Poultry
Storage of Hatching Eggs
A. Temperature
- The optimum temperature of 10-12°C (or) 50-55°F
B. Humidity
- Optimum humidity range from 75 to 80%
C. Length of storage / Age of egg
- After 5 days – Each additional day of storage decreased hatchability by about 4% and the hatching time increased by 20 minutes .
D. Handling of Egg / Position
- Hatching eggs should be held small end down
- Large end down develop tremulous air cells and such eggs with loose air cells do not hatch well.
- Rough handling may result in cracked eggs which is decrease hatching.
E. Turning
- During the long period storage-Prevent the blastoderm from sticking to the shell.
- If the eggs are stored in the same position for a long period albumen may part resulting in the developing embryo to come in contact with the shell membranes.
Fumigation of Hatching Eggs
After traying, eggs are to be kept in the fumigation chamber for fumigation. Fumigating with 3x concentration of formaldehyde for 20 minutes will kill about 97.5 to 99.5% of the organisms on the shells. One ‘x’ concentration means 20 g of KmnO4 with 40 ml of formalin for 100 cubic feet (3x means 60 g of KmnO4 + 120 ml of formalin for 100 cubic feet).
Fumigation | Concentration | Time (Minutes) |
Hatching eggs after laying | 3x | 20 |
Eggs in incubator (first day) | 2x | 20 |