Low hatchability rate (32%) was recorded among the duck-eggs during the period from September to December (1981), at El-Wadi El-Gadid, Duck Farms.
Microbiological examinations of unhatched eggs revealed the recovery of E.coli (36), Klebsiella species (32), Proteus spp. (29), Pseudomonas spp. (27), streptococci (15), Staphylococci (9), Aspergillus spp. (14) and Candida albicans (8). Klebsiella, proteus, Strept. faecalis, Pseudomonas, Staph. aureus, Aspergillus species and Candida albicans were isolated from Hatcheries and Litters.
Experimental infections of 7-days old duck-embryos with the most common isolates showed drastic drop of hatchability rate. Sanitary measures were recomended to improve the hatchability percentage.