Getting it right with incubation, hatching

I have had the opportunity to enjoy 13 years working in a hatchery, incubating and hatching day-old chicks for supply within East Africa. Although time alone does not qualify me to be extremely knowledgeable in incubation technology, it gave me a rare chance to learn the basic requirements and what it takes to produce quality chicks. So, I was not surprised some years ago when I was invited to the offices of Ministry of Youth Affairs to lend my knowledge on incubators. The ministry was floating tenders for supply of more than 1,000 incubators for poultry production to be given to youth and women groups as seed capital. I later found out that these chicken incubators were bought and supplied as originally intended to local youth groups that had little ideas on running a hatchery. Today, however, if you ask how many of these incubators are working, you would be surprised that only 100 could be operational. There are fundamental principles that are a must to excel in incubation and production of day-old chicks. I will explain in detail.

1.   Establishment and licensing of hatchery and breeding farms (for commercial purposes)

The law requires that incubators and hatcheries be licensed to produce day-old chicks for sole purpose of sale and distribution. This licensing function only lies with the Director of Veterinary Services (DVS) based in Kabete, Nairobi. The DVS protocol standardises inspection methodology and reporting systems and create a standard management and infrastructural design for poultry hatcheries and breeding farms in Kenya.

2.    Genetic source

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You need to be clear right from the beginning what type of bird you want to release into the market. Is it fast growing broiler or egg producing layer genetics, slow growing dual breeds or indigenous African mixed genetics relevant to your target market? Where do you want to source your hatching eggs from? In Kenya most, known genetics are imported as we do not have our own registered breeds. Be careful when you are offered hatching eggs in the market without any proof of known genetic source.

3.   Availability of fertile hatching eggs

This is the most challenging task for new entrants into this industry. It is difficult to distinguish a fertile from a non-fertile egg. It is easy for beginners to be duped into buying infertile table eggs incubating and expect chicks. Most successful ventures must be prepared to raise their own breeding stock, where they are in control of parent’s stock and production of fertile hatching eggs. If you decide to buy hatching eggs, ensure their fertility is guaranteed.

4.    Egg storage and handling pre-incubation

You should aim at setting fertile hatching eggs which are at most 4 days old since they were laid. Older eggs more than 7 days begin to gradually loose their ability to hatch into viable chicks. The eggs must have been stored at temperatures of 16-18 degrees centigrade, physically clean, well formed with uniform colour, no crack and oval shaped. The eggs must be stored with their broad side up and pointed side facing down in a clean and disinfected environment.

5.    Ideal Incubation conditions

There are five critical conditions for a good incubator to function and hatch chicks. It must maintain an incubation temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius through cycles of heating and cooling, provide relative humidity of 63-67 per cent through active water spraying or evaporation from flat pans, it should turn eggs at an angle of 45 degrees every hour for at least the first seven days of incubationand finally clean and disinfected hatching environment. Your incubator must also have fans that will provide fresh air full of oxygen and remove stale carbon dioxide laded air through exhaust system. These conditions are vital for the development of the heart, liver, the long bones, stomach and the immune system of the birds.

6.    Chicks takeoffs and handling

Chickens incubate and hatch within 21 days, it is advisable to consult your veterinarian on vaccinations program at chick takeoff for a good start. Most chicks get Newcastle and Marek’s vaccines before they leave the hatchery premises. Only quality chicks should be sold to customers. A good chick will weigh 2/3 the weight of the egg at set. Anything below that can indicate dehydration due to lower incubation humidity. Chicks should be packed properly in ventilated boxes and moved to farms within 12 hours of hatching.

[The writer is the Head Vet at Kenchic.  Email: [email protected]]

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