THE EFFECT OF HEN EGG WEIGHT ON HATCHING LOSSES AND HATCHED CHICK WEIGHT

The effect of hen egg weight in Vedette hybrid was studied with respec t to hatching losses and hatched chick weight and their relationships. Egg groups (20 groups) of different weight (56 eggs per group) were e xamined in hatching eggs (n = 1,120 eggs per group) in the laying peri od (at 28th, 40th and 52nd weeks of age) and losses were determined fo r days of hatching 1 to 7, 1 to 14, 7 to 14, 1 to 18, 14 to 18 and 1 t o 21 as well as hatched chick weight. Relations between the weight of hen hatching eggs and hatching losses were as follows: r = -0.165(-) f or days 1 to 7; r = 0.097(-) for days 1 to 14; r = -0.129(-) for days 7 to 14; r = -0.018(-) for days 1 to 18; r = -0.072(-) for days 7 to 1 8; r = -0.038(-) for days 14 to 18; r = -0.219(+) for days 1 to 21. Ch ick weight to egg weight relation was approximately 68.28%. The relati on between egg weight and hatched chick weight was r = 0.670(+++), and in relative terms r = -273(++).