Title: Relation of Pre-Incubation Factors and Post-Hatching Performance to Length of Incubation Period
Abstract:FUNK (1934) recorded mortality among birds of known incubation period, finding that the last 10 percent of the hatch had an 8-week mortality rate nearly 3 times that of the earlier hatched chicks. Hen...FUNK (1934) recorded mortality among birds of known incubation period, finding that the last 10 percent of the hatch had an 8-week mortality rate nearly 3 times that of the earlier hatched chicks. Henderson and Champion (1948) found a significant negative correlation between speed of hatching and 8-week weight in Rhode Island Reds. Other breeds indicated the same relationship, but estimated correlations were not significant. Henderson (1944) found significant positive regressions of age at sexual maturity on speed of hatching in White Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds, but his estimates for other matings were not significant. Hays (1941 a, b) summarized observations on 4,730 Rhode Island Red chicks hatched over a 3-year period. Salient points of his conclusions were that females predominated among early hatched chicks, mortality to 6 months increased with length of incubation period, there was no relationship between speed of hatch and laying-house mortality, early hatched pullets . . .Read More