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During our visits to hatcheries, the staff who work there frequently asked very interesting questions, which we would like to share with our readers.
What happens if the incubation temperature is excessively low in the first days?
Very early embryonic mortality will increase and the quality of the chicks will be compromised, since at the time of processing we will notice a large amount of open/poorly healed navels (Photo 1).
If the temperature is very high, especially in the first week, you can see exposed brains (Photo 2).
Photo 1. An open and poorly healed navel.
Photo 2. Brain exposed due to very high temperatures
What is the benefit of moving birds to farms the day they are hatched?
1. We must take into account that, each hour a chick goes without feed is translated to a 0.2-0.4% body weight loss.
2. We must emphasize that when the chicks are hatched, they do not yet possess fully developed physiological systems, including the digestive and the immune systems.
From an immunological point of view, food intake stimulates intestinal peristalsis and, therefore, faster absorption of the yolk with the benefits that this mainly involves the passage of maternal immunoglobulins to the circulatory systems and tissues of birds.
The delay of feed intake causes those immunoglobulins to be used as an energy source and diminish their protective functions.
Additionally, the stress of fasting produces glucocorticoids which have an immunosuppressive effect.
Photo 3. Chicks that easily come out of its shell, with no adhesion, but will lack drying time and eventually get discarded during sexing.
Why do eggs stored for several days require more incubation time?
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