small hatchery management breeding stock eggs incubators coordination lessons learned
TRANSCRIPT
Small Hatchery Management
• Breeding Stock
• Eggs
• Incubators
• Coordination
• Lessons Learned
Small Hatchery Management
- Breeding Stock -
• Fertility
• Egg Production
• Feed Requirements
Small Hatchery Management
- Breeding Stock -
Fertility Considerations:
• Breed Characteristics
• Health – NPIP status and physical freedom from parasites and disease
• Male to Female Ratio
• Spurs and Feathers
Small Hatchery Management
- Breeding Stock -
Egg Production Considerations:
• Male Fighting and Hen Harassment
• Lights – 14 Hours
• Parasite Management
• Disease Management
• Timing Production
Small Hatchery Management
- Breeding Stock -
Feed Considerations:
• Breeder Feed
• Fresh, Clean, Unfrozen Water
• Oyster Shell
• Wheat Germ Oil
• Cod Liver Oil
Small Hatchery Management
- Eggs -
• Proper Storage
• Condition
• Shipping
• Candling
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- Eggs -
Candling Considerations:
• Candle at 7-10 Days
• Again at Day 18
• Method
• Meanings of Observations
Small Hatchery Management
- Incubators -
• Location
• Temperature/ Humidity
• Incubation Cycle
• Cleanliness
Small Hatchery Management
- Incubators -
Location Considerations:
• Constant Temperature and Humidity
• Away from Sun
• Clean Environment
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- Incubators -
Incubation Cycle Considerations:
• Run Incubator for 5 Days with Correct Temp/Humidity before Setting
• 2 Weeks in Incubator
• 1 Week in Hatcher
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- Coordination -
• Hatch Planning
• Chick Distribution
• Cleaning Cycle vs. Incubation Cycle
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- Lessons Learned -
• Pedigree
• Hatch Cycle
• Management Issues
• Other People
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- 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
Small Hatchery Management
- 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