1. Small Hatchery Management
Breeding Stock
Eggs
Incubators
Coordination
Lessons Learned

2. Small Hatchery Management - Breeding Stock -
Fertility
Egg Production
Feed Requirements

3. Small Hatchery Management - Breeding Stock -
Fertility Considerations:
Breed Characteristics
Health – NPIP status and physical freedom from parasites and disease
Male to Female Ratio
Spurs and Feathers

4. Small Hatchery Management - Breeding Stock -
Egg Production Considerations:
Male Fighting and Hen Harassment
Lights – 14 Hours
Parasite Management
Disease Management
Timing Production

5. Small Hatchery Management - Breeding Stock -
Feed Considerations:
Breeder Feed
Fresh, Clean, Unfrozen Water
Oyster Shell
Wheat Germ Oil
Cod Liver Oil

6. Small Hatchery Management - Eggs -
Proper Storage
Condition
Shipping
Candling

7. Small Hatchery Management - Eggs -
Storage Considerations:
Location – out of sun and drafts, with constant temperature; a cooler is ideal
Temperature/Humidity – ideal is 60 degrees F
Air Cell Up
Rotate – daily rotation will improve hatch
Duration Effects on Hatchability/Viability – best results are obtained from eggs 7 days and less, 10 days or less provide good results, but viability drops sharply from day 10

8. Small Hatchery Management - Eggs -
Condition Considerations:
Odd Shapes – likely not viable; may indicate poor air cell position
Cracks – will allow entry of bacteria; can be sealed using candle wax
Dirt – infect incubator with bacteria; wet dirty eggs likely not to hatch due to infectious agents being drawn into the egg

9. Small Hatchery Management - Eggs -
Shipping Considerations:
Effect on Viability – jarring can damage air cell and loosen embryo attachment
Proper Methods – wrap in newspaper or paper towel so that movement with egg carton is prevented; when mailing, allow several inches of cushioning material around cartons
Resting Overnight – allow eggs that have been transported/shipped to rest over night at room temperature, this will allow air cells to reform and result in better hatch

10. Small Hatchery Management - Eggs -
Candling Considerations:
Candle at 7-10 Days
Again at Day 18
Method
Meanings of Observations

11. Small Hatchery Management - Incubators -
Location
Temperature/ Humidity
Incubation Cycle
Cleanliness

12. Small Hatchery Management - Incubators -
Location Considerations:
Constant Temperature and Humidity
Away from Sun
Clean Environment

13. Small Hatchery Management - Incubators -
Temperature and Humidity Considerations:
Constant 99.5 degrees F
Humidity 55% during First Two Weeks
65% during Hatch/Last Two Weeks
Low Temperature can Delay Hatch
High Temperature can Accelerate Hatch
Low Humidity can cause Pipping with Inability to Hatch
High Humidity can cause failure to seal navels and drowning during hatch

14. Small Hatchery Management - Incubators -
Incubation Cycle Considerations:
Run Incubator for 5 Days with Correct Temp/Humidity before Setting
2 Weeks in Incubator
1 Week in Hatcher

15. Small Hatchery Management - Incubators -
Cleanliness Considerations:
Clean Incubator and Hatcher at Start of Season
Separate Hatcher allows Succession Settings without Debris Concerns
Use 1-2 Tablespoons of Pinesol per Gallon of Water for Humidity
Dry, Vacuum, and Spray between Hatches

16. Small Hatchery Management - Coordination -
Hatch Planning
Chick Distribution
Cleaning Cycle vs. Incubation Cycle

17. Small Hatchery Management - Coordination -
Hatch Planning Considerations:
It Takes 2 Weeks to Know Sire
Once Lay Commences, Save Eggs for 1-2 Weeks
It Takes 3 Weeks to Hatch
It can take 4-7 Weeks from Commencement for First Chicks to Hatch

18. Small Hatchery Management - Coordination -
Chick Distribution Considerations:
Once Chicks Hatch They must be Placed
Power Outages and Other Temperature Fluctuations can Alter Hatch by 1-2 Days
Number of Chicks Hatched may be Greater of Fewer than Number Planned
Shipping Chicks Requires Additional Planning and Labor

19. Small Hatchery Management - Coordination -
Cleaning Cycle vs. Incubation Cycle Considerations:
When Setting Once Every 2 Weeks, Plan to Clean Hatcher within 2 Days of Chick Removal
When Setting Once Per Week, Hatcher must be Cleaned on Day of Hatch

20. Small Hatchery Management - Lessons Learned -
Pedigree
Hatch Cycle
Management Issues
Other People

21. Small Hatchery Management - Lessons Learned -
Pedigree Considerations:
Pedigree is useful in Planning Matings
Pedigree Marking of Day-old Chicks is Done by Toe-punch
Chicks must be Separated According to Mating before They Hatch
Labor to Pedigree increases Time Spent to Take-off Hatch from 15 Minutes to 50 Minutes

22. Small Hatchery Management - Lessons Learned -
Hatch Cycle Considerations:
Hatching Every 2 Weeks is better due to Reduced Workload and Increased Hatch Sizes
Setting Every Hatch on the Same Weekday makes Keeping Track of Hatch Due Dates Much Easier
Maintaining Hatch Intervals is Useful, Giving Regularity to Schedule

23. Small Hatchery Management - Lessons Learned -
Management Considerations:
Broody Hens cause Fertile Eggs to begin Growth, Saving these Started Eggs Kills Embryo
Someone must Maintain Breeding Flock
Breeder Replacements must be Grown, Selected, and Maintained

24. Small Hatchery Management - Lessons Learned -
Other People:
When Pooling Hatching Eggs: May have Schedule Conflicts
May have Different Expectations (breed performance, chick availability, expenses)
May Attempt to Reduce Feed Costs by Using Lower Quality Feed – thus Reducing Viability
Industry Controls Each Segment – feed, breeding stock, incubation, housing, processing – for Good Reason