Preincubation dipping of turkey hatching eggs. II. Effect of shell treatment on hatachability.

The effects of various egg-shell treatments on the hatchability of turkey eggs were investigated. Hatchability was not effected significantly by drilling a hole in the large end, or removing cuticle with dilute acid from the entire shell surface of from either end. Embryo deaths were increased significantly (P less than 0.005), however, by a pinhole pierced in the large end. Sealing the drill or pinhole with Duco cement did not significantly alter the hatchability. Hatchability of treated or untreated eggs was not effected adversely by dipping for 2.5 minutes after preheating to 36 C, or for 10 minutes without preheating.