Our data suggest that the plasma concentration of corticosterone may not consistently reflect the tissue concentration of corticosterone in laying hens. Moreover, our data indicate that an increase in plasma corticosterone did not reflect the impact of the stressor on liver and skeletal muscle physiology; 2 tissues central to glucose metabolism. We observed variation in the relationship between plasma corticosterone, tissue corticosterone, and tissue function under acute and chronic conditions. This emphasizes that a more complete understanding of the dynamics of change in tissue corticosterone will enhance our ability to evaluate the impacts of stress in laying hens.