Hatchability of duck eggs as affected by types of incubators under varying relative humidity

Abstract

The mean percentage hatchability was not significantly affected by types of incubators, two levels (70% and 80%) of relative humidity, and the interaction effect of types of incubators and relative humidity. However, the percentage of egg hatching was significantly affected by types of incubators such that the means of the percentage hatch in Cabinet-Type Electric Incubator (M=43.95%) and in Bamboo or “Garong”-Type Incubator (M=41.88%) were significantly higher from “Lawanit” Board-Type Incubator (M=27.68%). There was no significant difference in the percentage hatch as affected by two different levels of relative humidity and the interactions of types of incubators and varying percent relative humidity. In this study, the use of Bamboo or “Garong”- Type Incubator indicated the lowest cost (₱0.83) to hatch a duckling, the cheapest (₱17.70) to produce a duckling, and highest ROI of 2.00%.Thus, the Bamboo or “Garong”-Type Incubator was the most economical to use among the three types of incubators.Among the three types of incubators under the two levels of relative humidity, it was observed that the cost to hatch and the cost to produce a duckling is lower under 80% relative humidity with an average cost of ₱1.89 and ₱20.00 respectively. Higher ROI (1.56%) was also observed when the eggs were incubated under 80% RH than 70% RH with an average ROI of 1.54%. Furtheremore, the Cabinet-Type Electric Incubator and Bamboo or “Garong”-Type Incubator were identified to be the most efficient types of incubators. All the hatching parameters were not significantly affected by two levels (70% and 80%) of relative humidity.