Broiler hatching eggs from two young (30 and 31 wk) or two old (52 and 53 wk) breeder flocks were stored for 3, 7, or 14 d at 18 C and 75% RH while being turned 0, 4, or 24 times per day in two experiments. Apparent fertility and hatchability of total eggs differed with flock age in both experiments, but the effect was greater in Experiment 1. Hatchability of total and fertile eggs were decreased with flock age in Experiment 1 (31 and 52 wk flocks), but only hatchability of total eggs was decreased in Experiment 2. Hatchability of fertile eggs declined with length of storage period in both experiments with the most obvious effect observed in eggs stored 14 d. There was an increase in percentages of early and late embryonic mortality with length of storage period in both experiments. Hatchability of fertile eggs was increased by turning 4 or 24 times per day during storage in Experiment 1 or by four times per day, with 24 times per day intermediate, in Experiment 2. There were no storage time x turning in storage interactions. A significant interaction of flock age x turning in storage for hatchability of fertile eggs in Experiment 1 suggested that eggs from an older broiler breeder flock that exhibit reduced fertility benefited more from turning during storage than did eggs from a young broiler breeder flock.

Two experiments, which included 3 incubators, were carried out to investigate the effects of egg weight and position relative to incubator (setter) fan on embryonic mortality, second quality chicks, and fertile hatchability of broiler eggs. Three egg weight groups termed small (approximately 62.4 g), average (approximately 65.4 g), and large (approximately 68.9 g) were set in either the incubator trolley most distant from the fan (FAR) or in the incubator trolley nearest the fan (NEAR) as would be the case during single-stage operation in this type of incubator. Fertile hatchability decreased in the large egg weight group due to increased percentage late embryonic mortality in experiment 1, and both percentage early and late embryonic mortality in experiment 2. Percentage late embryonic mortality and second quality chicks increased and percentage fertile hatchability decreased for eggs in the FAR position in experiment 1 only. A significant interaction of incubator position x egg weight group for late embryonic mortality, second quality chicks, and fertile hatchability was found in experiment 1, but only late embryonic mortality was so affected in experiment 2. Experiment 2 was conducted so that eggshell temperatures could be measured. Large eggs in the FAR position at transfer time (E 18) exhibited significantly higher eggshell temperatures than did the other groups probably because air velocity or air distribution was modified in the FAR position of the incubator and large eggs were most negatively influenced in the trolley in this position.

Two experiments were carried out to examine the interaction of egg storage period, egg position during storage, and turning frequency during subsequent incubation on fertile hatchability and embryonic mortality of broiler hatching eggs. Broiler hatching eggs from breeder flocks at 62 and 60 wk of age were stored for either 3 or 14 d at 18 degrees C and 75% RH in either the normal large end up or inverted small end up (SEU) position and then turned either 24 or 96 times daily to 18 d of incubation in 2 experiments. The longer storage period decreased fertile hatchability, whereas storage in the SEU position improved fertile hatchability in both experiments. There was a significant storage position x length of storage period interaction in both experiments due to better fertile hatchability for the SEU eggs stored 14 d but not 3 d. The 96-times turning frequency numerically improved fertile hatchability in both experiments. A significant storage period x turning frequency interaction in experiment 1 was related to a 6.6% increase in fertile hatchability of 14-d stored eggs due to increased turning frequency. A similar numerical increase of 4.9% was observed in experiment 2. These data show that the detrimental effects of a long storage period may be practically ameliorated by either storage in the SEU position or by an increased turning frequency during subsequent incubation.

The current study investigated the effect of chick body (rectal) temperature during the post-hatch handling period on body weight (BW) loss, yolk sac utilization, organ weights, and broiler live performance. Hatching eggs were obtained from a commercial flock of Ross 308 broiler breeders at 44 wk of age. A total of 384 chicks were separated into 3 groups during the 12 h post-hatch handling period: control, high and low temperature groups, with average body temperatures of 40.0, 42.6, and 38.1°C, respectively. Residual yolk sac weight was not affected by temperature group, whereas the weights of organs such as the heart, gizzard, proventriculus, and bursa of Fabricius were significantly lower in the high body temperature group than in the control and low body temperature groups. BW was significantly lower at placement in chicks in the high temperature group than in chicks in the control and low body temperature groups due to greater weight loss during the post-hatch handling period (P ≤ 0.05). Lower BW was maintained in the chicks in the high body temperature group than in the chicks in the other 2 groups until the end of the experiment at 35 d (P ≤ 0.05) because chicks in the high temperature group consumed less feed throughout the experiment (P ≤ 0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality were numerically greater in the high body temperature chicks than in the control group, whereas FCR and the mortality in the low body temperature chicks were intermediate at 35 d. The results of the present study indicate that day-old chicks with high body temperatures (42.6°C) exhibited a greater percentage of BW loss due to dehydration and lower organ weights during the 12 h post-hatch handling period, which was followed by significantly poorer broiler performance. There were no significant differences in performance between the chicks in the control (40.0°C) and low (38.1°C) body temperature groups. In conclusion, day-old chicks are more sensitive to higher body temperatures than to lower temperatures during the post-hatch handling period.

The effect of turning angle (from vertical) and the interaction with turning frequency during incubation on fertile hatchability, embryonic mortality, and the incidence of embryos with head in the small end of the egg (malpositioned) was studied in 2 experiments comprising 2 trials each to determine if a turning angle of less than 45 degrees could be successful. Hatching eggs from commercial broiler breeder flocks from 55 to 61 wk of age were utilized, and turning was for 18 d. Eggs were subjected to turning angles of 35, 40, or 45 degrees, with a turning frequency of 24 times daily (24x) in Experiment 1. Turning angle had no effect on fertile hatchability. However, the incidence of separately enumerated, malpositioned embryos was increased by the 35 degrees angle, compared with both the 40 and 45 degrees angles in Experiment 1. Eggs were subjected to turning angles (from vertical) of 35 degrees, with a turning frequency of either 24x or 96x daily, or 45 degrees, with 24x turning in the 2 trials of Experiment 2. Turning angle and frequency had no effect on fertile hatchability or embryonic mortality, but the incidence of separately enumerated, malpositioned embryos was increased by the 35 degrees angle with 24x turning, compared with the 35 degrees angle with 96x turning, and the 45 degrees angle, with 24x turning, in Experiment 2. These data demonstrated that the incidence of malpositioned embryos was increased by a reduced turning angle, but that this effect was ameliorated by a concomitant increase in turning frequency.

The effects of heating of eggs during storage, broiler breeder age, and length of egg storage on hatchability of fertile eggs were examined in this study. Eggs were collected from Ross 344 male × Ross 308 broiler breeders on paper flats, held overnight (1 d) at 18°C and 75% RH, and then transferred to plastic trays. In experiment 1, eggs were obtained at 28, 38, and 53 wk of flock age. During a further 10 d of storage, eggs either remained in the storage room (control) or were subjected to a heat treatment regimen of 26°C for 2 h, 37.8°C for 3 h, and 26°C for 2 h in a setter at d 5 of storage. In experiment 2, eggs from a flock at 28 wk of age were heated for 1 d of a 6-d storage period. Eggs from a 29-wk-old flock were either heated at d 1 or 5 of an 11-d storage period in experiment 3. In experiment 4, 27-wk-old flock eggs were heated twice at d 1 and 5 of an 11-d storage period. Control eggs stored for 6 or 11 d were coincubated as appropriate in each experiment. Heating eggs at d 5 of an 11-d storage period increased hatchability in experiment 1. Although no benefit of heating 28-wk-old flock eggs during 6 d of storage in experiment 2 was observed, heating eggs from a 29-wk-old flock at d 1 or 5 of an 11-d storage period increased hatchability in experiment 3. Further, heating eggs from a 27-wk-old flock twice during 11 d of storage increased hatchability in experiment 4. These effects were probably due to the fact that eggs from younger flocks had been reported to have many embryos at a stage of development where the hypoblast had not yet fully developed (less than EG-K12 to EG-K13), such that heating during extended storage advanced these embryos to a more resistant stage.

Hatching eggs from broiler breeder flocks at 37, 41, 59, and 63 wk of age were stored for 1 or 2 d at 18 C and 75% RH and then turned 24, 48, or 96 times per day from 3 to 11 d of incubation. All eggs were turned 24 times per day from 1 to 2 d and 12 to 18 d of incubation. Fertile hatchability was better at 37 and 41 wk of age than at 59 and 63 wk of age due primarily to increased early dead embryos. Fertile hatchability was increased by turning 96 times per day compared to either 24 or 48 times per day. This improvement was due to a reduction in late embryonic mortality. There was no significant interaction of flock age x turning in storage for fertile hatchability or embryonic mortality.

(1) Fertile hatchability was superior from a broiler breeder flock at 29 weeks of age than at 68 weeks of age because of decreased mortality at all stages of embryo development. (2) Eggs that were either turned or not turned during the 0 to 7 d, 8 to 14 d and 15 to 18 d periods in the 8 possible combinations showed that the absence of turning from 0 to 7 d of incubation caused a decrease in fertile hatchability and an increase in all stages of embryonic mortality, and an incidence of Malposition II (head in small end of shell) that was more pronounced in a 68-week-old flock than a 29-week-old flock. (3) When eggs from 33- and 35-week-old broiler breeder flocks were either turned or not turned from 0 to 2 d, 3 to 4 d, 5 to 6 d or 7 to 8 d in the 16 possible combinations, the absence of turning from 3 to 8 d, or 0 to 2 d alone or in combination with other time periods reduced fertile hatchability and increased embryonic mortality and percentage of Malposition II. (4) The most critical period for turning commercial broiler hatching eggs during incubation was from 0 to 7 d with the single most critical 2-d period being 0 to 2 d.