Phenotypic and genetic correlation between egg characters and embryo and chick weights of Alexandria and Fayoumi chickens.

At the Poultry Research Centre of Alexandria University phenotypic and genetic correlations were estimated on the basis of dam averages of three populations between egg quality features, embryo and chick weights. The relationships of individual egg weight, shell weight, and shell thickness as well as the egg shape on the one hand and the embryo weight at 6, 12, and 18 days of age on the other hand were weak and exhibited no uniform trend. The correlations between egg weight and chick weight were also low. The genetic correlations between shell weight and shell thickness and the chick weight up to the eighth week were even negative.