THE HATCHABILITY OF CHICKEN EGGS WITH FRACTURED SHELLS AFTER STORAGE UP TO 42 DAYS IN NITROGEN

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Abstract
Several experiment were conducted to study the effect of shell fractures on the hatchability of chicken eggs. The effects of patching "hairline" and "basket" shell fractures on the large end and equatorial areas of the shell were evaluated when stored for different periods under an atmosphere of air or nitrogen.Hatchability of eggs with "basket" cracks was enhanced by patching with plastic adhesive tape and storage in a nitrogen atmosphere. "Basket" cracks located in the equatorial area of the shell exhibited a more detrimental effect on hatchability than similar cracks in the large end of the egg.There was no apparent advantage in patching eggs with "hairline" cracks. The location of this type of crack in the shell did not appear to be important. Improved hatchability was obtained by storage of eggs with hairline cracks in a nitrogen atmosphere, compared with storage in air.A limited comparison of different patching materials was made; plastic adhesive tape, paraffin wax and a collodion material were used. Plastic adhesive tape was superior for storage up to 21 days, but for longer storage the collodion material was superior. Further investigation might reveal superior patching materials.
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