The Effect of Different Holding Temperatures on the Hatchability of Hens’ Eggs

IT HAS been well established that storage temperature plays an important role in preserving the viability of the unincubated chick embryo. Research has demonstrated that eggs stored at too high or too low a temperature for prolonged periods hatch poorly. Several workers have studied the effect of temperature on hatchability but most of the reports in the literature are based either upon relatively small numbers of eggs, a few isolated temperatures, or poorly controlled temperature conditions. Phillips (1909) was among the first investigators who were interested primarily in storage temperature as a factor affecting hatchability. In his experiments, three groups of 50 eggs each were stored for 14 days prior to incubation. One group was stored in a room in a heating plant where the temperature averaged 80°F.; another group was stored in a laboratory room where the air temperature averaged 65°F.; and the third group was held in a . . .