LOOK-THINK-ACT
Signals from empty eggshells Examine the empty eggshells after hatching. This is a simple way to evaluate the incubation conditions. Inspect the height of pipping, the growth of its outer membrane/allantois, and check for the presence of urates and albumen residues. Assess empty eggshells and look for meconium (dark green first droppings from chicks) in the hatcher basket. This provides valuable information on the incubation process. When the incubation process is good, the empty egg shells are clean and dry with visible dried up blood vessels in the membrane.
What is the problem here?
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These eggs have an Aspergillus fungal infection in the air cell. This clearly changes the colour of the eggshell membranes to yellow. Check the biosecurity and take measures to prevent the fungal infection spreading further in the hatchery or incubator.
Hatcher baskets are often completely flipped over when emptied (left). Make sure that rotten eggs detected during candling and transfer are removed before tipping, otherwise they will break and infect the young chicks (right).
Here, the chicks are separated from their waste products; the brush sweeps the last eggshell residue from the chicks.
10. C h i c k q u a l i t y
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