1. Introduction

Contents

1. Introduction

Key link How the chain works Incubation is interaction Each incubator is different

4 5 6 7 8 Hatchery management 9 The role of the hatchery manager 10 Information exchange 11 The signals concept 13 Critical batches, locations and moments 15

2. The incubation process 18 The anatomy of the hatching egg 19 Development of an embryo 20 From natural brooding to artificial incubation 22 The environment of the egg 24 Heat and temperature 25 Gas exchange of the embryo 26 The importance of uniformity 27 3. Principles of artificial incubation 28 Broilers and laying hens 28 Eggshell temperature is key 30 Incubation temperature 31 Temperature settings 32 Heat production by the embryo 33 Ventilation 34 Carbon dioxide 35 Relative humidity 36 Weight loss and machine settings 37 Measuring moisture loss 38 Purpose of ventilation 39 Water cooling 40 Air velocity 41 Multi-stage or single-stage 42 Minor differences, major implications 43 4. Egg handling and quality 44 Embryonic development during egg formation 45 Cooling to physiological zero 46 Cooling at the breeder farm 47 Grading and on-farm traying 48 Hatching egg quality 49 Unsuitable for hatching 50 Size and uniformity 51 Hairline cracks 52 Dirty eggs 53 How should you deal with floor eggs? 55 Storage at the breeder farm 58 Humidity during storage 59 Store eggs pointed end down 60 Track and trace 61 5. Biosecurity 62 Process steps in the hatchery 63 Biosecurity zones at the hatchery 64 Routing at the hatchery 65 Clean floors and walls 67 Biosecurity measures 68 Personnel and hygiene 69 Cleaning 73 Disinfection of the hatchery 75 6. Egg transport and storage 76 Condensation point = dew point 77 Transition moments 78 Dry bulb and wet bulb thermometer 78 Climate during transport 80 Jolts and vibrations 81 Egg transport and logistics 82 Inspection of incoming eggs 83 Storage at the hatchery 84 Climate conditions during storage 85 Storage duration 86 Longer storage 87 Turning during storage 88 SPIDES 89 Disinfecting eggs 90 Dry (fumigation) and wet disinfection 91 After disinfection 92 Disinfectants for eggs 93 7. Setting 94 Do not mix 95 Origin 96 Parent stock age 97 Laying date 97 Preparing the incubator 98 Setting eggs 99 Pre-warming (single-stage) 100 Pre-warming (multi-stage) 100 Climate conditions during setting 101 Transition from warming to cooling 102 Humidification during setting 103 First few days: ventilation inlets closed 104 Day 4 to 11: regulate based on RH 105 Heat distribution in the incubator 106 Egg turning during setting 107 The importance of turning 108 Monitor turning 109 Monitoring setter conditions 110 Constantly improved measurement 111 Candling 112 8. Transfer 114 Which egg has a live embryo? 115 Infertile eggs, bangers, late mortalities, and living embryos 116 What do key indicators tell you? 118 In-ovo vaccination 120 The optimal timing 121 Suitability of the egg 122 Hygiene is extremely important 122 In-ovo sexing 123 Transfer 126 Hygiene at transfer 128 Breakout analysis on day 18 129 Eggs in a clean hatcher 130 Hatcher baskets 131 9. Hatching 132 Air temperature in the hatcher 133 Humidity in the hatcher 134 Position in the egg 135 Internal pipping 136 External pipping 137 The hatch window 138

Variation in the hatch moment 139 Pull time 140 Unhatched eggs/dead in shell 141 Count and assess unhatched eggs 142 Hatching systems and early feeding 143 On-farm hatching 145 10. Chick quality 148 Signals from empty eggshells 149 Pipping height and pipping line 151 Infection pressure 152 Meconium 153 Chick temperature 154 Chick yield 155 Drying off or dehydrating? 156 Residual yolk 157 Absorption of residual yolk 158 Chick weight and length 159 The signals given by chick length Working at the take-off table Selection criteria Navel and cloaca Belly Feathering Legs Beak Serious abnormalities Scoring systems Abnormalities and their causes Downgraded chicks Sex determination Sexing and sex-linked genetic traits Vaccination at the hatchery 11. Chick transport and delivery Chick storage Preparation for chick transport Cargo area climate Ventilation during transport International transport Transport to and from airports Feed and water during long transport Chick deliverycopyright protected 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 171 172 173 174 176 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 Hygiene during delivery 187 On the poultry farm 188 House conditions inspection 189 First week mortality 190 Index 191