Hatching performance of Cryovac enclosed hatching eggs stored in a high humidity environment

Two trials were performed to assess hatching success of enclosing White Leghorn hatching eggs in Cryovac for 3 to 4 weeks in a storage environment in excess of 90% relative humidity. Three treatments in each trial were carried out: trial 1, no Cryovac and Cryovac packing 1 and 4 days after lay; trial 2, Cryovac packing 1, 4, and 7 days after lay. No significant differences were detected for hatching performance between either non-Cryovac packed eggs or the time they were Cryovac packed after lay. As storage time increased from 22 to 28 days, the average hatch of fertile eggs for all treatments in both trials declined linearly (P less than .01) from 81.7 to 71.0%. This decline was mainly due to the linear increase (P less than .01) in early embryo mortality (1 to 7 days) from 11.0 to 21.0%.