Effect of hydrogen peroxide disinfection during incubation of chicken eggson microbial levels and productivity

Hatchery sanitation has a significant impact on chick quality. The proper u se of disinfectants is essential. Aerosol bacterial counts, egg moisture lo ss, hatchability, chick quality, and broiler productivity were measured in eggs exposed to hydrogen peroxide fogging and compared with eggs not expose d to disinfectant during the incubation period. Hydrogen peroxide was also evaluated in the presence of a severe challenge with Staphylococcus aureus- contaminated eggs. A significant reduction was found in aerosol bacterial c ounts within the hatcher when incubators were fogged with 3% hydrogen perox ide when compared with water-fogged machines even in the face of high bacte rial challenge. Eggs exposed to hydrogen peroxide lost a significantly grea ter amount of moisture during incubation, but hatchability was not affected . The use of hydrogen peroxide as a hatchery sanitizer did not affect broil er livability, body weight, or feed conversion but did reduce the incidence of retained yolk sacs in 42-day-old chickens.