The objective of this research was to evaluate the tegument modification (feather morphogenesis) in embryos of broiler chicken, of different growth standard breeder lines, obtained from eggs incubated under different temperatures. Eggs of Cobb 500 and ISA JA57 breeders lines, were proportionally distributed in three incubators. From the first (D1) to the sixth day (D6) of incubation, temperature was maintained standard at 37.8°C. From the seventh day (D7) until the moment of the birth on the twenty one days (D21), temperature was reduced to 36.8°C (Cold) in one of the incubators, and in another incubator was increased to 38.8°C (Hot). The temperature in the third incubator was maintained at 37.8°C (Control). It was used a completely randomized design with factorial 3 x 2 (temperature of incubation and breeder lines). Incubation temperature and breeder factor do not modify the follicular density of the feather (average number of follicles per area of 337.5µm²) in the femoral and dorsal tract of until eleven days (D11) embryos. An increase of follicular density in the dorsal region of sixteen days (D16) embryos was observed, because the temperature increased, of the remaining until the moment of birth, demonstrating that embryos incubated above the recommended temperature (38.8°C) present higher follicles density in the dorsal tract. However, follicles morphogenesis remained unaltered.
embryonic development; feathering; hatch temperature
