Abstract:
The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of season and egg weight
on ostrich egg hatchability and chick survivability. Nineteen females and 13 males
ostriches were distributed in 6 pens as follow A (2 males + 4 females), B ( 1 male+
4 females), C(2 males + 2 females), D(2 males + 2 females), E (2 males + 4
females ), and F (4 males + 3 females).
Eggs were collected manually and stored for 7 days at room temperature before
transference to the incubators. The eggs were candled before and at end of the
incubation period.The study continued for two seasons: winter (November –
February -2008), and summer (March – July 2008).
The results of the present study showed that the fertility rate of the eggs was
57.86%, hatchability of incubated eggswas 50.78%, hatchability of fertile eggs was
87.76%, percentage of chicks survival of fertile eggs were 51.97% , and percentage
mortality rate of fertile eggs were 35.82%.
The tested parameters gave higher results for winter season compared to summer
season. The results Showed that the total eggs production for winter and summer
were 401 and 193 respectively, fertility rate of the eggs for winter and summer
were 40.07% and 17.79% respectively. Hatchabilities of incubated eggs for winter
and summer were 34.20% and 16.28% respectively, hatchability of fertile eggs for
winter and summer 59.10% and 28.66% respectively, percentage of chick survival
of fertile egg for winter and summer were 38.21% and 13.73% respectively, and
percentage mortality of fertile eggs for winter and summer were 20.90%
and14.92% respectively.
