Preventing broodiness in turkey hens with a dopamine receptor blocking agent.

Pimozide, a dopamine receptor blocking agent, was administered to turkey hens which were judged, on the basis of an increased nesting frequency, to be in transition between the laying and broody phases of a reproductive cycle. Treatment of hens with pimozide, either by subcutaneous injection or oral administration significantly decreased daily nest visits and significantly increased daily egg production compared to control hens. However, when hens were given pimozide twice weekly for 8 weeks without regard to nesting frequency, no treatment effect was discernable. Thus, the efficacy of pimozide's effect on broodiness is related to time of administration during the reproductive cycle.