Effect of Season and Egg Weight on Hatchability of Ostrich (Struthio Camelus Camelus)in Captivity

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.