Effect of in ovo honey administration on fertility and post hatch performance of broiler chickens

Abstract

Supplementation of nutrients to growing embryo is known to cause various positive effects as the growing chicken embryo have inadequate quantity of nutrients and energy that may delay the growth and cause productive losses during post hatch life. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of in ovo feeding of honey on hatchability and post hatch performance of broiler chickens. Chicken embryos were inoculated with 0.5 mL honey (20% diluted) while control group was inoculated with same quantity of normal saline on day-15 of incubation. Upon hatching, day-old chicks of both honey treated and control group were transferred to experimental farm to determine their post hatch growth performance. The results showed that in ovo honey treatment significantly (P < 0.05) improved the hatchability percentage as well as birth weight of chicks as compared to saline treated group (control). Furthermore, honey administration improved (P < 0.05) the feed intake, body weight gain and carcass weight, while it improved (P < 0.05) FCR and reduced mortality in broiler chickens as compared to control group. These results demonstrated that in ovo supplementation of honey had better impact on hatchability and post hatch performance of broiler chickens.