Incubation factors
Why are eggs tilted different ways throughout the day in an incubator
So that the embryo doesn't stick to the shells
What are the egg positions during incubation
Incubate small end down in setter
in hatcher eggs are place on their sides
What are incubation times for chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese
chicken - actual = 21, setter = 18, hatcher = 3+
Turkey - actual = 28, setter = 25, hatcher = 3+
Duck - actual = 28, setter = 25, hatcher = 3+
geese - actual = 30+, setter = 25, hatcher = 5+
when is litter floor housing used? what types? Characteristics? why use it over other floors
Litter housing is primarily used for broiler chickens, broiler breeders, meat turkeys and turkey breeders
Characteristics = soft, water absorbent, insulative, inexpensive biodegradable, non-toxic (mould, heavy metals)
Commonly used litter material (straw, shavings, ground corn cobs, paper)
Concerte is colder, but easier to clean
Dirt floors are common in USA
USA is allowed to reuse litter, just flip it between flocks, 3-4 times - In Canada it has to be taken out with each flock
How does cross ventilation work
Fans on one side are sucking air out actively
inlets on the other side pull air in passively
works with a negative pressure system
What is true about ventilation systems in a hatchery
why
Each machine has its own system, and each room has its own machine
This is to prevent all of the eggs being affected. If one machine goes down, only its room is lost rather than all eggs
What does an egg remover do, and what are its advantages
Removes nonviable eggs prior to injection - candling tech to identify clear eggs
advantages = reduces processing or cleaning time at hatchery, cleaner and better quality chicks
What is omphalitis
its in hatchlings - mushy chick disease, navel infection, yolk sac infection = bacterial infection that comes in through the navel, major source of sickness or death in the first week
primary source is dirty eggs
egg is the source, and hatcher sanitation plays a role sometimes - hatcheries are usually clean tho since they are swabbing walls and other things constantly
How is stocking density calculated
based on finishing weight
what are the two types of tunnel ventilation
Cross ventilation during early brooding - since they cant thermoregulate
Tunnel ventilation as birds age and temperatures rise - requires a faster air speed chicken could chill chicks
What factors affect incubation length
Storage time - less time at physiological zero = shorter incubation
Breed variation
Breeder age - older = longer incubation
egg size - bigger = longer incubation
season - colder = longer
Shell thickness - thicker = longer
What does an inovoject do, and what are its advantages
Egg injection system - biologicals, pharmaceuticals
Advantages - controlled and sanitary (needle is cleaned after each injection), less labour intesive, high inoculation rates, stimulates immune response earlier, minimizes chick stress
How does beak/toe treatment happen? what do you not call it
Infrared is used now, but a hot blade may still be used in small hatcheries
Chicks get top and bottom beak done, turkeys get top beak and toes done
De-beaking
What does slat litter housing help with? whats it made with
Plastic or wood slats are used in combination with litter floor in most broiler breeder barns and many non-cage systems for laying hens
Can increase stocking density, better air quality, easier to manage, allows females to get away from male birds (if perches available)
How do evaporative cooling pads work? when don't they work
Cold water is sprinkled down the pad so that the air blows cold
these pads are placed on inlets
doesn't work in high humidity cause the air is already saturated
What are the environmental setting for incubation
Temp - Setter = 37.2-37.7 C (99-100F)
- hatcher = 36.1-37.2 C (97-99F)
Relative humidity - Setter = 55-60%
- hatchers = 71-80%
- reduced RH during last several hours
What do you look for in healthy hatched chicks
Navel = Well healed, or healed with a small string
No beak abnormalities
What is the importance of controlled environment housing
maintain an environment which closely approximates the requirements of the bird
No where to hide outside, no where to roost if no trees are near, no grass if not on pasture for foraging behaviour
weather disadvantage, cant control light or humidity, biosecurity hazard
What are the primary factors that determine how much we need to ventilate
Temperature - air moving over things cools them
Moisture - (40-60% humidity - higher = birds can no longer pant) Ammonia, dust, pathogens, latter primarily controlled by managing moisture in barns
gases - oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide
What is the minimum amount of turns per day for an egg in a setter
8
How do you control disease at a hatchery
Isolation
One way flow of eggs
hatchery design and construction
ventilation - independent ventilation of rooms, static pressure differences to influence air flow
egg supply - clean, uncracked, normal shape
What are aspects of controlled environment housing to keep temperature stable
Completely enclosed
well insulated
no windows - light control
Air speed - to fast and to young = chill, can take away the heat quicker when they are hot though
What are aspects of open sided poultry housing? where do you see it? pros and cons
Side wall is open or covered (plastic curtains, solid partitions) - coverings can be adjusted for temperature control
Ventilation can vary in sophistication - natural ventilation controlled manually or automatically = large fans to distribute air in a pattern parallel to the barn
see it in hot climates
Pros = consumers and natural behaviour
cons = biosecurity
What is static pressure and what are the levels?
Tells us about the pressure in a barn
below 0.05 - too much opening, air enters very slowly = doesn't help with moving or cooling air through the barn
Above 0.12 - too little opening, not bringing in enough air