Hatchery Poultry Farming
- 2. Hatchery Farming Hatching eggs is a vital step in the poultry industry. The process of hatching eggs is known as incubation. Egg-laying birds incubate their eggs by sitting on them till they are ready for hatching. Hatching refers to the development of the embryo within the egg under favorable environmental conditions. Multiple factors are involved in hatching eggs. It is vital to consider all of them for successfully hatching eggs.
- 3. Hatcheries For Hatching Eggs Hatcheries are available for the commercial production of eggs. A hatchery is a unit with artificially controlled conditions for hatching eggs. Hatching eggs in poultry farming is a multi-billion dollar industry with highly regulated production systems for maximum egg production in comparison to feeding consumed. The eggs produced through hatcheries are usually uniform in size.
- 4. Hatching Eggs-How Is It Done? The process of hatching eggs can be divided into three main steps. They are as follows: Selecting The Eggs Maintaining The Eggs Hatching Eggs
- 5. Selecting The Eggs After the birds lay eggs, checking the eggshells for crack before putting them into the incubators is needed to determine their soundness.
- 6. Maintaining The Eggs Incubators control temperature and humidity. The eggs undergo turning in the incubators until just before they hatch. They are then moved into a hatcher unit three days before they are supposed to hatch.
- 7. Hatching Eggs Once in the hatchery unit, the eggs are no longer turned so that the embryos get time to orient themselves properly for exiting from the shell. The eggs hatch during a period ranging from 24 to 48 hours. The time depends on their biological variation. This period is commonly known as the hatching window.
- 8. Vaccination, Care, And Transport After Hatching Eggs Chicks are often vaccinated once they are a few weeks old. They first receive feed and water. The chicks require warmth and protection till they are ready for transport. Eggs are carefully placed in crates for transport. The crates must be clean, disinfected. They grow in barns until they become broiler chickens suitable for the market.
- 9. Criteria For Selecting Eggs For Hatching Eggs suitable for hatching require careful selection. The following parameters help to determine the eggs likely to hatch well. Fertility Egg quality Egg size and shape Eggshell Deformity Soiled egg Storage
- 10. Fertility Eggs collected from well-matured hens after 5- 7 days of mating are suitable for hatching. It is best to collect eggs within two days of separating the cock to be fertile . Collecting the eggs immediately after letting the cock in for mating may not give eggs fertile enough for hatching. Similarly, those collected long after the separation of the cock may be infertile.
- 11. Egg Size And Shape The size of the eggs is a significant factor for hatching. The size of the chick hatched depends highly on the size of the egg. The eggs should be neither too big nor too small. The appropriate size and shape of the eggs vary depending upon the breed. It is desirable to select eggs that are about 58 g. Eggs of uniform size and oval shape are ideal for hatching.
- 12. Eggshell The eggshell should be of uniform thickness. The texture and Colour of the shells must be consistent so that there is a steady spread of warmth during incubation. The eggs for incubation should be free from tints if the eggs have white shells. Light brown coloured eggs hatch better than dark brown eggs in the case of brown shelled eggs.
- 13. Egg Quality Eggs should not be stale. They should be fresh and collected as early as possible after laying. Collecting the eggs within a week of laying is acceptable. Eggs laid on the day of the setting are not advisable to be set until they attain the room temperature before setting. Eggs of 2- 4 days old are the best.
- 14. Deformity Eggs with ridges, encrustations, projections, and other deformities such as depressions, cracks, or stains are best to avoid. These kinds of deformities adversely affect the chances of hatching eggs. They may not retain a uniform temperature for the embryo to develop. Also, the chick will face difficulty in chipping with its tender beak and come out if the shell is very thick. Thus, eggs with very thin or thick shells are not apt for hatching eggs.
- 15. Soiled Egg Hatchers must not clean soiled eggs in water before setting. Washing with water opens up the pores. Washing will affect hatching eggs. If the dirt is minimal, removing it with a knife is the best practice. Hatchers should ward off highly soiled eggs.
- 16. Storage Eggs collected for setting must be kept in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place. It is critical to not keep eggs for more than three days during hot weather. In winter or areas with low temperatures, hatchers can keep them for up to 10 days. Eggs absorb odor very quickly. Thus, it is not preferable to store them near smelly substances like onion, garlic, kerosene, etc. Eggs, if shaken very much during transportation are not favourable for hatching.
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