Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of ascorbic acid
(AA) during egg incubation on development of broiler chickens of a
commercial stock. In Experiment ١, eggs with living embryos were injected at
١٥ d of incubation with ٠٫١ ml o
f saline solution containing either ٣ or ١٢ mg of
AA per egg and uninjected control. Body weights of each treatment were
determined weekly from hatch to ٦ wk of age. In Experiment ٢, the treatments
at ١٥ d of incubation were as follows: ١) eggs injected with ٣ mg of AA and
then cooled at ٢٢° C for ٢٤ h; ٢) eggs dipped in ٣٪ solution of AA for ٣ min
and then cooled at ٢٢° C for ٢٤ h; and ٣) control. Embryo weight at ١٩ d of
incubation, hatchability and body weights of the hatched chicks were
determined.
