Vol. 9, Issue 3, Part F (2024)

Author(s): G Prabakar, P Ravi, N Karthikeyan, R Dhinesh Kumar, L Arun and P Kumaravel

Abstract: Peruvidai and Siruvidai are the important varieties of indigenous backyard-type chicken reared in Tamil Nadu. A study was performed to assess the hatchability and egg break-open analysis of Peruvidai chicken hatching eggs incubated in a natural brooding system by broody hens. Hatchability and embryonic mortality were recorded. The eggs that failed to hatch were break opened to determine the stage of embryonic mortality. The fertility percentage of the three districts was 90.78, 90.17, and 93.43. The overall mean of hatchability on the total egg set was 74.75%. The breakopen study of unhatched eggs revealed 9.56% early embryonic mortality, 6.32% mid-embryonic mortality, and 2.48% late embryonic mortality, including death in the shell. The total embryonic mortality was 18.36%. Indigenous Peruvidai chickens have good fertility and hatchability levels similar to Indigenous Siruvidai chicken. Natural incubation of Peruvidai chicken’s reproductive performance is lower than the artificial incubation.