Effects of using propolis extracts during incubation and breeder age on hatching time on broilers

In the present study, the effects of breeder flock age and the propolis extract spraying on eggs during incubation period on hatching time were investigated. For this purpose, 1920 hatching eggs (640 from each breeding flock age) obtained from breeding flocks of three different ages as young (28 weeks), middle-aged (36 weeks) and old (60 weeks) constituted the material of the study. During the incubation period, propolis extract was applied to the eggs in three different doses (control; 0.5 1.0 and 2.0 ml/L) as spray. At the end of the incubation period, hatching times were evaluated as early (480 hours and before), mid (480 to 490 hours) and late period (490 hours and later). At the end of the study, the effects of flock age and propolis extract application on hatching time from hatching were evaluated separately and interaction. It was determined that out from hatching occurred mostly in the middle period (69.05%) and the least in the last period (7.75%), and it was determined that the hatching time from hatching was affected by the age of the breeder flock. The proportion of chicks obtained from the old breeder flock (23.20%) among the total hatched chicks was found to be lower than young and middle-aged flocks (39.01% and 23.20%, respectively) (P<0.05). However, when the propolis extract was analyzed according to the application doses, it was observed that hatching times were not affected by the propolis extract application dose (P<0,05). The differences between the groups in terms of interactions were found to be significant in all interactions (breeder age x extract application, hatching time x breeder age, hatching time from hatching x extract application, breeder age x extract application x hatching time) (P<0.05). Accordingly, in hatching eggs obtained from young and middle-aged breeders and applied 0.5 ml/l propolis extract, the number of hatched chicks increased numerically (especially in the middle and last period); however, it was observed that the number of hatched chicks decreased numerically in those applied 2.0 ml/l propolis extract obtained from old breeders. As a result, it is thought that research on the present issue should be continued and more comprehensive studies should be carried out including the post-incubation stages.