INCUBATION

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Poultry
Prewarming of Hatching Eggs

      Approximately 6 hours prior to placing eggs in the setter they should be moved from the egg-cooler room to normal room temperature.  Here, atmospheric air condenses over eggshell and form water droplets over eggshell, which is called as ‘Sweating’. It is advantageous to warm eggs before placing them in the incubator by avoiding creation of low temperature in the machine by placing cool eggs directly.

Types of incubation

1) Natural incubation

2) Artificial incubation

Natural incubation
  • Brooding hen sit on hatching eggs on about 10-15 eggs in a nest and incubate the eggs.
  • Commercially not suitable but well suited for rural (or) backyard poultry as eggs of others species (Ducks) is can be hatched with brooding hen.
Artificial incubation
  • More no.of chicks can be produced with good hatchability
  • Multi layered trays are kept
  • Commercially popular
  • Minimum egg capacity is 10,000-20000
  • There are 2 types of machine
  • (a) Setter    –   1st    18 days
  • (b) Hatcher –  Last 2 days
Setting up the Incubator
  • Prepare the incubator according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Clean and disinfect the incubator, ensuring it is free from any debris or contaminants. Set the temperature and humidity levels as recommended for chicken eggs.
Loading of Eggs
  • Placing of eggs in the setter is called ‘Loading of eggs’.  Eggs can be set in the setter either all-in all-out basis or batch basis.  Most of the commercial hatcheries are practicing batch system of loading eggs in the setter that will minimize the initial time taken to reach normal incubation temperature in the setter.  In this case, each setter is having hatching eggs with different stages of embryonic developments.
Requirements for incubation
 
Requirements for eggs Setter  (1-18 days) Hatchery (19-21 days)
Temperature 99.50 F to 99.750 F (37.50 C) 97.00 F to 99.00 F (37.20C)
Relative Humidity 55-60% 70-75%
Air supply Provision in the incubator adequate Provision in the incubator adequate
Position of  egg Broad end up Any position
Turning 6-8 turns in any given 24 hrs period Should not be turned