Small Hatchery Management Breeding Stock Eggs Incubators Coordination Lessons Learned.

Small Hatchery Management

• Breeding Stock

• Eggs

• Incubators

• Coordination

• Lessons Learned


- Breeding Stock -

• Fertility

• Egg Production

• Feed Requirements


- Breeding Stock -

Fertility Considerations:

• Breed Characteristics

• Health – NPIP status and physical freedom from parasites and disease

• Male to Female Ratio

• Spurs and Feathers


- Breeding Stock -

Egg Production Considerations:

• Male Fighting and Hen Harassment

• Lights – 14 Hours

• Parasite Management

• Disease Management

• Timing Production


- Breeding Stock -

Feed Considerations:

• Breeder Feed

• Fresh, Clean, Unfrozen Water

• Oyster Shell

• Wheat Germ Oil

• Cod Liver Oil


- Eggs -

• Proper Storage

• Condition

• Shipping

• Candling


- Eggs -

Storage Considerations:• Location – out of sun and drafts, with constant temperature; a

cooler is ideal

• Temperature/Humidity – ideal is 60 degrees F

• Air Cell Up

• Rotate – daily rotation will improve hatch

• Duration Effects on Hatchability/Viability – best results are obtained from eggs 7 days and less, 10 days or less provide good results, but viability drops sharply from day 10


- Eggs -

Condition Considerations:

• Odd Shapes – likely not viable; may indicate poor air cell position

• Cracks – will allow entry of bacteria; can be sealed using candle wax

• Dirt – infect incubator with bacteria; wet dirty eggs likely not to hatch due to infectious agents being drawn into the egg


- Eggs -

Shipping Considerations:• Effect on Viability – jarring can damage air cell and loosen

embryo attachment

• Proper Methods – wrap in newspaper or paper towel so that movement with egg carton is prevented; when mailing, allow several inches of cushioning material around cartons

• Resting Overnight – allow eggs that have been transported/shipped to rest over night at room temperature, this will allow air cells to reform and result in better hatch


- Eggs -

Candling Considerations:

• Candle at 7-10 Days

• Again at Day 18

• Method

• Meanings of Observations


- Incubators -

• Location

• Temperature/ Humidity

• Incubation Cycle

• Cleanliness


- Incubators -

Location Considerations:

• Constant Temperature and Humidity

• Away from Sun

• Clean Environment


- Incubators -

Temperature and Humidity Considerations:

• Constant 99.5 degrees F

• Humidity 55% during First Two Weeks

• 65% during Hatch/Last Two Weeks

• Low Temperature can Delay Hatch

• High Temperature can Accelerate Hatch

• Low Humidity can cause Pipping with Inability to Hatch

• High Humidity can cause failure to seal navels and drowning during hatch


- Incubators -

Incubation Cycle Considerations:

• Run Incubator for 5 Days with Correct Temp/Humidity before Setting

• 2 Weeks in Incubator

• 1 Week in Hatcher


- Incubators -

Cleanliness Considerations:• Clean Incubator and

Hatcher at Start of Season• Separate Hatcher allows

Succession Settings without Debris Concerns

• Use 1-2 Tablespoons of Pinesol per Gallon of Water for Humidity

• Dry, Vacuum, and Spray between Hatches


- Coordination -

• Hatch Planning

• Chick Distribution

• Cleaning Cycle vs. Incubation Cycle


- Coordination -

Hatch Planning Considerations:

• It Takes 2 Weeks to Know Sire

• Once Lay Commences, Save Eggs for 1-2 Weeks

• It Takes 3 Weeks to Hatch

• It can take 4-7 Weeks from Commencement for First Chicks to Hatch


- Coordination -

Chick Distribution Considerations:

• Once Chicks Hatch They must be Placed

• Power Outages and Other Temperature Fluctuations can Alter Hatch by 1-2 Days

• Number of Chicks Hatched may be Greater of Fewer than Number Planned

• Shipping Chicks Requires Additional Planning and Labor


- Coordination -

Cleaning Cycle vs. Incubation Cycle Considerations:

• When Setting Once Every 2 Weeks, Plan to Clean Hatcher within 2 Days of Chick Removal

• When Setting Once Per Week, Hatcher must be Cleaned on Day of Hatch


- Lessons Learned -

• Pedigree

• Hatch Cycle

• Management Issues

• Other People


- Lessons Learned -

Pedigree Considerations:• Pedigree is useful in Planning

Matings

• Pedigree Marking of Day-old Chicks is Done by Toe-punch

• Chicks must be Separated According to Mating before They Hatch

• Labor to Pedigree increases Time Spent to Take-off Hatch from 15 Minutes to 50 Minutes


- Lessons Learned -

Hatch Cycle Considerations:• Hatching Every 2 Weeks is

better due to Reduced Workload and Increased Hatch Sizes

• Setting Every Hatch on the Same Weekday makes Keeping Track of Hatch Due Dates Much Easier

• Maintaining Hatch Intervals is Useful, Giving Regularity to Schedule


- Lessons Learned -

Management Considerations:

• Broody Hens cause Fertile Eggs to begin Growth, Saving these Started Eggs Kills Embryo

• Someone must Maintain Breeding Flock

• Breeder Replacements must be Grown, Selected, and Maintained


- Lessons Learned -

Other People:• When Pooling Hatching Eggs:

May have Schedule Conflicts• May have Different

Expectations (breed performance, chick availability, expenses)

• May Attempt to Reduce Feed Costs by Using Lower Quality Feed – thus Reducing Viability

• Industry Controls Each Segment – feed, breeding stock, incubation, housing, processing – for Good Reason

Small Hatchery Management Breeding Stock Eggs Incubators Coordination Lessons Learned.

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