Nevertheless, come the next Summer, the dove population is back at its original level, thanks to their prolific production of young. The female bird's reproductive tract shows striking differences from the mammal's in consequence. Avian Reproductive Pattern Avian reproduction has been best studied in the domestic chicken and turkeys, and the modern poultry industry rests on its complete understanding of the cycle and how to control it. Birds lay eggs in clutches . A clutch consists of one or more eggs, followed by a rest period of about a day, then another egg or eggs.
Clutch size is species-specific and is held within fairly tight limits.
A good domestic hen will lay five or more eggs in a clutch, with an interval of a day between clutches. Clutch size, as well as the numbers of clutches laid in a breeding season, will vary with species, but the principle is the same. The total time to form a new egg is about 25-26 hours. A commercial laying hen might have as much as a year or even two of active life during which she produces nearly an egg a day. But when her production level drops off all the fun and games are over, and it's off to the Campbell's factory for a date with the noodle soup man.