INCUBATION of POULTRY

FOUR BASIC REQUIREMENTS AN EGG NEEDS TO HATCH Temprature : 99-102 deg.F.

Humidity : 50%-65% RH Egg turning : atleast two times per day. Air flow : air and gas exchange.

NATURAL

The broody hen is a time tested way to hatch eggs.

To use a hen for hatching you have to do one of the two things:

a. Find a hen sitting . b. Induce a hen to sit.

SIGNS OF BROODINESS

Clucking Stays away from the rest of the flock. Ruffled feathers. Aggressive and protective of nest . On the nest at night.

CARE OF THE BROODY HEN

Hens like dark and dry places. Needs to keep away from other hens. Needs good supply of water and food. Needs an area to stretch her legs and relieve

herself. Make sure hen is free from internal and

external parasite.

BREEDS THAT MAKE GOOD BROODY HENS.

ADVANTAGES

No electricity. Hen does all the work. Will brood chicks after they hatch. High hatchability rate. Sometimes breeds hatch better under hens

than incubators. Good for hatching small number of chicks per

year.

DISADVANTAGES

Hen sometimes breaks the eggs. Will occasionally quit and get off nest. Can only sit on small number of eggs. Disease transmission from hen to chicks.

ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION

Artificial incubation is given to the eggs by providing favourable artificial environment to them so that they can hatch successfully . This artificial environment is made by different types of incubators that are the following:

Still air incubators Forced air incubators

STILL AIR INCUBATOR

No fan. Has a heating element. Uses a wafer

thermostat Humidity or water pans

at bottom. Relative humidity of

50%-60% Temprature 101-

102degree.

ADVANTAGES

Easy to use. Not very expensive. Does not take up much room. Good for hatching small to medium number of

chicks. Does not use much electricity.

DISADVANTAGES

Hatchability can be low. Temp. and humidity can be hard to regulate. In some models you have to turn eggs by hand. Hot and cold spots in incubator. Can have high number of deformities in chicks.

FORCED AIR INCUBATION

Fan Coil heating

mechanism. Humidity pan. RH 50%-60% Draft free room

with fresh air.

ADVANTAGES

Hatchability usually very good. Easy to clean. Almost a turn kry system. Automatic egg turner.

DISADVANTAGES

Can take up a lot of room. Expensive.