THE EFFECTS OF PLASTIC PACKAGING AND OTHER TREATMENTS ON HATCHING EGGS

Abstract

A total of 9360 eggs was used in two series of experiments to study the effect of pre-incubation treatments on hatchability, egg weight, and chick weight. These treatments involved plastic packaging, alterations in atmospheric carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity, and time during the pre-incubation stage.Hatchability was maintained at a higher level when eggs were enclosed in plastic film during the pre-incubation period. There was also evidence that plastic packaging was more beneficial when eggs were held at adverse temperatures. Temperatures from 50 to 66° F did not appear to have a detrimental effect on hatchability when eggs were held for short storage periods. An increase in the carbon dioxide concentration in the egg storage environment depressed hatchability.Long pre-incubation holding periods tended to decrease egg weight at setting time and at the 18th day of incubation but appeared to increase chick weight. Temperatures ranging from 50 to 64° F had little effect on egg and chick weights. High humidity levels increased egg weight (when eggs were not enclosed in plastic packages) but this weight difference disappeared during incubation.