Methods to improve the hatchability of checked chicken eggs

Area of Science:

• Poultry Science
• Animal Husbandry
• Hatchery Management

Background:

• Shell damage in hatching eggs is a common issue affecting hatchability.
• Evaporative water loss through shell defects leads to embryonic dehydration.
• Previous methods for addressing shell damage have had limited success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of simple shell treatments in improving the hatchability of damaged hatching eggs.
• To assess the impact of shell damage and repair on embryonic development and chick weight.
• To determine the economic viability of shell treatment for hatching eggs.

Main Methods:

• Leghorn and broiler parent hatching eggs were intentionally checked (damaged).
• Shells were treated using synthetic adhesive resin (Fevicol), cellophane tape, or insulation tape.
• Hatchability rates, evaporative water loss, and relative chick weight were measured and compared to intact and untreated checked eggs.

Main Results:

• Shell treatment significantly improved hatchability in both Leghorn and broiler hatching eggs compared to untreated checked eggs.
• Untreated checked eggs showed increased evaporative loss and lower relative chick weight due to embryonic dehydration.
• Shell-treated eggs exhibited hatchability and relative chick weight comparable to intact eggs.

Conclusions:

• Simple shell treatments effectively mitigate the negative effects of checking on hatching egg viability.
• Repairing shell damage prevents excessive water loss, ensuring proper embryonic development.
• Shell treatment of checked hatching eggs offers a cost-effective method to reduce chick production costs, particularly for broiler parent stock.