A new chapter for chick welfare, uniformity, and early performance in Bangladesh poultry sector

Traditionally, newly hatched chicks often experience 24-48 hours of feed and water deprivation before transportation and farm placement due to hatch window, processing, and logistics.

Scientific research has shown that prolonged early fasting negatively affects:

• Yolk sac utilization efficiency
• Early organ development, particularly gut and immune organs
• 7-day body weight and uniformity
• Early mortality and robustness

Post-hatch feeding, also known as early feeding, provides chicks with immediate access to nutrients, hydration, and energy directly inside the hatcher. This supports physiological maturity and a smoother transition from embryonic to independent life.

As an incubation and hatchery specialist perspective, early feeding:

• Stabilizes body temperature and energy balance
• Enhances intestinal villi development and gut health
• Improves immunity and reduces early stress
• Supports better chick hydration and vitality
• Narrows variation in chick maturity at take-off
• Ultimately contributes to stronger early growth performance and flock uniformity

Global commercial hatcheries increasingly adopt this technology as modern poultry production becomes more welfare-focused, performance-driven, and biologically efficient.

How SmartStart works: Inspired by nature, engineered for hatcheries

Royal Pas Reform’s SmartStart has been designed as a practical, hygienic, and hatchery-friendly early feeding solution. The system introduces a specially engineered hatcher basket with an integrated ‘balcony’, where semi-moist feed is provided in direct reach of the chicks immediately after hatch.

What makes SmartStart unique is its use of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) technology to retain moisture in the feed, keeping it fresh, safe, and biologically suitable for neonatal chicks. This allows:

• Controlled moisture composition
• Optimum texture for chick consumption
• Safe and hygienic presentation
• Consistent nutritional delivery during the hatch window

This design ensures chicks have continuous access to both feed and hydration without compromising hatch conditions, ventilation strategy, or incubation environment stability. As chicks begin to consume the semi-moist diet, they maintain hydration, energy status, and physiological readiness for farm placement.

Benefits already recognized worldwide

Commercial hatcheries adopting post-hatch feeding systems like SmartStart are reporting:

• Improved chick livability and early robustness
• Better chick uniformity at placement
• Enhanced yolk absorption dynamics
• Improved gut and immune development
• Reduced dehydration and processing stress
• Stronger 7-day weight gain performance

For integrators and hatcheries, the outcome links directly to biological efficiency, welfare compliance, and economic performance—key pillars of modern poultry production.

A positive trend for Bangladesh poultry industry

With Bangladesh rapidly modernizing its poultry sector, SmartStart represents a forward-looking investment in science-driven hatchery management, chick welfare, and performance innovation.

The move aligns the country with leading international hatchery practices and signals a new direction toward higher-quality chick production.

As the industry continues to evolve, post-hatch feeding systems are expected to become a growing trend in commercial hatcheries seeking competitive performance, improved welfare standards, and stronger flock results.

Conclusion

The inauguration of Royal Pas Reform’s SmartStart system in Joypurhat is more than a technological installation—it represents a scientific advancement, a welfare improvement, and a strong step toward the future of Bangladesh’s poultry industry.

By integrating innovation with practical hatchery operations, SmartStart is poised to deliver improved chick quality, better early performance, and enhanced confidence for poultry producers across the country.