FACTORS AFFECTING FERTILITY AND HATCHABILITY OF EGGS FROM ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATED CHICKENS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of some factors affecting the fertility and hatchability of chicken eggs. In the study, forty-eight 10-month oltl Yafa Brown laying hens were employed in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment. 'Lea factors were semen type (whole vs diluted semen) insemination volume (0.05 vs 0.10 ml) and insemination frequency (once vs twice per (week). Semen type had significant effect on fertility and hatchability of chicken eggs. Birds inseminated with whole semen showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher fertility than those inseminated with diluted semen. Volume, insemination frequency and their interaction had no significant effects on fertility and hatcl~abilityI.t was concluded that undiluted semen inseminated twice per week with either 0.05 or 0.10 1x11 will improve fertility and hatchability of eggs in the chicken.