Abstract

Incubation duration is a most essential factor to achieve standard hatchability, water loss and chick yield.Ross-308 different breeder flocks which were 42-46 weeks old and standard eggs that weighed up to 55-60g were selected. In the current study, two experimental groups each consisting of (n= 538560) eggs were selected to investigate the effect of eggs incubation duration on hatchability and post-hatch performance. Therefore, this experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the exact duration of incubation and its effects on broiler performance at the farm. Group A was incubated for 444hrs in setter and 62 hrs in hatcher. Hatch pulling for A was performed twice 1st after 494 hrs and remaining un-hatch eggs were again shifted to hatchers for next 12 hrs for 2nd pulling (conventional method of hatch pulling in Pakistan). For B hatch pulling was performed after 456hrs in setters and 50 hrs in hatcher, complete hatch pulling only once. Eggs weight at transfer was (53.9±0.8gm and 54.9 ±0.6gm), water loss at transfer was (11.67±0.7% and 10.6±0.7%) and chick weight was at (41.6±0.3gm and 42.7±0.3gm) on day one were significantly better for group B than A respectively. Similarly, hatchability (86.16±1.02% and 85.16±1.02) and dead in shell (5.10 ±0.8% and 6.61±1.5%) were also significantly better for group B then A respectively. Candling (8.23±0.9% and 8.23±1.33%) was same for both groups. Mortality was estimated to be at (1.80±0.06and 2.47±0.23%), weight gain was determined to be at (2001.33±24.33gram and 1955.66±25.02gram), feed intake (g/bird) was at (3245.02±18.03 and 3260.51±13.47) and feed conservation ratio at day 35(1.44±0.02 and 1.716±0.03) were found to have been significantly better for B than A respectively. So, incubation of eggs for 456 hrs in setters and 50 hrs in hatchers, along with single pull is better in term of water loss, chick yield, hatchability and post hatch performance.