One hundred and eighty one-day old broilers (Arbor Acres) were used in this study. The chicks were divided into three groups: The chicks were reared on wheat straw litter (group 1); the birds were reared on sand litter (group 2) and Group 3 where the birds were reared on saw dust litter. The chicks were raised on these types of litter from 0 to 49 days of age. The obtained results could be summarized as follows: The birds reared on sand litter had the heaviest body weights as compared with those reared on wheat straw or saw dust. Also, the overall mean for body weight gain (BWG) followed the same trend as body weight (BW). The type of litter had no effect on feed consumption (FC). The cumulative feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly (P0.05) better for birds of groups 1 and 2 as compared with those of group 3. Birds of group 2 had better FCR as compared with those of group 3. The mortality rate (MR) was 16.7, 6.7, and 20.0 % for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. No significant differences were found in carcass, feet and shanks, head, neck, drumsticks, femurs, breast, wings, and back weight percentages. Moreover, type of litter had no significant effect on fat contents (drumstick, femur and breast), shank length or heart, liver, proventriculus, spleen, lungs, gizzard, intestines, and kidneys weight percentages. Broilers reared on wheat straw or saw dust showed a larger number of foot lesions than those reared on sand litter. Besides, sand litter had lower bacterial counts than saw dust and wheat straw, which showed the greatest bacterial counts. No mold populations were observed at sand or wheat straw litter, however, high mold populations were found in saw dust litter. Red blood cells (RBCs) increased significantly (P0.05) by 6.93 % in birds reared on sand than that of birds reared on wheat straw or saw dust. Hemoglobin (HG) and heamatocrit (HC) were decreased significantly (P0.05) in birds of group 3 as compared to those of groups 1 and 2. It was proved that group 2 (reared on sand litter) had the best economic efficiency (EE) value as compared with groups 1 and 3 (reared on wheat straw or sawdust, respectively).

The effects of exposing Dandarawi fertile eggs to warm air before incubation on embryonic development, mortality and hatchability were studied. Seven hundred and fifty fertile eggs were used in this trial. Eggs were collected and stored at 16ºC for five days. Eggs were taken out the storage room and set for 12 hours in ambient air temperature (28ºC). Individual egg weights were recorded, then eggs were divided into five treatment groups (n=150 of each group). The first group (G1) was left for an additional 24 hours at room temperature and served as control. While, the other four groups (G2, G3, G4 and G5) were exposed to a temperature of (38-38.2ºC) for the respective durations of 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours, respectively, then to the ambient temperature (28ºC). After the 36 hours from taking the eggs out the storage room, all groups were set in the incubator. A sample of eggs from each group (n= 12 of each once) was cracked to record embryos’ relative weights at 6, 12 and 18 d of incubation. Eggs exposed (P0.05) to warm air prior to incubation had higher embryos weights at 6 and 12 d of incubation compared to the control. At hatch, no significant differences in hatchling weights were observed. Warming eggs before incubation decreased embryonic mortality, pepping chicks and improved hatchability (P0.05). In conclusion the pre-incubation warming for 10 or 12 hrs reduces embryonic mortality, pepping chicks and improves hatchability in Dandarawi eggs