On-farm hatching

On-farm hatching

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After a good incubation process of 18 days, eggs can be candled and transported to the farm where eggs will hatch under their own steam. This knowledge inspired the idea of hatching chicks in the house, or on-farm hatching. On-farm hatching eliminates the need for chick transport. Chicks that hatch in the house can intake feed and water as soon as they are ready. There are various systems for hatching chicks in the house. They have a less stressful start to life, which keeps them calmer. With on-farm hatching, it is easier to track the hatching curve, and use the information to check that the hatching and chick temperatures are within the desired range. Hatching can take place in a special system (e.g. Patio, X-treck) or on the floor (e.g. One2Born, Nestborn). Uniform and correct air and floor temperatures are critical to keeping the eggs and chicks at the right temperature. On-farm hatching is currently used exclusively for broilers, as they do not need sexing. With the development of in-ovo sexing for laying hen hatcheries, on-farm hatching is also likely to be used in the egg production sector. A rail system (X-treck) that is suspended above the floor. Setter trays with 18 day-incubated eggs are placed on the rail. The poultry manager can easily regulate the airflow and temperature surrounding the embryo by adjusting the height of the system. The chicks hatch in the house after 19-20 days of incubation and they have immediate access to feed and water.

41 40 dry chick: 39.5 - 40.5°C

dry chick Temperature (°C) 35 36 37 38 39 hatching egg: 37.5 - 38.5°C Hatchability (%) 32 floor: 33.0 - 34.5°C floor (concrete) 32 32 19.0 19.5 20.0 20.5 21.0 21.5 Incubation time (days) 80 hatching egg 60 40 house (air) 20 19 The poultry house temperature is normally set for day-old chicks. The set point must be a little higher during hatching, so the newly hatched chicks do not cool down too much. It is often too cold for the first chicks, because heat production from all the other chicks is still too low. It is important to look at the hatching pattern to maintain the optimal house temperature. copyright protected In this system (Patio), the chicks hatch in the house, on a grid system above the living area. Post-hatch, the chicks drop through the grid to the living area with feed and water. This gives the chicks a good start. The chicks are housed on belts arranged as six tiers, instead of on a concrete floor. This allows more chicks to be housed in one building, which reduces heating costs. Instead of day-old-chicks, the poultry farmer receives 18-day incubated eggs.

Sensors for eggshell temperature in combination with a sensor for ambient temperature, RH and CO2 provide you with the essential information for fine-tuning the house environment. About 6 egg sensors per poultry house is sufficient.

Hatching on paper egg flats in the house

In this system (One2Born), the eggs stay on the paper egg flats/pulp trays in the house after 17-19 days of incubation. These trays do not need to be removed but can be left in the house. They function as enrichment material, and eventually biodegrade into the litter.

18-day incubated, fertile eggs hatch in the house, on paper egg flats. The air inlets in the paper egg flats ensure sufficient heat and gas exchange. In the poultry house, but also during transport and when the trays are still stacked. Day 8 Day 15copyright protected

The paper egg flats are left in the house, and have fully disintegrated by the end of the production period.

Day 21 Day 32

Eggs in the litter

This system (Nestborn) involves placing the hatching eggs carefully on a natural litter bed. This method leaves the least possible amount of residue in the litter. The disadvantage is that a special egg placing machine is required to place the eggs in the litter.

After 18 days incubation of the eggs are placed on a litter bed. The eggshell temperature is monitored by a logger, with four eggs, placed in the house. Unhatched eggs and dead embryos are counted. The eggshells remain where they are. copyright protected

Monitor the temperature regularly. Just as in a hatcher, at a certain moment, the focus shifts from the eggshell temperature to the chick temperature. Unhatched eggs are removed, you can leave the empty eggshells in place. You should also remove second grade chicks quickly.