Chick quality and
hatchability depend on
incubation temperature
HATCHERY
To achieve the best possible hatching percentages and
the highest possible quality in day-old chicks, hatcheries
must create a climate that mimics the conditions in a
broody hen’s nest and create homogeneous temperatures
for the embryos.
By Marleen Boerjan, Pas Reform, Zeddam, The Netherlands
A
consequence of the ongoing selection
of high yield breeds is the increased
variability in hatchability of eggs from
flocks of different ages. Eggs from young and
old breeders differ significantly with respect
to size, eggshell conductance and heat pro-
duction. To achieve the best hatchability and
chick quality, the hatchery manager should
be able to incubate each batch of eggs under
the most optimal conditions.
It is generally accepted that an All-In/All-
Out or Single-Stage setting has specific ad-
vantages in this matter. With All-In/All-Out
incubation all eggs are set in the same set-
ter at the same time, which means that a
hatchery manager can have greater control
by providing the heat, cooling, air velocity,
venting and humidity that is needed for the
embryos at the different stages of incuba-
tion. Depending on variations in strain of
breeder, week of lay (size of egg), length of
storage time and shell thickness (moisture
loss), the incubation programme can be ad-
justed by changes in temperature, ventila-
tion and relative humidity. This means that
the climate control of incubators must be
flexible with regard to temperature, ventila-
tion and humidity set points.
Impact on hatchability
Biological and physiological research on
embryos has shown that temperature is the
most critical environmental influence on
the developing embryo. Even minor fluctu-
Safety Instructions
Only qualified personnel should perform the procedure described
because data must be collected in an operating machine in which
every section is fully loaded with trolleys of eggs. When measur-
ing trays from trolleys at the side of the fan, only the trays should
be taken out, without displacing the trolley, thus avoiding the
need for personnel to come too close to the fan.
Measurements taken in a machine that is turned off will result
in unreliable data because eggshell temperatures change immedi-
ately when the airflow is nil.
WORLD POULTRY - Elsevier Volume 18, No 10. '02
ations can have a major impact
on hatchability and chick quali-
ty. A way to improve the incuba-
tor’s temperature programme is
to look at the temperature of a
specific number of eggs during
the different phases of the incu- The easiest and most economical way to
bation process. Because embryo measure eggshell temperature is with an
temperature cannot be mea- infrared ‘fever thermometer’.
sured without destroying the
egg, the temperature of the egg-
shell is used as a reference. The cheapest
and easiest way to measure eggshell tem-
perature is with an infrared ‘fever thermo-
meter’. It has been proven that, for example,
the Braun Thermoscan (with an accuracy of • Select one fully loaded setter trolley per
± 0.3°F) is a practical instrument for such
measurements, provided the instrument is
used properly. To get a good idea of actual • Measure the eggshell temperature of a row
eggshell temperature in a specific incuba-
tor, a representative sample of eggs must
be measured. The procedure given de-
scribes (A) how to measure the individual
egg,(B) how to measure a representative
sample and(C) how to use the data.
A. Eggshell temperature of
individual eggs
• Read the thermometer instruction guide.
• Before starting, the thermometer should
be warmed in the incubator for 15 min-
utes (if this is not done, measurements
will be inaccurate).
• Make sure that the plastic cover (lens fil-
ter) is on the thermometer’s infrared
probe (the thermometer will not function
without this filter).
• Place the infrared probe on the eggshell,
just under the air chamber (measuring on
the air chamber gives a difference of 0.5°F).
• Measure with the infrared probe right on
the eggshell (measuring at the wrong
angle gives 0.5 - 1.5°F deviation).
B. Eggshell temperature of a
representative sample
• Measure a row of 15 eggs in the middle of
a setter tray. The mean temperature of
eggs with living embryos is used as a refer-
ence for eggshell temperature in that spe-
cific tray.
section in an incubator (selecting a trolley
at the corridor side is the most convenient).
of eggs in the middle of trays 3, 9 and 14
(from the top). This means that in one
particular position you have 15 eggs in a
row at the top, 15 in a row in the middle
and 15 in a row at the bottom.
• Measure the eggshell temperature of these
eggs as described under A and write the
measured values on a form.
• Take the mean of these 45 eggs.
C. How to use the data
• For each trolley you now have the average
temperature of all 45 eggs located in dif-
ferent trays. This average temperature is
defined as the reference eggshell tempera-
ture on that day of incubation.
• If the eggshell temperature deviates too
much from the desired embryo tempera-
ture, the incubator temperature set point
can be adjusted. The right temperature
depends on breed and maternal age and is
usually provided by the breeding compa-
ny. In general it can be stated that the av-
erage eggshell temperature must be 37.8 -
38°C (100 - 100.4°F) during the first 2/3 of
incubation. The average eggshell tempera-
ture should not exceed 38.5°C (101.3°F). □
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