The effect of feeding moistened feed in the hatching on chick weight, quality, organ development, intestinal morphology, and some blood parameters of newly hatched broiler chicks

In this study, the effects of feeding moistened feed during incubation on the weight, quality, organ development, intestinal morphology and some blood parameters of broiler chicken chicks were investigated. For this purpose, a total of 320 fertile eggs of Anadolu-T hybrids (160 eggs) and Ross 308 commercial broiler chicken hybrids (160 eggs) were placed on pre-development trays in a 2 (genotype) X 2 (early feeding during incubation) factorial arrangement with 8 replications and 4 treatments (10 eggs per replication). The eggs were taken to hatching baskets with feeders placed on the 18th day of incubation. On the 20th day of incubation, moistened feed prepared by adding 500 ml of water to 1 kg powder chick feed was distributed to the feeders. In chicks that received feed during incubation, intestinal development was triggered early, the yolk sac was depleted faster and yolk sac weights of chicks that received moistened feed during incubation were found to be significantly lower (P≤0.05). Regardless of genotype, it was found that chicks that received early feeding during incubation had higher blood glucose levels (P≤0.05) and small intestine segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) weights were higher (P≤0.05). As a result, it was concluded that digestion and intestinal development started earlier in chicks that received moistened feed during incubation, blood sugar increased compared to those that were kept hungry and thirsty, intestines that started to develop quickly consumed the yolk sac faster and the chick had a better start in life in this way.