Study on the effect of some major environmental factors on the egg-laying capacity of free-range Guinea fowls (Numida meleagris)

A study was carried out on the egg productivity of pearl-gray guinea fowl of a local population for Bulgaria over two productive years. The birds were reared under the conditions of a semi-intensive free range production system. Using the regression analysis methods in combination with Principal Component Analysis (PCA), two models were developed - a Linear model and a Compound model, with the aim of studying the effect of the major meteorological factors (air temperature and humidity, wind speed, precipitation and cloud cover) on egg productivity. Different rates of response to the studied climatic factors were established depending on the age of the laying guinea fowl.