It is indicated that hatchalMlity and also chick quality were improved 

 when hatching eggs were held imder ideal conditions. 



W. C. Skoglund 



Frequency of Gathering Eggs and Its Effect on Hatchability 



One of the management practices we recommend to hatching-egg pro- 

 ducers is that they gather their eggs frequently. It is a logical suggestion 

 in that it will reduce the number of dirty and broken eggs, but it also seems 

 logical that it might improve hatchability. especially during the winter and 

 summer months when nest temperatm-es are not ideal. 



A controlled experiment was conducted at the University in which 

 eggs were collected hourly and one-, two-, three-, and four-times dailv 

 during each of the four seasons. The results indicate that frequency of 

 gathering has no effect on hatchability. However, the practice of frequent 

 gathering is still recommended to reduce the number of dirty and broken 

 eggs. 



W. C. Skoglund 



Wing-web Vaccination of Day-old Chicks for Newcastle Disease 



Following the announcement two years ago that chicks might be vac- 

 cinated for Newcastle disease with the wing-web. modified, live-virus vac- 

 cine under four weeks of age, many poultrymen vaccinated the chicks at 

 day old. In many cases it appeared to have little effect while in other flocks 

 a definite mortality occurred. 



As no data apparently existed in the carrying out of such a method, 

 preliminary trials were made on breeders showing immunity according to 

 the H-I test. Some were revaccinated by the wing web while in production 

 to get the booster effect. Eggs after a suitable time interval were then saved 

 for hatching from the revaccinated group and a parallel group which had 

 not been revaccinated. It was found that chicks coming from both groups 

 were immune to challenge with a virulent field strain at one to two days 

 of age. 



At the same time parallel groups of these chicks were vaccinated by 

 the wing- web method at one day of age with no apparent harm. However, 

 when they were challenged with a virulent field strain at five weeks no 

 resistance could be demonstrated to the disease. 



The procedure was again repeated with the parentally-immune and 

 susceptible chicks. All susceptible chicks died at the end of seven days while 

 the parentally immune survived. However, at five weeks of age no resist- 

 ance could be demonstrated to Newcastle disease according to serological 

 test or challenge techniques. 



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