Transfer

In some systems, it is possible to replace eggs removed after candling with ones containing live embryos, either until the hatcher basket is full or up to a fixed percentage. You can achieve optimal hatcher filling in this way and create more uniform heat distribution in the machine.

Transfer

The eggs with live embryos are lifted by suction cups and transferred from the setter trays to the hatcher baskets. These baskets are then placed in a trolley and moved into the hatcher. There is a high risk of rotten eggs that explode (bangers) when floor eggs are candled and transferred. The candling-transfer unit is covered in pieces of shell and rotten egg contents, and the stench is horrendous. If a breeder farm always includes a lot of floor eggs in the deliveries, it can be a good idea to invite the farmer to be present at candling, so they can witness and smell the results with their own eyes and nose! Infertile eggs are not suitable for human consumption, but they can be used in the processing industry, e.g., for shampoo or pet foods. The remaining eggs are destroyed.

In some hatcheries, the infertile eggs and eggs with dead embryos are removed from the setter trays, and only good hatching eggs are left in the trays. But there is a risk here: weak infertile eggs can break when being lifted for removal and could then infect the good eggs. Transporting hatching eggs On-farm hatching involves transporting the hatching eggs, on day 18, to the farm where they will hatch. Some hatcheries also transport eggs, on day 18, to special hatching locations. The embryos are now already far in their development and less sensitive to vibrations, condensation, and temperature variations. However, temperature fluctuations should still be minimised so avoid using an open trailer.copyright protected During transfer, the infertile eggs and eggs with dead embryos are left in the setter trays. Then they are sub-divided into unusable (late mortalities), and usable (infertile/early embryo mortalities up to day 6-7).

Good eggs are raised slightly so they can be removed by the suction caps. Bad eggs (infertile eggs, or dead embryos) are left in the trays.

Bangers are first identified and then removed with a powerful suction device. This avoids touching the eggs, and other eggs are not contaminated.

LOOK-THINK-ACT

Sometimes a second candling installation is installed, to double check. If the pattern shown by the first candling does not correspond with the second, the whole tray is set aside. If, for example, this often occurs at the same place in the tray, the cause could be certain suction cups not working properly. Too early onset of hatch? You already see chicks at the time of transfer. There are even a few day-old chicks running around the setter floor. All the incubator setter parameters seem to be correct. There are many factors that speed up hatching, even to a stage that pipping starts before transfer from setter to hatcher. If the settings were correct, the problem might be: • In the setter: hot spots in the incubator. • Pre-warming: excessively long pre-warming, reducing incubation time. • During storage: conditions were too warm (early onset of development). • On farm: egg collection too infrequent, leading to egg cooling being too slow.copyright protected

These eggs are contaminated, possibly by a banger in the setter tray above. It is standard practice not to check clear eggs and process them directly. However, regularly checking these eggs is still a good idea, to discover the precise reason for mortality. For example, check 5 trays of 30 eggs, so 150 eggs per batch.