Explore

Communities in English

Advertise on Engormix

natural incubation conditions in poultry industry

Forum: Incubator on the basis of natural incubation

Published: October 20, 2011
By: Ion Ungureanu

I am an engineer. 20 years ago I set up a goal to create an ideal incubator. Having studied specialized literature on incubation, I came to the conclusion, that natural incubation conditions are ideal for the development of embryo, and I decided to make an experiment. For a period of three months I set broods and in parallel installed the incubator. In April, the ratio of hatching among broods was 9% higher than the incubator. In May, it was 5% higher, in June, when the temperature was over 25 C, the ratio of hatching among broods was 3% lower than the incubator. I concluded that ideal way of incubating is natural incubation, when specific conditions are provided. If we perform detailed analysis of natural incubation and incubator, we will observe radical differences: In natural conditions, in nests, eggs are warmed by contact with the brood's body (41-42C. The eggs are warmed only from top, and the heat does not spread equally: in the centre of the nest the eggs are warmer, in the margins they are cooler. The brood, feeling hot and cool eggs, moves them periodically, from the centre to the margin, and from the margins to the centre. At the same time she turns the eggs over, hot side down and cold side up. A good brood moves each egg up to 50 times in 24 hours. In the end of the incubation period, as a result of physiological processes in the egg, the temperature of the egg goes up, and the brood starts touching the eggs more and more seldom. She raises on her legs, stimulating air circulation. Maximum temperature is in the centre of the nest, on the top of the eggs, making about 39 C, while the minimum temperature, in the margin of the nest, on the bottom of the eggs, is 32 C. During incubation period, the difference between maximum and minimum temperature is 5 C. In natural conditions, the temperature in the nest is never stable - it periodically goes up and down. Variation of temperature under the brood is caused by the following circumstances: individual features (behaviour) of the brood, temperature of the environment, existence of vertical temperature zones, caused by heating the eggs from above and cooling them from beneath, variation of temperature in the centre and on peripheries of the nest, increasing of temperature inside the egg, caused by the development of the embryo, cooling out of the eggs, while the brood leaves them. During phylogenies process, bird embryos managed to adapt to developing in the conditions of varying temperature. Permanent variations of temperature create optimal conditions for circulation of gas and does not allow overheating of the eggs. Periodical cooling of the eggs cause general increase of oxidation processes and earlier appearance of signs of chemical thermoregulation. Besides, adapting changes appearing during embryogenesis, under the influence of lowing temperature, are present after hatching as well, and cause faster homoiothermy (warm-bloodedness) of chickens. The immune system of chickens hatched in natural incubation is much stronger, than of those hatched in modern industrial incubators. 8 years ago, I created an industrial incubator, based on above mentioned features, and I patented it. It reflects the conditions of natural incubation: 1. turning the eggs 180 degrees; 2. minimum temperature - 36.8 degrees, maximum - 38,8 degrees; 3. eggs are warmed in turns, on side, then another, as in natural incubation conditions; We can speak much about the advantages of this incubator, about the quality and quantity of hatched generations, but I decided to appeal to you, dear and much respected scientists. Please, express your opinions about my development, and, hopefully there will be a sponsor or a partner for the creation of such incubators, or a buyer based on my development. Construction of one section (10 000 eggs) of such incubator is not more expensive then a section of a modern tunnel incubator, and it is also very easy in service. Based on my development, incubators for various numbers of eggs can be made.

Related topics:
Recommend
Comment
Share
Profile picture
Would you like to discuss another topic? Create a new post to engage with experts in the community.
Featured users in Poultry Industry
Padma Pillai
Padma Pillai
Cargill
United States
Shivaram Rao
Shivaram Rao
Pilgrim´s
PhD Director Principal de Nutrición y Servicios Técnicos de Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
United States
Karen Christensen
Karen Christensen
Tyson
Tyson
PhD, senior director of animal welfare at Tyson Foods
United States
Join Engormix and be part of the largest agribusiness social network in the world.