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Hatching - Incubation
Hatching of eggs refers to the production of baby chicks. In early days eggs were hatched by placing them under broody hens. Desi hens proved to be ideal for this purpose. Only 10 to 12 eggs can be put under 1 hen. This method of hatching is highly unsatisfactory for large-scale production of baby chicks. Incubators, which provide similar environment as that of broody hens, but more efficiently, are used at present for hatching of eggs. The incubation period for chicken eggs is 20 to 21 days, and increases up to 30 days for other poultry. After sitting for some days, a broody hen can be given some newly hatched chicks and, if they are accepted, the original eggs can be removed and replaced with more chicks. Thus hens with a better record of mothering can be better utilised for their abilities. Eggs initially need a very controlled heat input to maintain the optimum temperature of 38°C, because the embryo is microscopic in size.
INTRODUCTION To maximize the profitability of the broiler breeder production chain, it is necessary to increase egg production and hatching rates to obtain more viable offspring. The inclusion of substances with antioxidant properties in the diet of broiler breeders aids the enzymatic defense system in controlling the damage caused by free radicals in cells. Carotenoids are an example of this type of substance because they have antioxidant, pigmenting, provitaminic and...
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1 | Introduction Broiler production fundamentally depends on the quality of fertile eggs and chick output, with incubation representing a critical process in this context. For production efficiency, day‐old chicks must exhibit high physical, sanitary, and immunological qualities (Araújo et al. 2019). Chick quality at hatch is strongly associated with broiler performance throughout the production cycle, directly influencing the productivity of the poultry industry...
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January 25, 2027
United States - Georgia - Atlanta
INTRODUCTION In the United States, approximately 240 million commercial broiler eggs are set in incubators every week with an average hatchability of 80.3% (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2022). In 2007, it was estimated that an improvement of 1% would increase returns to more than $25 million for the hatcheries and further increase profits to the broiler production chain (Schaal and Gherian, 2007). The egg management at the hatchery such as storage conditions, incubation...
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Josh Deines (Zoetis) shares the environmental survey presented, the bacterial and fungal challenges identified in hatcheries, as well as the plans for future studies, during this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
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In modern hatchery operations every percentage of hatchability and chick quality matters. Among the many invisible threats to incubation success hairline cracks in hatching eggs often go unnoticed yet they can drastically impact outcomes. Understanding what hairline cracks are, how they affect embryo development, and why they should never be set for incubation is crucial for every hatchery professional. What is a Hairline Crack Egg? A hairline crack egg is an egg...
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Lighting as a Strategic Tool for Optimizing Poultry House Performance
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Mueez Ahmad (Arm & Hammer) discusses the increasing costs of this disease in the poultry industry and offers advice on how to control it, in this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
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Kalen Cookson (Zoetis) comments on sample collection, FTA cards, CT values, and identifying possible issues in the hatchery, in this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
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Transporting hatching eggs from breeder farms to the hatchery is a critical stage in the hatchery production chain. Even if egg collection, disinfection, and storage are performed correctly, poor transportation practices can compromise hatchability, chick quality, and overall flock performance. Hatchery managers, farm managers, and vehicle drivers must therefore treat egg transport as a specialized and sensitive process. 1. Why Transport Conditions Matter? v...
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What is Hypoxia in Incubation? Hypoxia is a condition where the embryo does not receive enough oxygen (O 2 ) for normal metabolism during incubation. Inside the egg, oxygen must pass through: Air cell Eggshell pores Shell membranes Chorioallantoic membranes (CAM) Embryos circulatory system When the oxygen supply is lower than the embryo’s metabolic demand than embryo faces oxygen shortage, and this...
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Transforming Poultry Farming in India with Srinivasa Farms and Hy-Line
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A few days ago, during routine egg breaking and quality observation in the hatchery, I encountered something that immediately caught my attention. The egg looked normal externally, but once opened, a distinct clotted blood spot was visible on the yolk. For a hatchery professional, this is never “just a spot.” It is a signal worth understanding. What is a clotted blood spot in the yolk? A clotted blood spot forms when significant rupture of...
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FIGAP 2026: The Scientific And Technological Exhibition Of The Livestock Industry
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Mr. Vaibhav Pawar, Managing Director at Swapnil Agro & Poultry, breaks down India’s biggest needs in poultry nutrition, shares how waste can become energy through rendering and biogas, and explains why amino acid profiling is the innovation the country must adopt immediately. ...
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Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry in Uttar Pradesh, explains the region’s poultry supply gap and the need for new farms and hatcheries. He highlights low egg availability, lack of technical training, and the urgency to improve cattle genetics. The state seeks private sector involvement to modernize infrastructure, boost productivity, and strengthen disease control. ...
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The UGA International Poultry Short Course provides a comprehensive overview of modern poultry production.
It is intended for those individuals with limited knowledge of poultry, as well as those who might have considerable experience in one area of poultry production but would like to have a better...
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I. INTRODUCTION Body composition, more specifically breast muscle and the abdominal fat pad, at the end of the rearing period of breeder pullets seems to play an important role in egg production, lay persistency, and fertility in the laying phase. Management of feeding by changing feed allowance or nutrient composition of the breeder pullet’s diet during rearing can alter body composition at the onset of lay. Adequate dietary protein is necessary to have optimum ovary...
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While the breeding programs of commercial meat chickens select birds with robust legs (Davis, 2015), poor leg strength and reduced locomotion are frequently observed in late stages of growth. We have previously reported that lower egg shell temperatures during early incubation, which delays chick hatch time, increases bone ash (BA) (Muir and Groves, 2017). Observations from our research and the literature (e.g. Ulmer-Franco et al., 2010) suggest that maternal breeder flock age may influence...
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I. INTRODUCTION Production improvements in commercial meat chickens via genetic selection and improved husbandry have resulted in rapid growing birds. These birds have endemically reduced locomotor ability; a conservative estimate is that 30% of birds in a flock are likely to have poor mobility (Knowles et al, 2008). Leg weakness has a direct impact on production due to lower bird quality, which may result in culls or condemnation of carcasses. While not well understood, early rapid...
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1. Introduction The surface of eggshells can be contaminated by bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp., which may account for 84% and 77% of the present Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively [1]. In addition to antibiotic resistance [1], Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus) may also be associated with the death of chicken embryos [2,3]. Eggs appear to be quite vulnerable to several threats, even biofilm...
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An essential oil shows promise for improving the immunity of broiler chickens before they hatch, according to University of Queensland research. Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation’s Dr Mila Meijer injected oregano essential oil compounds into fertile eggs to test its impact and found that it had a positive impact on the developing chick’s immune system. “Carvacrol is the main compound found in...
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