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Poultry
Fun With Incubation
How Many of You Would Like to Hatch Baby Chicks?
Success with Incubation
- Know how embryo develops
- Use large, well shaped, fertilized eggs
- Use the right incubator settings
- Check incubator often
- Keep records of incubator checks
Remember, eggs from the grocery store are NOT
fertilized. Contact a hatchery.
Embryo Development
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In 21 days, embryo develops from smaller than a pin head to a
40-gram chick (1.5 oz.)
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Egg contents will supply all nutrients
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Shell will protect embryo and exchange gases with atmosphere
What do Chick Embryos Need?
Source of heat
Moisture
Egg movement
How Heat Influences Development
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Under 75°F, embryo doesn’t grow
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Over 75°F, embryo starts developing
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99.5°F is the ideal temperature
It’s o.k. if the egg gets cool, but too many
times will harm the embryo.
How Air Moisture Influences Development
- Egg moisture lost through tiny pores in shell
- Rate of moisture loss is controlled by heat and relative
humidity (RH)
- Low RH
- rapid evaporation, egg may dry out
- High RH
- evaporation slows, embryo could drown
Why Turn Eggs
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Egg turning helps the embryo grow uniformly
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Left in one position, gravity would force heaviest growth downward
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Might not kill the embryo, but would make it weaker?
How Can Your Project be Successful?
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Check temperature often
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keep daily temperature chart
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Keep evaporated moisture available, but don’t put too much water
in incubator
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Mark eggs with an “X” in pencil to help keep track of egg turning
Photo Gallery See our gallery of
pictures
Embryo Development - Day 19
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Yolk sac draws into body cavity
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Remaining yolk material will supply nutrients for chick during first
few days
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Chick finds position necessary for pipping the shell
Embryo Development - Day 20
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Yolk sac is now in the body
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Embryo occupies all the area within the shell, except for the air
cell
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Beak of chick enters air cell, chick takes a breath of air
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Next, chick pips to gain entrance to outside air
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Lungs are now functional, chick must break out to survive
Embryo Development - Day 21
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After first pipping the shell, the chick rests for several hours
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Chick now cuts a circular line around the eggshell by striking shell
with its eggtooth
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In 10 to 20 hours after initial pipping, chick will become free
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Chick will be tired and wet
Caring for New Chicks
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Chicks need a source of warmth
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Chicks need fresh water in a small pan, which will not easily turn
over
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Chicks need food (chick starter)
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If chicks huddle together and “cry,” they are too cold
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If chicks try to get away from heat and act drowsy, they are too hot.
They also may chirp very loudly.
Caring for New Chicks Photo
Gallery
This booklet is available from Dr. Susan E. Watkins, University
of Arkansas Poultry Science Department Faculty and Extension Specialist for the
Cooperative Extension Service, Division of Agriculture. Write: Center of
Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Attention: Susan
Watkins, POSC 0-114, Fayetteville, AR 72701 or e-mail
swatkin@uark.edu.
Authors:
Dr. Susan E. Watkins
Center of Excellence for Poultry Science
and Cooperative Extension Service
Cheryl Esters
Poultry Science Major |
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