Bird Repro Flashcards
Male Bird Xsomal Sex
ZZ
Photoperiod (avian)
Long day stimulates LH-releasing hormone → stimulates FSH & LH
(emus are short day)
Avian Ovulation
Stimulated by LH surge
No post-ovulatory CL or CH
Ovum goes through split in stigma
Signs of Oviposition
(egg laying) Straining
Decr. defecation
Incr. fecal vol. (and smells nasty)
Wide-based stance
Avian Accessory Glands
They don’t have any!
Incubation (avian)
Decr. LH Incr. prolactin (stimulates production of milk crop in pigeons)
Development of brood patch (missing feathers)
Air Cell
Forms when yolk membrane & albumen separate after the egg is laid and cools down
Avian Epididymis
Usually not visible
Dorsomedial surface of testis
Relatively small
Factors Affecting Reproductive Status (avian)
Photoperiod
Rainfall
Presence of mate (males active first)
Vocalization
Nesting area
Osteomyelosclerosis
Ossification of the marrow in long bones of female bird
Occurs before laying
Stimulated by androgens & estrogen
Medullary bone may replace up to 75% of marrow
Radiographic changes evident
Avian Juvenile Ovary (appearance)
Comma shaped
Dorsoventrally flattened
Brain-like appearance
Avian Follicular Regression
Rapidly regresses after ovulation → fills w/ hypertrophied, fatty granulosa cells → further regression
No post-ovulatory CL
Hypercalcemia (avian)
Incr. estrogen results in incr. plasma Ca++ for shell calcification
Dimorphic
Male & female are visually different
Ex. cockatiels, budgies
Oviposition
Egg laying (egg passes oviduct & out)
Avian Dystocia (Egg Binding)
Can occur @ any point in oviduct (usually uterus)
Adhesions may occur (requires surgical removal)
Tx: supportive care (incr. heat & humidity), Ca++, anesthesia, egg implosion, surgery)
Avian Ductus Deferens
Zigzag appearance during breeding season
Caudal border of testis to dorsal wall of cloaca
Opens into urodeum as short papilla
Monomorphic
Male & female are visually the same
Ex. most parrots
Indeterminate Layers
Will incr. production to replace lost eggs
Chronic Egg Laying
Constantly stimulated
Predisposes to dystocia, osteoporosis
Tx: remove stimulus, give leuprolide acetate (lupron) (GnRH analogue), remove oviduct/uterus (very difficult)
Avian Mature Ovary (appearance)
Tapioca-like appearance
May be melanistic (pigmented)
Avian Testes
Paired bean shape
Dorsal to caudal end of lung
Cranial margin of kidney
Yolk (avian)
Main source of nutrition for embryo
Avian Phallus
Not a penis!
Breed by cloacal touching
Avian Ovary (location)
Usually, only left side develops (exception: birds of prey, kiwi)
Caudal to lung
Cranial to kidney
Germinal Disc
Opaque, circular spot in egg
Infertile - solid spot Fertile - blastoderm, looks like donut
Female Bird Xsomal Sex
ZW
Puberty in Birds
Females mature before males
Domestic bred usually mature before wild caught
2mos-6yrs (variation w/ species)
Determinate Layers
Have a fixed number of eggs
Magnum (avian)
Longest section of oviduct
Majority of albumen deposited
