Effects of Age in Lay and Egg Size on Fertility and Hatchability of Chicken Eggs

Abstract

Ferility and hatchability are major parameters of reproductive performance which are most sensitive to environmental and genetic influences (Stromberg. 1975). Factors affecting these two indices of hatchery profitability include plane of nutrition, conditions and length of storage of eggs, strain, egg' quality and mating ratio (Landauer. 1967; North, 1981; Pascal, 1981; Stahl et aI., 1986: Peedbles and Brake, 1987). Conflicting observations have been made on the effect of age of birds in lay and egg size on fertility and hatchability. Oluyel1\i and Roberts (1979) fOlDl.d no significant effect of egg size on hatchability but Williamson and Payne (1978) found that small and large eggs were significantly poorer in hatchability than medium size eggs. Egg size differential within the intermediate range did not affect hatchability (Landauer. 1967).