Embryonic development and hatchery

(1)

Embryonic development and hatchery

PREHEATING

This is achieved in 3 ways:

• To favour the regeneration of cells that die during storage.

• To better co-ordinate embryo development before incubation starts.

• Reduce the hatch window and thus improve the chick quality.

(2)

The preheating methods used can vary from storage time

Preheating in short-term stored eggs (up to 7 days) for 8-12 hours at 23-26 ^o C,

In long stored eggs (8-14 days) preheating should be done at 23-26 ^o C

for 12-18 hours.

(3)

Setter conditions

In the hatcher the eggs will stay for 18 days.

• Temperature………..

• Humidity………..

• Turning……….

• Ventilation………

(4)

Temperature

• Temperature is the most important incubation parameter. It mainly determines the speed of embryo development and it has to be kept within a small range to assure optimal hatchability and chick quality.

• The optimum temperature in this period is 37.5-37.7 ^o C.

• But egg shell temperature must be determined (37.8 ^o C is the best)

(5)

Humidity

• Humidity and the way it is provided can influence the incubation success by several ways

• The relative humidity level in this machine should be 55-60%.

• Firstly it affects the moisture loss of the eggs

• The weight loss until day 18.5 (transfer) should be 12 %, with an acceptable range from 11 – 13 %.

This will ensure that the majority of the eggs experience a moisture loss that is high enough to form the air cell necessary for internal pipping without risking the dehydration of the chicks.

• When flocks are ageing………

• The second important feature of humidity is the heat capacity of water

(6)

Ventilation

• The primary purpose of the ventilation of an incubator is the supply of oxygen and the removal of CO

²

.

• It is also necessary to remove the water vapour evaporated by

the eggs.

(7)

Turning

• It is beneficial by preventing the embryo from sticking to the shell membrane and promoting the utilisation of the albumen.

Embryonic development and hatchery

Embryonic development and hatchery

PREHEATING

This is achieved in 3 ways:

• To favour the regeneration of cells that die during storage.

• To better co-ordinate embryo development before incubation starts.

• Reduce the hatch window and thus improve the chick quality.

The preheating methods used can vary from storage time

Preheating in short-term stored eggs (up to 7 days) for 8-12 hours at 23-26 o C,

In long stored eggs (8-14 days) preheating should be done at 23-26 o C

for 12-18 hours.

Setter conditions

In the hatcher the eggs will stay for 18 days.

• Temperature………..

• Humidity………..

• Turning……….

• Ventilation………

Temperature

• Temperature is the most important incubation parameter. It mainly determines the speed of embryo development and it has to be kept within a small range to assure optimal hatchability and chick quality.

• The optimum temperature in this period is 37.5-37.7 o C.

• But egg shell temperature must be determined (37.8 o C is the best)

Humidity

• Humidity and the way it is provided can influence the incubation success by several ways

• The relative humidity level in this machine should be 55-60%.

• Firstly it affects the moisture loss of the eggs

• The weight loss until day 18.5 (transfer) should be 12 %, with an acceptable range from 11 – 13 %.

This will ensure that the majority of the eggs experience a moisture loss that is high enough to form the air cell necessary for internal pipping without risking the dehydration of the chicks.

• When flocks are ageing………

• The second important feature of humidity is the heat capacity of water

Ventilation

• The primary purpose of the ventilation of an incubator is the supply of oxygen and the removal of CO

.

• It is also necessary to remove the water vapour evaporated by

the eggs.

Turning

• It is beneficial by preventing the embryo from sticking to the shell membrane and promoting the utilisation of the albumen.

• By tradition, eggs are turned hourly by 45° throughout the setter

period.

Candling and transfer

• Candling is a means of identifying infertile and early dead embryos.

• The temperature of the transfer room should be at least 25 °C

Preheating in short-term stored eggs (up to 7 days) for 8-12 hours at 23-26 ^o C,

In long stored eggs (8-14 days) preheating should be done at 23-26 ^o C

• The optimum temperature in this period is 37.5-37.7 ^o C.

• But egg shell temperature must be determined (37.8 ^o C is the best)