Breeding and Incubation Procedures

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Questions and Answers

What should be done with the nests at night?

Place additional bedding in the nests

Leave the nests open for air circulation

Cover nests with a tarp

Close the nests after removing birds (correct)

When should the nests be opened during the day?

After hatching occurs

Midday when temperatures are highest

Early in the morning before laying begins (correct)

Just before nightfall

What is the proper procedure for handling hatching eggs?

Transport them directly from hatchery to market

Transport them from farms to the hatchery building (correct)

Store them at room temperature

Keep them outside until they hatch

What could be a consequence of not closing the nests at night?

Increased predation risk Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to open the nests before laying begins?

To allow the birds to lay eggs freely Signup and view all the answers

What factors contribute to fertility in breeding males and females?

Laying house management and hatchery management Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the predictability of fertility?

Fertility cannot be predetermined. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential advantage mentioned regarding egg classification?

To distinguish between fertile and non-fertile eggs prior to incubation Signup and view all the answers

Why is there a challenge in identifying egg fertility?

No system currently exists to classify eggs before incubation. Signup and view all the answers

What role do breeding males and females play in fertility?

Females must be healthy and normal for optimal fertility. Signup and view all the answers

What is the optimum temperature for embryonic development in a forced-draft incubator?

37.5ºC Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes embryonic growth at temperatures below the optimum?

Embryonic growth can still occur below the optimum temperature. Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be drawn about the temperature requirements for embryonic development?

Lower temperatures do not completely stop embryonic development. Signup and view all the answers

When using a forced-draft incubator, which temperature would result in the fastest embryonic growth?

37.5ºC Signup and view all the answers

Which option represents a misconception about embryonic temperature conditions?

Embryonic development is completely stopped at lower temperatures. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the department where Dr. M.Q. Al-Natour teaches?

Avian Diseases Signup and view all the answers

Which degree does Dr. M.Q. Al-Natour hold in addition to his veterinary degree?

Master's in Public Health Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is Dr. M.Q. Al-Natour affiliated with?

Jordan University of Science and Technology Signup and view all the answers

What is Dr. M.Q. Al-Natour's specific academic title?

Professor Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of veterinary medicine is emphasized by Dr. M.Q. Al-Natour's expertise?

Avian Pathology Signup and view all the answers

What is one function of turning in the development of an embryo?

To prevent adhesion of the embryo Signup and view all the answers

What effect does turning have on the yolk during embryo development?

It allows the yolk to float upwards Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the germinal disc during embryo development?

It carries the embryo's genetic material Signup and view all the answers

How does turning affect shell rigidity during embryo development?

It decreases rigidity to facilitate hatching Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to prevent the adhesion of the embryo during development?

To allow freedom of movement for the embryo Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence if the embryo grows between the yolk and the albumin?

The embryo will die. Signup and view all the answers

How often should turning occur during incubation for optimal conditions?

Every 2-4 hours Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of turning the eggs during incubation?

Enhanced nutrient absorption Signup and view all the answers

When should turning be performed after day 3 of incubation?

Throughout the entire incubation period Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key purposes of turning eggs during the first 18 days?

To ensure proper embryonic growth and environment Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hatcheries Management

Incubation Duration: The length of time for eggs to hatch varies greatly among species. Examples include:
- Chicken: 21 days
- Duck: 28-35 days
- Pheasant: 24 days
- Quail: 18-24 days
- Turkey: 28 days
- Emu: 48-52 days
- Budgie: 14 days

Hatchability Controlling Factors

Farm Factors:
- Breeder Nutrition
- Disease
- Infertility
- Egg Damage
- Egg Sanitation
- Egg Storage
Hatchery Factors:
- Sanitation
- Egg Storage
- Egg Damage
- Incubation Management (setters and hatchers)
- Chick Handling

Hatch of Fertile Eggs

General: 86.4% hatch rate with 96% fertile results in a 90% hatch of fertile eggs.
Hatchery A: 88.66% hatch of fertile eggs.
Hatchery B: 90.11% hatch of fertile eggs.
Hatchery C: 89.36% hatch of fertile eggs.

Fertile and Infertile Eggs

Visual representation of fertile and infertile eggs is present.

Hatcheries Management (Chicken House)

Maintaining Egg Quality: Preventing broken and dirty eggs is crucial, which results from unclean nesting material.
Nesting Material Quality: Good nesting material should be absorbent, durable, dust-free, provide good cushioning, and be inexpensive.

Egg Candling

Procedure:
- Examine embryos at 10 days of incubation using a small flashlight in a dark room.
- Determine embryo development.
- Examine unhatched eggs (residue breakout) to evaluate egg fertility or embryo death.

Egg Transportation

Hatching eggs should be transported from the farm to the hatchery building.
Eggs must be sanitized at the hatchery entrance.
Temperature in the truck must be 18°C and relative humidity 75-80%.

Egg Selection and Hatchability

Selecting Eggs of Good Quality: Select eggs based on the condition of the shell and the egg content.
Egg Size Issues: Avoid extremely large or small eggs, as well as eggs with double yolks, for hatching.
Hatching Egg Imperfections: Eggs closest to oval shape hatch best, while excessively long, thin, or round eggs have lower hatchability. Many eggs with shell imperfections (ridges, pointed ends) do not hatch satisfactorily.

Shell Quality

Eggs with porous, thin, or flaky shells may have low hatchability due to factors like:
- Dam nutrition (low calcium and Vitamin D)
- Environmental Temperature (above 27°C to 32°C)
Flaky-White and eggs with other inferior shells (ridged, thin) are unsuitable for hatching.

Interior Quality

Eggs with tremorous air cells or improperly handled can hinder hatchability.
Handling and care are essential during all stages of egg incubation.

Embryonic Threshold

The optimal temperature for embryonic development in forced-draft incubators is around 37.5°C. There is a threshold temperature of 20°C above which embryonic development commences and below which it ceases.

Egg-Holding Room Temperature

Holding temperature should be 18.3°C for up to 14 days to prevent embryonic development.
For longer holding periods (over 14 days), 10.5°C temperature produces better hatches.

Egg-Holding Room Humidity

Relative humidity (RH) of the egg-holding room should be 75-80%.

Effect of Holding Hatching Eggs

Holding hatching eggs beyond 5 days at 18.3°C can negatively impact hatchability.
Holding eggs for longer periods results in time delays in hatching and lower hatchability.

Position of Eggs During Holding Period

Eggs should be placed small end down in trays or flats.

Moisture Condensation on Eggshell

Remedy for moisture condensation on eggshells includes temperature increase in the egg-tray room. Higher temperature decreases relative humidity minimizing condensation.

Warming Eggs

Do not transfer eggs directly from the cool holding room to the incubator. Warm the eggs to room temperature first, below 23.9°C to prevent initiating embryonic development.

Reducing Bacterial Contamination of Eggs

Even eggs taken from the oviduct can have bacteria, often including Salmonella, Pseudomonas, E. coli, and Arizona organisms.
These levels rise with increased temperature and moisture.

Methods of Sanitizing Eggshell

Formaldehyde gas, Quaternary ammonia, chlorine dioxide, and Ozone are methods to sanitize eggshells.
Egg washing is also a method.

Factors Affecting Hatchability

Environmental factors in the incubator.
Position and turning of the eggs.

Percentage Hatchability

Hatchability is measured as the percentage of chicks hatched compared to all eggs set or fertile eggs set.

Fertility Rate and Hatchability Formulas

Fertility rate: calculated as the number of fertile eggs divided by the total number of eggs incubated, multiplied by 100.
Hatchability: calculated as the number of chicks hatched divided by the number of fertile eggs incubated, multiplied by 100.
Hatch of Fertile: calculated as hatchability divided by fertility rate.

Fertility

Fertility depends on good, viable males and healthy, normal females in the laying pen.
Factors involved include proper laying house management and hatchery management.

Fertility Cannot Be Predetermined

The best method to check for egg fertility is to incubate the egg and then candling for embryonic presence/absence and health.

Optimal Temperature for Incubation

Incubator temperatures should be between 35°C and 40°C, somewhat higher for first 19 days and slightly lower for the last 2 days.
Deviation from optimal temperatures can reduce hatchability and lead to malformed chicks

Resistance to Overheating

16-day embryos can tolerate exposure to 40.7°C for 24 hours without detrimental effect on hatchability.
Higher temperatures, such as 43.3ºC, decrease hatchability

Resistance to Cooling

During first 19 days of incubation, reducing temperature to 18.3°C won't heavily affect hatchability.
Cooling can increase the incubation period.
Cooling causes malposition incidents.

Humidity during Incubation

High humidity reduces egg evaporation, leading to larger chicks.
Low humidity increases evaporation, leading to smaller chicks.
Optimum humidity is important for good chick quality.

Humidity in the Hatcher

During last 2 days of incubation, increase humidity to prevent chick beak sticking to the egg shell.
75% relative humidity is suitable for hatching.

Position of the egg during incubation

Eggs should be placed small end down; in artificial incubation eggs need to be turned regularly to ensure proper embryonic development.

Turning Eggs during Incubation

Regularly turning the eggs facilitates good ventilation, temperature distribution, and humidity distribution. Prevent adhesion of the embryo and yolk

Turning in the First 18 Days

Turning during the first 18 days, specifically at a 45-degree angle, results in better hatchability compared to less frequent or no turning.

Transferring Eggs to Hatcher

Modern incubators transfer eggs from the incubating compartment to the hatching compartment after around 19 days of incubation.

Position of Eggs During Hatching

Most commercial incubators keep eggs in a horizontal position during the last 2 days of incubation in the hatcher.

Egg Laying Pattern & Hatchability

Hatching eggs from the first 2-3 weeks of layer production usually have reduced hatch rates.
Eggs laid in the later part of the laying year don’t hatch as well compared to similarly produced eggs earlier in the year.

Position of the Embryo in the Egg

Chicks normally develop with their head in the large end of the egg (near the air cell) and head under its right wing.

Optimum Temperature

Prior to egg laying: 40.6 °C to 41.7°C
During the first 19 days of incubation: 37.5°C to 37.7°C
During the last 2 days of incubation: 36.1°C to 37°C
Transport temperature: 18°C

Ventilation

Embryos need 21% Oxygen (O2).
Changing and increasing ventilation rate, especially in the past two days before hatching, are critical for good chick development.
CO2 levels also impact incubation success

Humidity

The amount of water vapor (humidity) must be carefully monitored inside the egg itself and the incubator.
Monitoring RH is crucial for successful embryo development. The proper RH is needed for optimal air capacity and temperature of the incubator

Turning Eggs

Preventing adhesion of the embryo is crucial in the turning process.
Turning the eggs regularly helps prevent issues like the yolk floating up, which could lead to embryo death.
Turning the eggs helps ensure even ventilation, temperature distribution, and RH distribution.

Egg Shape

Well-rounded eggs are best suited for hatching.
Irregular egg shapes can negatively affect hatchability.
Normal eggs, when divided, show a specific ratio among compartments

Abnormal Eggs

Broken eggshells
Abnormal eggshells with no air compartment
Movable air compartments
Blood spots.

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Description

This quiz covers essential procedures for handling nests and eggs in breeding practices, including the timing of nest opening and the proper care for hatching eggs. Additionally, it explores factors affecting fertility in breeding pairs, optimal temperatures for embryonic development, and common misconceptions regarding incubation.