The observations were carried out on a flock of 23 emus, kept in semi – intensive system, and fed according to the requirement during the reproduction season. The hatching rate was assessed for 72 eggs, gathered at the beginning (group 1), middle (group 2), and final (group 3) stage of egg laying. A constant incubation temperature (36.7°C)was maintained, the relative humidity in the incubator and hatcher being 30 and 40%, respectively. Every week the eggs were weighed to analyse their loss of weight. On termination of the incubation, indexes of hatching were calculated for the set eggs and the fertilised ones, and the number of dead embryos. Since the fertilization results of this study were good, free mating in the first reproduction season should be considered. Low indexes of hatching from eggs laid at the begin of the first production year indicate that these emu eggs should be used for consumption.

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