Hatching success and early performance of chicks from eggs sprayed with 2,4-D,2,4,5-T and picloram at various stages...

Aqueous solutions of 2,4-D, 2,4-5-T and picloram were sprayed on hens' eggs at 10x normal rate (11.2 kg/ha). Eggs used were stored prior to incubation over a 24 day period and application on each age egg occurred at the start as well as 4 and 18 days after the onset of embryonic development. No adverse effects on any parameter used to evaluate either incubation or subsequent live performance could be attributed to either spray treatment or embryonic age when applied. Although extended preincubation storage significantly reduced hatching success, it was independent of herbicide contact and germ stage when contaminated. Chicks derived from eggs stored 1--2 and 23--24 days before incubation performed comparably and were uninfluenced by all treatments during incubation.