Hatching Egg Storage Effects on Hatchability and Subsequent Performance of the Domestic Fowl

FREQUENTLY the pre-incubation holding period for hatching eggs is prolonged to accommodate the poultry breeder by permitting an increase in family size and to provide greater inventory flexibility for the commercial hatchery operator. Becker (1960), Bohren et al. (1961), Kosin (1964) and Arora and Kosin (1966) reported some adverse effects of extended storage on hatchability and the subsequent performance of the domestic fowl. These adverse effects include reduced hatchability of the stored eggs and increased mortality and decreased body weight of chicks hatched from eggs which had been subjected to extended preincubation storage. Merritt (1964) reported these effects persisted and that extended pre-incubation time affected subsequent performance involving the traits, viability and body weight during the laying period of meat type stock. Similar reports on egg production stock appear to be lacking. Becker (1964) and Proudfoot (1964, 1966a, b) provided evidence that the magnitude of hatchability depression associated with storage . . .