The Storage of White Leghorn Hatching Eggs in Plastic Bags

Abstract

WHEN chicken hatching eggs are stored for at least a week, hatchability decreases and hatching time is lengthened. In general, it has been found (Olsen and Haynes, 1948; Funk and Foward, 1960) that a storage temperature of 50–55°F. has produced optimum hatching results. The humidity requirements during storage have been investigated by Cooney (1943), Funk and Foward (1951) and Schwarz (1956). Evidence was presented that a high humidity (above 80% relative humidity) was beneficial but the results varied in such a way as to indicate that the humidity requirements were not too stringent. Workers interested in maintaining market egg quality have developed certain methods so that the albumen height of eggs will remain high during storage. These methods can be useful to researchers who are searching for storage environments best suited for optimum embryonic viability. One technique which has been successful for the maintenance of albumen height of market…