On-Farm Hatching of Broiler Chicks: An Overview

The hatching phase of broiler production refers to the last three days of incubation, which are embryonic days 18-21. This phase of embryonic development is critical for the chick’s survival, as well as welfare and production later in life. In commercial hatcheries, eggs with viable embryos are transferred from incubators to hatching cabinets on embryonic day 18. Chicks hatch in the hatching baskets on embryonic day 21 and are transported to their housing facility. On-farm hatching is a new technological alternative to hatching chicks in hatching cabinets. On embryonic day 18, eggs with viable embryos are transported from the hatchery to the housing facility where they hatch on-farm.

Recent research has indicated that there may be some welfare benefits for chicks that hatch on-farm. This Poultry Press will highlight some of the differences between traditional vs. on-farm hatching and potential stressors that can affect chick welfare.

The differences between traditional and on-farm hatching can depend on many broiler company considerations, including the scale of the operation, cost, time, and logistics. Here we will focus on the differences in terms of location, biosecurity for disease prevention (see vol. 44 biosecurity), environmental conditions (see vol. 38 incubation conditions), and chick monitoring.

The stress response is complex and can vary greatly between individuals. This section will highlight the risk factors that could potentially stress chicks, including handling, transport, and access to resources (see vol. 41 ensuring chick welfare).

This Poultry Press is a brief overview of some of the differences between traditional vs. on-farm hatching and potential stressors that can affect chick welfare. There are many other considerations not included in this volume that have been investigated by researchers, such as chick quality and bird production, health, behavior, and other welfare considerations later in life. While on-farm hatching reduces the potential risk factors associated with traditional hatchery processes, research is needed to optimize on-farm hatching technologies for commercial broiler production.