ARCHIV FUR GEFLUGELKUNDE, cilt.68, sa.4, ss.187-190, 2004 (SCI-Expanded)
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of preincubation storage of ostrich eggs on hatchability, egg weight loss, length of incubation and chick weight at hatching. A total of 210 ostrich eggs were stored at 18 C for 10 days (1-2, 3-4. 5-6, 7-8 and 9-10 d). The effects of storage length on hatchability of fertile eggs was found to be significant (P < 0.01). Hatchability declined with storage length, for maximum hatchability at less than 7 d of egg storage appears to be best. Hatchability of fertile eggs was determined as 71.4, 72.4, 70.4, 65.4 and 60.7% for the storage length groups, respectively. Early embryonic mortality rates (10.7, 10.3, 11.1, 15.4, 17.9%; P < 0.01) and late embryonic mortality rates (14.3, 13.8, 14.8, 15.4 and 17.9%; P < 0.01) were also found to be significant for the storage length groups, respectively. Egg weight loss increased with increased storage length (P < 0.05). Egg weight loss up to day 38 of incubation averaged 12.99% for eggs that hatched. The effects of storage length on chick weight at hatching and length of incubation was also found to be significant (P < 0.05). The chick weight tended to decline in relation with storage time up to 7 days. Chick weight at hatching averaged 66.8% and 65.0% of initial egg weight for the 1-2 to 9-10 d storage length, respectively.