birds. During the reproductive cycle, increased levels of estrogen promote the growth of follicles in the ovaries and trigger the release of eggs. Oxytocin, while a significant hormone in various reproductive functions in mammals, does not primarily stimulate egg-laying in hens. Similarly, progesterone is associated with maintaining pregnancy in many species, including birds, but it does not trigger the initiation of egg-laying. Testosterone is primarily involved in male reproductive functions and not directly in the egg-laying process in hens. Therefore, understanding these hormonal roles clarifies why estrogen is the correct hormone associated with stimulating egg-laying in hens.