Effects of Short Periods of Incubation During Egg Storage (SPIDES) in Prolonged Stored Eggs of Late DeKalb Breeder on Hatchability, Embryonic Mortality and Chick Quality

The objective of this study was to study the effects of short periods of incubation during egg storage (SPIDES) of late DeKalb breeder, age and storage period on the hatchability, embryo mortality and chick quality. A total of 810 fertile eggs were randomly selected and allocated into three groups (270 eggs each). Each group was distributed in a 3 x 3 x 3 factorial experiment in a complete randomized design with three warming treatments (0, 60 and 120 minutes daily at 37.5○ C and 53% RH), age (75, 80, and 85 weeks) and three storage periods (4, 9 and 14 days 18○ C and 75%). Each treatment was replicated three times with ten eggs each. Fertility and hatchability of both fertile and total eggs were determined. Embryo mortality was determined in non-hatched eggs. All hatched chicks were weighed and graded to first or second grade chick. Results indicated that SPIDES for 60 minutes significantly improved the hatchability, reduced early dead embryos and total unhatched eggs and chick quality as compared to non-heated eggs or SPIDES for 120 minutes. The obtained results indicated that the daily SPIDES for 60 minutes significantly (P ≤ 0.01) reduced embryonic mortality during the three incubation periods. The lower embryonic mortality was observed for 75 week old breeders and for eggs stored for 4 days. Moreover, SPIDES eggs for 60 minutes significantly (P ≤ 0.01) improved hatchability and chick quality percentages. Also the best hatchability and chick quality percentages were observed for the breeder of 75 week of age. Eggs stored for 4 days reported the best hatchability and chick quality percentages. In conclusion, daily SPIDES of late DeKalb breeder hatching eggs for 60 minutes at 37.5° C and 53% RH could be used by the poultry industry as a method to improve hatchability and increased the number of saleable first grade chicks which by far increases profits of eggs stored for longer periods.