Position and Turning of Turkey Eggs During Storage Prior to Incubation

Abstract

Turkey eggs were stored for 2 to 15 days before incubation. The following four treatments were given to 66,211 eggs over 10 years: 1, not turned, small end down (SED): 2, not turned, small end up (SEU); 3, turned SED; 4, turned SEU.Hatchability of eggs stored SEU minus SED showed a linear trend with length of storage. For 3-day-old eggs, SEU storage reduced hatchability −1.9% (P<.05). Storage with SEU for 4 to 7 and 8 to 11 days increased hatchability by .5 and .8% units, respectively. Storage SEU for 12 to 15-day-old eggs increased hatchability 1.3% units (P<.05). There were no differences in hatchability between eggs, turned or not turned. The interactions between position and turning of eggs were not significant.Incubation time was measured by the percent of total poults that hatched before 28.5 days of incubation. Eggs 3 days old stored SEU hatched significantly fewer poults by 3.8 and 6.2% units in the two experiments. Incubation time of eggs stored 4 to 7 days was not changed by storage position. Storage SEU for 12 to 15 day-old eggs increased poults hatched by 2.8% (P<.05) before 28.5 days of incubation.Turning relative to not turning had a significant interaction with genetic group-years for eggs stored 3 days. The stocks used form 1971 to 1974 had 3.5% units more poults hatched before 28.5 days when the eggs were turned, while with different stocks in 1975 to 1980 there were 3.5% units fewer poults. Incubation time of eggs stored 4 to 15 days was not influenced by turning during storage.Eggs stored flat for one night before traying for incubation hatched 67.8% or about the same as 3-day storage. Highest hatchability was from eggs stored 4 to 7 days before incubation.