An-Najah Staff

In the commercial broiler breeder farms and hatcheries, formaldehyde fumigation is routinely carried out to disinfect hatching eggs, Dipping of hatching eggs has not been practiced as means of disinfection locally. The proper use of disinfection is essential. This study was carried out to determine the effect of different disinfection practices on hatchability, egg weight loss, embryonic mortality and early chick performance. Nestclean and dirty eggs were exposed to formaldehyde fumigation (control) or immersed in worm water (40 C) followed by dipping for 5 minutes in one of the following disinfectant solutions: 1% formalin, agri germ, or 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Early chick mortality and hatchability of fertile eggs were not effected by treatments, but they were numerically greater in eggs dipped in hydrogen peroxide solution. None of the treatments affected egg weight loss throughout the first 18-days of incubation. The use of one-step dipping rather than the common fumigation in- farm and in-hatchery did not adversely affect hatchability. Body weights, chick mortality and weight gains did not differ by treatment. The use of one-step disinfection , and the use of hydrogen peroxide as an in-farm dip for hatching eggs may be a possible alternative to formaldehyde fumigation.