Chicken hatchery operations: Principles, practices, and performance management (Part 2)

• Egg receiving and fumigation room
• Cold storage facility
• Setter room
• Hatcher room
• Chick processing area
• Dispatch section

Airflow management and controlled personnel movement are critical. Biosecurity must be integrated into the design to maintain hygiene standards.

Incubation management: The core process

Incubation is the most critical phase in hatchery operations.

Setter phase (Day 1-18)

During this stage:

• Temperature is maintained at 37.5°C
• Humidity is kept at 50-60%
• Eggs are automatically turned at regular intervals

Egg turning prevents embryo adhesion and supports proper development. Additionally, proper ventilation ensures a continuous supply of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide.

Candling: Monitoring embryo development

Candling is conducted between day 7 and day 10 to evaluate embryo growth.

It helps identify:

• Fertile eggs
• Infertile eggs
• Dead embryos

Removing non-viable eggs improves hygiene and enhances overall hatchery efficiency.

Hatcher phase (Day 19-21)

Eggs are transferred to hatchers where environmental conditions are adjusted:

• Temperature: 36.5–37°C
• Humidity: 65–70%

Higher humidity supports easier shell breaking. By the 21st day, chicks hatch, marking the successful completion of the incubation cycle.

To read the Part 1, click here.