Egg production and incubation results of ostrich farms in the Marmara region of Turkey

Abstract

The number of ostrich farms has increased in recent years, also in Turkey. This study was carried out on four ostrich farms in the Marmara region of Turkey. The objective was to assess reproductive performance of hens and incubation results, and to compare it with results from farms in other countries. Number of eggs laid per female per farm, average egg weight and length of laying period were found to be significantly different between farms. Means for number of eggs laid per female per farm, average egg weight and length of the laying period ranged between 46.4 and 56.5, 1,378 and 1,498 g, 188 and 207 days, respectively. Data obtained indicated distinct effects of different ostrich farms on hatchability of fertile eggs, hatchability of total eggs, fertility, chick weight at hatching, malpositioned embryos, deformed chicks and assisted chicks during hatching. The mean fertility of ostrich eggs was 69.5%, while hatchability of eggs incubated were lower than or about 53%.