APPLYING THERMAL TREATMENTS TO CHICKEN HATCHING EGGS DURING STORAGE AND THE EFFECTS ON HATCHABILITY

R. Bogdan

Abstract
   Eggs incubation delay leads to lower hatching performance and weaker chick. The study was performed on ROSS 308 breeder eggs and followed the fertility and the impact of storage time on hatchability (A series), with decrease of hatchability with increase of storage time, from 80.77% (7 days) to 62.96% (21 days). The research in series A was based on results obtained from 936 eggs, spread over storage times (7, 14, 21 days) at 16°C, RH% 75%. Series B, followed the impact of thermal treatments applied to eggs during storage (7, 14, 21 days), on hatchability. Thermal treatment required egg exposure to 37.5°C for 120, 180 and 240 min. Three types of thermal treatments were applied, once for 7 days egg storage, 3 times for 14 days, 5 times for 21 days. Each thermal period x treatment combination was performed on 234 eggs, resulting a total of 6,318 eggs. Combinations for 7 days storage did not bring statistically significant improvements, combination of 2 x 180 min. is recommended for 14 days storage and for 21 days storage the combinations of 4 x 180 min. and 4 x 120 min.

Key words: storage, eggs, thermal, treatment, hatchability