Effect of Different Storage Periods and Temperatures on the Hatchability of Broiler Breeder Eggs

Temperature and humidity have been the two most common variables used to manipulate the storage environment of hatching eggs. To ascertain the effects of different egg storage periods and temperatures on hatchability; 400 eggs were obtained from a broiler breeder flock of 32 weeks of age on a single day collection basis. These eggs were randomly divided into 5 equal groups of 80 eggs each. After collection these were cleaned, fumigated and stored on four temperatures viz 4°C, 16°C, room temperature (25°C) and ambient temperature (29°C). Each group was further subdivided into 4 replicates having 20 eggs each. Eggs of Group A (control) were set in incubator with temperature of 37.5°C and relative humidity 60% after the storage of one day. Eggs of rest of the four groups were set in the incubator after the storage of 3, 6, 9 and 12 days. Subsequently, these were shifted to hatchers on 18th day where the temperature and humidity were maintained at 36.5°C and 75%, respectively. The data on hatchability and dead-in-shell embryos for various groups were recorded. The results revealed that as the storage period increased at different temperatures, the hatchability decreased significantly (P 0.01). Similarly, as the storage time increased, the percentage of dead-in-shell embryos increased (P 0.01).