Improved hatchability of turkey eggs at high altitudes due to added oxygen and increased incubation temperature.

Turkey egg hatchability at high altitudes was examined at two different oxygen tensions and two incubation temperatures. Incubating turkey eggs in a 149-torr oxygen environment at 37.7 C gave significantly better hatchability than a 109-torr oxygen environment at 37.5 C. Embryonic mortality data indicated that the higher incubation temperature in combination with increased oxygen tension decreased embryonic mortality during the 3rd and 4th wk of incubation and resulted in higher hatchability. The data suggest that hatchery managers at high altitudes should supplement with oxygen and incubate turkey eggs at higher temperatures than employed at lower altitudes.