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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.
Summary We previously found that only 66% of hens in cages with a nest box became ‘consistent’ nest-box layers, that is laying at least 80% of their eggs in the nest box. To begin to understand how social factors might limit nest box use in ‘modern’ cages, we housed birds either singly or in groups of eight and recorded the incidence of nest box and floor eggs. The proportion of nest box eggs was...
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A common management tool in the handling of hatching eggs is treatment of the eggs with a fumigant or other type of disinfectant to reduce the number of microorganisms on the shell surface. In addition, sanitation of the hatchery building, hatchery equipment, egg transportation equipment, etc., is critical to good hatchability and high quality hatchlings.
Penetration of the hatching egg shell by microorganisms results in embryonic mortality, weak chicks, high chick mortality, and poor...
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Where Does Microbial Contamination Come From? Bacteria and mold which can affect hatching eggs are found everywhere in the environment - in soil, in manure, and even on the dust particles in the air. The most common way hatching eggs become contaminated is by allowing fresh eggs to lay in dirty nests or on the floor and slats.
How Does Microbial Contamination Affect the Eggs and Chicks? When a large number of bacteria get onto the...
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Baby chicks are really quite easy to raise. With a few pieces of equipment and a small place to put them, success in brooding and rearing is virtually assured. During this period of the bird's life, the most important needs are for warmth, protection, feed, and water. When growing chicks of any species-chickens, turkeys, pheasants, or almost any other production bird-each of these aspects must be considered.
Natural vs. artificial brooding ...
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Automation of hatching egg collection in breeder houses is often seen as a big investment. However, the investment should be judged not solely on operational costs in the breeder house but also in terms of improved results in the hatchery such as higher hatchability and chick numbers resulting in improved utilisation of hatching eggs. Top quality hatching eggs are essential for high hatchability and thus investment in the quality of eggs produced in the breeder house is sound economic...
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The following can be used as a guide in determining whether eggs are fertile, infertile, or if early embryonic death has occurred. In using this guide remember that the descriptions and diagrams are of 'typical" infertile germinal discs, and fertile and early dead embryos. However, their appearance may vary from egg to egg, and may not look exactly as shown and described. It will take some practice and experience to become comfortable with distinguishing between infertile and fertile eggs....
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Petersime has long recognised the importance of its distributors as a driving force behind the company's success. Always ready to share knowledge and best practices, Petersime recently organised two distributor seminars in Bangkok (Thailand) and Ghent (Belgium).
Petersime has been active in Asia/Pacific for over 30 years, with a vast network of distributors in nearly every country in the region. To support its partners in this part of the world, the company organised a seminar in...
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Pas Reform has appointed Mr. McGregor Lochhead of Sonoma Enterprises Ltd. to develop markets in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands for its modular, single-stage Smart incubation system.
Mr. Lochhead is well known in New Zealand's poultry sector. Following six years with ANZ Banking Group in Trade Finance and FX (Foreign Exchange products), he took over the running of Sonoma Enterprises - a leading local provider of agricultural equipment and consultancy - from his father in...
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Poultry production, considered one of the relatively less affected meat lines in these times of financial turmoil, still needs a lot of help from companies like E-CAT which provides precise hatchery automation systems to cut costs and sustain quality. Looking on to some of the most financially challenged times in decades, the egg and poultry production worldwide still appears promising as demand for poultry meat has never substantially dived. Yet, the sector needs as much...
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Artificial incubation of poultry eggs is an ancient practice. Aristotle writing in the year 400 B.C. told of Egyptians incubating eggs spontaneously in dung heaps. The Chinese developed artificial incubation at least as early as 246 B.C. These early incubation methods were often practiced on a large scale, a single location perhaps having capacity of 36,000 eggs. The application of incubation principles was a closely guarded secret, passed from one generation to the next. The proper...
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Hungarian poultry specialist Dr. László Kőrösi (58) has been appointed to represent Pas Reform, as the Dutch hatchery technology company expands further into Eastern Europe.
Founder of poultry health and management consultancy, AgriAL Bt., in 2002, Dr. Kőrösi began his career as a veterinarian and technical consultant for Shaver, with a MSc from Budapest Veterinary University.
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During last edition of VIV Asia, Petersime N.V. -global leader in incubators and hatchery systems- introduced a new product, Synchro-Hatch , its latest innovation in bio-response. Mr John Vanackere , Area Sales Manager Petersime N.V. presented this system that helps the hatchery manager to know whenever the chicks' first movements begin. This is a tool which assists improving hatching efficiency by...
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The development of the embryo is determined by the temperature inside the shell, the embryo temperature. This temperature will dictate the development, but with that also the hatchability and the quality of the day-old chick.
It is often assumed that this temperature is fully dependent on the temperature of the air. Although air temperature has a large influence on it, it is not the only factor and in some situations not even the most important factor to consider.
We want to...
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Previous research has shown that quality hatching eggs improve the likelihood of optimum hatchability as well as result in good chick quality (Yoho et al., 2008, Moyle et al., 2008). Pathogens can penetrate, contaminating the egg shell, its membranes and the embryo (Berrang et al., 1999). Improperly handled eggs can also explode contaminating the surrounding eggs in the setter. While proper sanitation of eggs can be beneficial to overall hatchability, failure to follow recommended sanitation...
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In recent months it has been noticed that many hatcheries have experienced more contamination, including Salmonella, than usual. In order to better understand how to reduce contamination it is a good idea to review the biology of the egg. There are several natural defenses against contamination that hatching eggs possess and these are reviewed in this Poultry Tip.
1. Shell . The eggshell provides a barrier for microbes attempting to penetrate the egg. The shell,...
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The main components of air are oxygen (O 2 ), nitrogen (N 2 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and water vapor (H 2 O). The free movement of these molecules through the pores of the shell and the shell membranes is important because the developing embryo must receive a constant supply of oxygen and must eliminate carbon dioxide and moisture. a. Oxygen in the Air The oxygen content of the air at sea level...
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During the last decade incubation temperature control has become more critical. The problems associated with controlling the temperature of high yielding breeder eggs during incubation are well known to the breeder-hatchery industry. Looking at the set point and sensor temperatures is not enough to evaluate the conditions inside the mass of incubating eggs in an incubator. Currently, hatcheries are measuring embryo temperatures routinely as a quality control procedure. To determine what...
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Pas Reform continues to expand in Asia, with the announcement that Malaysia’s PW Consolidated Bhd (formerly known as PinWee Group Bhd.) has signed an agreement for the supply of Smart incubators for a new state-of-the-art hatchery in Kedah, Malaysia. The contract, signed by Mr. Dato’Siah Gim Eng and Mrs. Datin Law Hooi Lean of PW Consolidated with Henk Markhorst, Sales Director and Dr. Tan Ee Seng, Sales Director Asia, from Pas Reform Hatchery Technologies, also includes provision for...
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Steam has been used for decades for providing humidity in many types of industrial and home environments. Until recently, it has been considered too expensive for hatchery use, and therefore has not been used. Currently, steam as a hatchery humidity source is more affordable and is being used in some larger hatcheries. There are many ways hatcheries are currently humidifying their setter, hatcher, egg, and chick rooms. The type of equipment selected depends on the size of the room, air...
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Cool storage of hatching eggs is a "necessary evil" which hatchery managers have to endure. When coordinating the incubation of millions of eggs it is sometimes necessary to store hatching eggs, there-bye putting the development of the chick embryo "on hold". This storage does not come without a cost. Hatchery managers are aware of the general "rule" that the hatchability of eggs stored more than one week is reduced. There is no data on modern strains to show how much hatchability...
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