1. Breeders, Layers and Hatching Egg Production
R. Keith Bramwell, PhD
Department of Poultry Science
University of Arkansas

2. History of Poultry Industry
Orgin of chicken - Jungle Fowl (India)
Reason for initial domestication - cock fighting

3. History of the Poultry Industry
19th century- poultry fanciers:new breeds developed which became the American class
1st poultry show in Boston
American poultry assoc. Formed in 1873
Standard of excellence published in 1874
Chicks could be mailed

4. Exhibition Chickens
American Poultry Association lists nearly 400 breeds of chickens most with several varieties
Over 1000 chicken shows held annually in the US
The APA Standard of Perfection sets the ideal qualities for each breed and variety

5. What is Bantam Chicken?
A small version of the larger (standard size) breed
Bantams are almost exclusively for exhibition

6. Breeds and Varieties Breed is a type of chicken
Leghorn or a Plymouth Rock
Variety is defined by the variations within the breed
Leghorn – single comb vs rose comb
white vs light brown
Plymouth rock – White Rock vs Barred Rock

7. Types of Variations Body shape and structure
Modern game, Japanese, rumpless

8. Types of Variations Leg and feet variations Size Sound?
Silkie, Salmon Favorelle, etc
Size
Bantam, standard
Sound?
Long crowers!

9. Breeds and Varieties

10. Types of Variations Feather color Solid coloring
Barring, penciled, mottled

11. Types of Variations
Feather type
Silkies, frizzles, long tails

12. Types of Variations
Feather distribution
Polish, cochins, naked neck

13. Types of Variations
Comb type
Single, rose, pea, v-shape, etc

14. Comb Types

15. Comb Types

16. Comb Types

17. Comb Types

18. Reproduction and Breeding
Cockerels and pullets can become sexually mature by 14 to 16 weeks of age
Good fertility occurs at least 2-3 weeks after the onset of egg production
Industry delays sexual maturation to 18 to 25 weeks
Allows birds to develop body conformation which results in better egg size

19. Reproduction and Breeding
Reproduction occurs with light stimulation after they attain an appropriate body weight and conformation
As little as 14 hours of light can stimulate reproduction (15-16 hours best)
Light stimulation can be ‘staggered in’
Light duration must be consistent from day to day

20. Reproduction and Breeding
With light stimulation hens can lay through the winter
However, they will need a break sometime to undergo either a hard or soft molt to regenerate body reserves

21. Reproduction and Breeding
Males can be housed with anywhere from 1 to hens
This depends upon the breed and age of the birds
Ornamental and exhibition breeds have more fertility problems
For pedigree breeding up to 15 hens can be housed with a single good male in rotation

22. Reproduction and Breeding
Hens can store viable sperm for up to two weeks
If pedigree breeding, this should be taken into consideration

23. Developing a Breeding Program
You must have top quality birds!!!!
Or, you must start out with A LOT of birds and have A LOT of time!

24. Developing a Breeding Program
When you decide to be serious, select a couple of your favorite breeds and specialize
Once you get the birds, select the best pairs, trios, etc. as breeders
One rooster can breed 5-10 hens in rotating cages

25. Selection of Birds Select birds that fit your purpose
Then make sure your birds look and act like they are supposed to

26. Developing a Breeding Program
Light stimulate breeders to get chicks year round
Min 14 hours light per day, everyday
Hatch every egg they lay to give you numerous birds for selection
Don’t be afraid to cull!!! Don’t keep poor quality birds around that may reproduce

27. Developing a Breeding Program
Keep records of birds, band them, and create pedigree charts
You may need to outcross with other breeds or other lines to get the traits you want

30. Easter Silkies?

31. Female Reproductive System: Ovary
Mature ovary consists of numerous developing follicles
Appears like a cluster of grapes
Follicles present in hierarchal order

32. Sperm Cell Storage
A biological necessity to produce fertile eggs in the avian system

33. Fertilization Sperm Storage Insemination (AI or Natural)
Sperm transport to
site of fertilization
Recognition of
sperm binding sites
Fertilization
Sperm acrosome
reaction and
penetration

34. Fertilization Location - Infundibulum
Time - within ~ 5 minutes following ovulation or before the ovum enters the magnum

35. Fertilization Shell formation takes 24-26 hours to complete
Hen’s body temperature o F

36. Fertilization & Embryo Development
Fertilization occurs within 5 minutes after ovulation
Shell formation takes hours to complete
Hen’s body temperature o F
Laid egg represents 1 days embryonic growth (20, ,000 cells)

37. Day 0 of Incubation: Before Egg is Laid
Fertile/infertile determination can be made at lay
While the egg moves from initial fertilization, to shell membrane formation to shell formation in the oviduct, the embryo develops from the early to late cleavage stages
Germinal disc diameter (3-4mm) larger the first few hours after fertilization than at lay

39. Fertile and Infertile Eggs

40. Artificial Insemination : a Three Step Procedure
1. Semen collection
2. Semen dilution*
3. Insemination
* Second step may be omitted if neat (undiluted) semen is used for insemination within 30 min. of collection

41. Egg Production Provide nest boxes off the ground and keep them clean
Contaminated eggs (exploders) can ruin chick hatch and chick quality

42. Nest Boxes Hens want to feel secure when they lay their egg
Manufactured boxes
Anything else

43. What Is Secure for Them?

45. Hatching Egg Management ‘On the Farm’
Minimize use of dirty eggs
Remove and discard poor hatching eggs
Dirty, cracked, small, very large, poor shells, mish-shaped eggs

46. Effect Of Egg Storage On Hatchability

47. Egg Handling Prior to Incubation
Temporarily stop embryo development
-Lower internal temperature of the egg below 70o F (physiological temperature)
Do not allow eggs to oscillate above and below physiological temperature
-Early hatching chicks (dehydration)
-Early embryonic mortality will increase

48. High to Low Storage Temperature
82.3
80.0
79.4
76.5
74.3
72.9

49. Egg Storage Store eggs in appropriate on farm egg room
~ 70 F ~ 75% humidity
Less than 10 days
Keep egg room clean and tidy (biosecurity)

50. Egg Storage Take extra care in grading eggs (egg pack)
Carefully place eggs point down in setter trays

51. Fixing Cracked Eggs Simple fine hairline crack
) paint with thin layer of glue
Break that causes indentation
) cut kleenex, shell membrane of infertile egg
) glue edges and dry
) paint over patch
If crack leaked liquid contents, unlikely to survive

52. Incubation Preferences
Multi stage ?
Several ages of eggs in one machine
Single stage?
All in all out (much cleaner)
Separate hatcher?
Sanitation necessity

53. Incubation Preferences
Letting nature take its course . . .
Setting only
+ Hatching
+ Brooding
+ Growing

54. Artificial Incubation

55. In the Beginning . . . The Small

56. Small to Medium . . . The Dome Style

57. Medium Sized . . . Table Top Style

58. Medium Sized . . . Table Top Style

59. Large Sized . . . Cabinet Style

60. Large Sized . . . Cabinet Style

61. At the End ? . . . The Extra Large

62. Artificial Incubation
Important points
Temperature
Humidity
Turning
Ventilation

63. Artificial Incubation
Temperature Control
) Range from 98.7 to 100 F
optimum
‘Still air’ incubators suggest higher incubation temperatures as opposed to ‘forced air’ units

64. Artificial Incubation
Humidity
) Achieving specific water loss is the goal
11-15% general rule
12% weight loss best
2 ) Relative humidity should be %
Wet bulb temp F

65. Artificial Incubation
Egg turning
) Recommendations
5-6 times per day (three times is OK)
180 degrees, not all in one direction
place an X on one side of egg
Do not turn last three days of incubation

66. Artificial Incubation
Ventilation
Air exchange is critical to prevent suffocation
Rule of thumb – ventilate as much as you can and still be able to maintain incubator temperatures

67. Setter Operation Ventilation Temperature control
Supply of fresh air, exhausting CO2
Temperature control
Varies with setter type 99.5 – 1000 F

68. Setter Operation Humidity Turning Used to control moisture loss
Chickens ~ days
Ostrich ~ 15% total
840 F wet bulb (~ 54% humidity)
Turning
Ensures proper embryo development
At least 2-3 X per day

69. Hatcher Operation Ventilation Humidity Temperature
May increase after pipping
Humidity varies with different species
Temperature
Usually lower than in the setting machines
Do not turn eggs prior to hatching

70. Incubation Duration Varies a great deal among species Chicken 21 days
Duck 28 – 35 days
Pheasant 24 days
Quail 18 – 24 days
Turkey 28 days
Emu days
Budgie 14 days

71. Egg Candling Candling allows examination of embryo development
After 10 days of incubation, use a small flashlight and place it on the large end of the egg while in a dark room
Examine and determine normal embryo development at 10 days
Break open unhatched eggs (residue breakout) to determine fertility or embryo death

72. Hatch of Fertile
86.4% hatch / 96% fertile * 100 = 90% Hatch of Fertile
Hatchery
% Hatch
% Fertile
% Hatch of Fertile A 86 97
88.66 B 82 91
90.11 C 84 94
89.36

73. Natural Incubation Maintain a pen of naturally broody hens
Silkies, Cochins, etc
Allow layers or breeders to incubate and brood their own young

74. Incubation – management of setters and hatchers
Hatchability
Controlling Factors
Farm
Hatchery
Breeder Nutrition
Sanitation
Disease
Egg Storage
Infertility
Egg Damage
Incubation – management of setters and hatchers
Egg Sanitation
Chick Handling

75. Chick Pull and Processing
Chicks separated, graded by quality, counted
Vaccination

76. Factors Influencing Chick Size
Egg size
Chick weight 66-68% of egg weight
Moisture loss during incubation
Length of time between setting and pulling chicks from hatchers
Date at which incubation began

77. Brooding Chicks Start chicks at 90 to 92oF
Lower temp ~ 5oF each week thereafter
Use a solid brooder guard if you have a large area you are raising the chicks
Feed and water chicks immediately after they are placed in brooding area
Provide access to food and fresh water at all times!

78. Brooder Ideas

79. Just right
Too hot
Too cold
Too drafty

80. Importance of Water Water is the forgotten nutrient
It must be clean, and cool at all times
Don’t create a soup of bacteria!
Adding vitamins or electrolytes in the water is also very helpful

81. Ambient Environment In addition to air temperature Keep birds dry
Don’t allow birds to be exposed to air drafts
But. . . Birds need fresh air
Keep birds dry
Keep pens (floor) dry

82. Brooding Chicks Feed chicks a quality starter feed for several weeks
This feed is high in protein and a “rich” formula

83. Rearing Pullets
After the starter feed formula runs out switch to a regular chicken grower
Again provide access to food and clean, cool water always

84. Housing for the “Hens” Keep them “high and dry” Clean floors and area
Fresh air through ventilation
Without excessive drafts
Nest boxes
Perches
Adequate feed and water space

85. How It Used to Be Done in 1926

86. Do we need to reinvent the wheel?
NO! How it used to be done is not bad
However, we do know much more about birds today than anyone has ever known, We can and should utilize this information!