Livestock Studies 2000, Vol 40, Num, 2     (Pages: 085-091)

The Effects of Paper Layers in Hatcher Trays on Late Embryonic Mortality and Chick Quality

Okan ELİBOL 1 ,Mesut TÜRKOĞLU 1

1 Ankara Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Zootekni Bölümü-ANKARA - The present study was conducted to determine the effects of using paper layers in the hatcher trays on late embryonic mortality and chick quality with respect to flock age. In the first experiment, eggs were collected from the flock of broiler breeders aged 33 and 55 wks. The second experiment was conducted with eggs collected from 35 and 65 wk-old flocks. In both experiments, eggs were divided into three groups at transfer time and were set in the hatcher trays covered with newspaper (Group I),thin paper (Group II) and the control group (empty tray-Group III) randomly .

Experiment 1 and 2, the percentage of hatchability of fertile eggs were decreased by using newspaper in the hatcher tray (P<0.05). The data suggest that after using newspaper, the trays would be more clean but it may prevent air flow for eggs or chicks . Keywords : Hatching eggs, hatchability, embryonic mortality, chick quality, paper