Effects of Hatching and Feeding Times and Hatchery Temperature on Body and Organs’ Weight of Post-hatched Chicks

BACKGROUND: In commercial hatcheries, chicks are deprived of feed and water for up to 72 h, which is a det-rimental effect on growth performance. OBJECTIVES: Two experiments were designed to investigate the effect of hatching parameters and feeding time on the body and organ weights of chickens. METHODS: In the first experiment, 300 of both early- and later-hatched broiler chicks received feed immedi-ately after hatching or 48 h later and were divided into four experimental groups. The body and internal organ weights of chicks were determined for up to seven days. In the second study, 370 embryos, which were incubated in a setter until the 18th day, were transferred to two hatchers, which differed their air and eggshell temperatures. Then, hatching and post-hatched parameters were followed. RESULTS: Comparing early-hatched chicks, later-hatched chicks had significantly greater weight (p