Induction of maternal behavior and some hormonal and physiological correlates in the domestic hen

The manifestation of maternal behavior and the variations of plasmatic levels of gonadic hormones (testosterone, delta 4-androstenedione, and 17 beta-estradiol) have been studied in two groups of domestic hens (layers and nonlayers) during a forced adoption experiment. Maternal behavior appears later in actively laying hens than in nonlayers. The former hens show a higher level of androgens (T and delta 4). The appearance of typical maternal behavior coincides with a pause in laying and a decrease in all the plasmatic steroid levels measured.