The study was conducted to investigate the effect of some body
measurements at 6 weeks of age on productive performance. A number of112 pullets
of Inshas strain were individually weighed with measuring shank, thigh and keel
lengths at 6 weeks of age. Data on shank, thigh and keel lengths were classified into
three groups: short, medium and long lengths. At 20 weeks of age pullets were
transferred to individual layer cages until 40 weeks of age. At 36 weeks of age one
egg was broken from each hen to determine egg quality traits. The pullets of short thighs recorded (P< O. 05) earlier sexual maturity, while
medium thighs recorded (P < 0.05) heavier body weight at sexual maturity than those
of other lengths. Pullets of short shanks produced (P < 0.05) more eggs, higher egg
mass and rate of laying than those of other lengths. However medium keel length
pullets produced (P < O. 05) more eggs, higher egg mass and rate of laying than the
other two groups. Shank length was negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with each of egg
number, egg mass and rate of laying, while thigh length was positively (P < 0.01)
correlated with age at sexual maturity. Long shank pullets produced (P < 0.05) eggs of
higher values of Haugh unit than those of other shank lengths, while short thighs
pullets produced (P< 0.05) eggs higher in values of yolk percentage than the other
two groups. It could be stated that it is possible to predict the productive performance
by using shank length at 6-weeks of age for Inshas strain. Conclusively, it could be concluded that short shank length may be a good
indicator of high egg production traits of Inshas as a new local strain of chickens.