The Effect of Hatching System and Egg Weight on Hatching Traits in Turkish Geese: Hatch time, Hatchability and Gosling Quality Traits

Özet

This study was performed to determine the effect of hatching system (house and hatcher) and egg weight (heavy and light) on pip-hatch time, hatchability and some gosling quality traits. A total of 389 eggs (fertile of candling) from 2-year-old Turkish Native Goose were used in the study. Before the incubation process, all eggs were individually numbered and weighed. Eggs were divided into heavy (≥160 g) and light (<160 g) eggs according to average weight (160 g), and these eggs were placed in similar numbers in two hatching system. Pip time was delayed for about 7 h and 5 h in heavy and house eggs compared to light and hatcher, respectively. With regard to hatch time, it was calculated approximately 12 h and 8 h delay for the eggs in the heavy and house compared to the light and hatcher, respectively. Weight and length of goslings that hatched from heavy eggs were higher than those that hatched from light eggs. The activity and navel score of goslings in the house and hatcher systems were 3.38, 5.59 and 9.54, 11.06, respectively, at 32 d. The study results showed that the pip and hatch-time was delayed in heavy and house system eggs. It has been determined that the goslings hatched from heavy eggs were heavier and longer. House hatching system also negatively affected the activity and navel score of goslings.