Hatchery parameters, performance of chicks on initial phase (until 14 days) and intestinal maturity of birds from light eggs supplemented with maltose and sucrose were studied. The treatments were as follows: eggs without supplementation; eggs with 0.6 mL of maltose solution (68 g/L); eggs with 0.6mL of maltose solution (136 g/L); eggs with 0.6 mL of maltose solution (204 g/L); and eggs with 0.6 mL of maltose solution (68 g/L) and sucrose (68 g/mL). The supplementation took place on the 16th day of incubation. The experimental design used was randomized blocks with five treatments and 120 replicates and as for performance we used randomized blocks with four treatments and six replicates and ten birds in each experimental unit. The supplementation did not affect eclodibility, chick weight, and intestinal development of light chicks. Simple or combined maltose egg supplementation did not bring benefits to initial performance of birds.
incubation; in ovo feeding; intestinal biometry; light chicks; young breeders