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

Abstract

This study was performed to determine the effect of hatching system (house and hatcher) and egg\rweight (heavy and light) on pip-hatch time, hatchability and some gosling quality traits. A total of\r389 eggs (fertile of candling) from 2-year-old Turkish Native Goose were used in the study. Before\rthe incubation process, all eggs were individually numbered and weighed. Eggs were divided into\rheavy (≥160 g) and light (<160 g) eggs according to average weight (160 g), and these eggs were\rplaced in similar numbers in two hatching system. Pip time was delayed for about 7 h and 5 h in\rheavy and house eggs compared to light and hatcher, respectively. With regard to hatch time, it was\rcalculated approximately 12 h and 8 h delay for the eggs in the heavy and house compared to the\rlight and hatcher, respectively. Weight and length of goslings that hatched from heavy eggs were\rhigher than those that hatched from light eggs. The activity and navel score of goslings in the house\rand hatcher systems were 3.38, 5.59 and 9.54, 11.06, respectively, at 32 d. The study results showed\rthat the pip and hatch-time was delayed in heavy and house system eggs. It has been determined\rthat the goslings hatched from heavy eggs were heavier and longer. House hatching system also\rnegatively affected the activity and navel score of goslings.