Hatchery Management

The outcome of the laying farm supplying hatching eggs to produce good quality chicks is reliant on 4 key areas:

1.Egg handling and selection

2.Egg disinfection

3.Egg storage

4.Egg quality control

How many times will u collect eggs?

Atleast 4 times a day. In hot climates as may times as possible

It can cause cracks/damage the chalazae and internal membranes resulting in higher embryo mortality.

Rough handling

If the eggs rolls too fast off conveyer belts from automatic nest, it can cause what?

cracks

The ideal hatching egg should weigh between?

50 and 68 grams (depending upon flock age)

Characteristics of an ideal egg to hatch

have clearly defined round and pointed ends, good colour, clean and undamaged shell free from infection.

Eggs that can reduce hatchability and higher risk of contamination (Omphalitis and Aspergillus).

Dirty eggs and cracked eggs

It can reduce hatchability and have a higher cull levels.

Mis-shaped eggs

These are reject eggs, no hatchability.

Double-yolks

It reduce hatchability and more culls

Upside-down eggs

the temperature (24°C) at which embryo development does not advance

Physiological Zero

What is the ideal shape of the temperature profile from the time an egg is laid until storage in the hatchery?

V-shaped, meaning a gradual cooling to the lowest point (hatchery egg room) and then gradual warming before incubation.

Why should the hatchery egg room have the lowest temperature in the egg storage environment?

To minimize embryo development and maintain egg viability until incubation.

What is the sequence of temperature changes shown in the flow chart from the hen’s body to the incubator machine?

Hen’s Body: 40–41°C

Hen House: 26–29°C

On-Farm Egg Room: 21–24°C

Transportation Truck: 18–21°C

Hatchery Egg Room: 15–18°C (lowest point)

Pre-heating Area: 24–27°C

Incubator Machine: 37.5–38°C

Effects of egg storage

• Prolongs incubation time

• Hatchability is depressed

• Prolonged egg storage (8+ days) can degrade the albumen, causing the embryo to shift closer to the shell

Pre-warming eggs provides several benefits that include:

• Reduces the risk of embryo shock

• Prevents condensation forming on the shell

• Will reduce the variation among egg temperatures at the time of incubating.

This can allow bacteria to stick to the shell which increases the risk of contaminating the egg.

Condensation

The optimum physical conditions for any broiler embryo to grow successfully are:

• Correct temperature

• Correct humidity

• Adequate gas exchange

• Regular turning of eggs

Factors that can impact uniformity of temperature in the incubator:

• Incorrect ventilation

• Temperature calibrations

• Cooling problems

• Over/under utilization of incubator capacities

• Poor engineering design

• Maintenance (door seals)

• Incorrect turning angle

It disrupts air supply, pressure, damper settings, and exhaust ventilation, causing uneven temperatures.

Incorrect ventilation

How often should temperature probes be calibrated in multi-stage and single-stage incubators?

• Multi-stage: Every 90 days

• Single-stage: Every time the machine is empty

It can cause poor water flow, sticky valves, wrong water temperature, and mineral deposits in pipes.

Cooling problems

Machines are calibrated to be full and may not operate within calibrated temperature ranges if not full of eggs

Over or under utilization of incubator capacities

Worn or broken door seals can let heat escape or enter, leading to temperature instability.

Maintenance

Four factors influence the total incubation time of eggs:

• Temp. of incubation

• Age of eggs

• Size of eggs

• Moisture loss

They take longer to incubate. You will need to add extra incubation time if eggs are stored over 7 days.

Older eggs

Why is egg turning especially important during the first week of incubation?

It prevents the embryo from sticking to the shell membranes

What happens if the turning angle is too shallow (less than 39°)?

incorrect embryo positioning

Between ______________, the yolk sac membrane is growing down around the yolk and actively moves water from the albumen to the sub-embryonic fluid. Turning allows the yolk membrane to absorb water by contacting a fresh area of albumen

3 to 4 days of incubation

Eggs are removed from the incubator after ____ days of incubation and transferred to the hatcher baskets.

18 or 19 days

All eggs should be transferred to a __________, even if incubated in a single or multi-stage incubator.

single-stage hatcher

When should the incubator be turned off during the transfer process?

after the last egg has been removed

When should the hatcher be turned on before transferring eggs?

At least two hours before transfer

The time between the eggs leaving the incubator and entering the hatcher should be less than how many minutes?

20 minutes, to prevent cooling

What is the purpose of candling eggs during transfer?

remove infertile, early dead, and contaminated eggs

How to check the accuracy of personnel or equipment by comparing results across young, prime, and old flocks?

by taking a sample clear eggs

What should be done with contaminated eggs before transfer?

Remove and place “rots” and “exploders” in a disinfectant-filled receptacle.

In what order should eggs be transferred based on flock age and laying location?

• First: Eggs from younger flocks

• Last: Eggs from older flocks and floor eggs

It can provide early immunity for the embryo and reduce the need for chick handling, manual labor and personnel errors

In-ovo vaccinations

What should be done if hatchers or baskets are still wet during transfer?

Open the hatcher damper fully for the first 3 to 4 hours

Factors Influencing Chick Size

• Egg size

• Egg weight

• Length of time between hatching, pulling, and delivery also affect final chick weight.

Individual chick weights are likely to range from _ to _ grams.

34 to 46 g

This has been developed to improve chick handling while reducing the number of staff involved.

Automated equipment

is the time frame spanning from the first chick to the last chick hatching

The hatch window

Factors affecting early hatch include:

✓ Temperature fluctuations during storage

✓ Extended pre-heating periods

✓ Incubating eggs too early / too many hours of incubation

✓ Incorrect incubator/hatcher temperature and humidity

✓ Hot spots inside the incubator and hatcher

✓ Incorrect ventilation (air supply/damper calibration)

✓ Maintenance issues

✓ Seasonal temperature changes impacting the hatchery environment

Factors affecting late or delayed hatching include:

✓ Incubating eggs too late

✓ Incorrect incubator/hatcher temperature and humidity

✓ Incorrect ventilation (air volume/damper calibration)

✓ Seasonal temperature changes impacting the hatchery environment

✓ Eggs which have been stored for long periods

✓ Eggs which have been stored at too low a temperature

✓ Maintenance issues

✓ Incorrect incubation patterns in multi-stages machines

✓ Disease and fertility issues

may result from incorrect adjustment of setting time for egg age or excessive weight loss during incubation.

Dehydration of chicks

The minimum ventilation rate needed to satisfy adequate oxygen is?

20 CFM (34 m3 /hr) per 1000 chicks during winter weather, and twice this amount during hot weather.

The vehicle should be equipped with an ____________ but may use fresh ambient air for cooling.

auxiliary heating system

If summer air temperatures exceed _____, cooling equipment is required.

86 °F (30 °C)

This should have a display showing the temperature within the load to enable the driver to adjust air vents for cooling.

Vehicle cab

Chicks delivered in _______ _______require greater care to prevent overheating or chilling than those in cardboard. Ensure the vehicle has adequate heating and cooling to handle _________ ________

plastic boxes

What is the recommended in-box temperature for holding chicks, and how can it be achieved during transport?

Chicks should be held at 90°F (32°C).

Use _______ vehicle air temp with plastic boxes

75°F (24°C)

_________ with cardboard boxes to maintain the ideal in-box temperature.

71°F (20°C)