Effects of Hatching Systems and Flock Ages on Incubation Results and Chick Quality in Broiler Eggs

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of 3 different hatching systems and 3 different flock ages on hatchability, embryo mortality, chick weight, hatching time, chick length and chick quality score. A total of 1350 eggs (450 from each flock) obtained from 30-week-old (Young: “G”), 40-week-old (Prime: “O”) and 55-week-old (Old: “Y”) parent flocks of Ross 308 genotype were used in the study. In 3 consecutive trials, eggs completed their development in the same machine (37.8 ºC temperature and 55% relative humidity) during the first 18 days of incubation. After the elimination of candling infertile eggs, the remaining eggs were transferred to brooder (B), brooder with hatcher (BH) and hatcher (H) hatching systems in equal numbers. In the last 3 days of incubation, the temperature was applied equally in all systems as 37.5 ºC. During the hatching period, relative humidity was 40% in B and 60% in BH and H. Eggs belonging to each group were marked as 8 replications and hatching results were analyzed accordingly. Chick characteristics were measured individually. While hatchability was highest in BH system (94.7%), B and H systems (90.5 and 90.4%) had similar means (P<0.01). According to flock age, hatchability was ranked from high to low as O (96.2%), G (94.8%) and Y (84.6%) (P<0.01). Late embryo mortality was lowest in BH system, again lowest in O age flocks (P<0.01). Hatching time was latest in H system and Y flock, while earliest hatching occurred in BH system and G flock (P<0.01). While the hatching system did not affect the chick weight (P>0.05), the lightest chicks were obtained from G flock (P<0.01). The highest chick length was obtained from BH system and O flock, while the lowest averages were found in H system and Y flock (P<0.05). There was no difference between flock ages in terms of chick quality score (P>0.05). According to the hatching systems, the quality score was calculated from high to low in BH (%97.1), H (%96.1) and B (%95.8) systems, respectively (P<0.01). As a result, it was determined that the best hatching system and flock age in terms of hatching results and chick quality was BH and O.