Poultry Nest Management & Egg Handling Guide

Properly managing your poultry flock and their eggs is a critical aspect of ensuring a successful hatching process. From maintaining nesting conditions to handling eggs with care, following the right procedures can significantly impact hatch rates and overall productivity.

In this blog, we will delve into essential strategies for nest management, egg handling, and effective incubation techniques. Learn how to create the ideal environment for your laying hens, maintain egg quality, and maximize your chances of hatching healthy chicks.

Guidelines for Good Nest Management

Keep the nest closed until the first eggs appear, and ensure the cleanliness and good condition of laying nests and slats. Close laying nest boxes an hour before lights out and open them an hour before they come on. In case of high egg production rates, allow nest access for 2-4 hours before turning on the light.

Maintain low slat height within nests, up to 30cm from the ground, and a slat inclination angle of 5%. Aim for a maximum of 40 fen sales per linear meter. Provide feed within the first 30 minutes after power on or 6 hours after power on.

Avoid using electric shepherds, ensure continuous access to water from feeding commencement, and monitor behavior during feeding. Ensure uniform light distribution with a minimum of 40-60 lux and eliminate dimly lit areas. Maintain lower intensity at nest entrances compared to bed areas.

Ventilation systems must maintain temperatures below 18 to 24 degrees Celsius while avoiding drafts in nest box areas. Ensure uniform ventilation throughout the hall and encourage birds to use the slats. Regularly tour the house 10-12 times daily in the initial 3 weeks of laying, moving birds attempting to nest on the ground to the appropriate nests.

Familiarize birds with nest-related noises by running the system multiple times a day, even before the first egg is laid. Eggs can be collected up to 25% of the afternoon time, preferably after nest closure, with most being commercial.

Proper Handling of Eggs

Eggs serve two main purposes: consumption and hatching. Caring for and storing eggs requires specific steps to ensure their quality.

Collect eggs at least three times a day to maintain freshness. When storing eggs, choose a cool and humid storage area. If not intended for immediate incubation, periodically assess egg condition within a 4-6 day timeframe.

To prepare eggs for hatching, ensure they remain clean; while slightly soiled eggs can still be used for hatching without complications. Keep in mind that egg hatchability remains stable for up to 7 days but significantly decreases beyond that. Before placing eggs in the incubator, allow them to gradually return to room temperature.

Basic Tips to Follow When Selecting Hatching Eggs

When selecting hatching eggs, it is essential to choose eggs from breeders that exhibit robust development, maturity, good health, and fertility, and have been nourished with a complete breeder diet; additionally, ensure they are not closely related (such as siblings or parents).

Excessively misshapen eggs should be excluded from incubation. It's advisable to steer clear of overly large or small eggs, as larger ones tend to have poor hatching rates, while smaller ones may yield undersized chicks.

Prioritize only clean eggs for hatching, refraining from washing soiled eggs or using a damp cloth, as these actions remove the protective coating and expose the egg to potential disease-causing agents.

It's important to avoid eggs with cracked or thin shells, as these eggs struggle to retain the necessary moisture for optimal chick development, thereby increasing the risk of disease infiltration.

Best Practices for Transporting Fertile Chicken Eggs

To ensure the highest possible hatch rate and optimal incubation outcome for fertile chicken eggs, several crucial steps must be taken during their transportation.

First and foremost, the eggs chosen for incubation should originate from healthy hens and be stored under ideal temperature conditions. When transporting these eggs, it is imperative to ensure a seamless journey, minimizing any disruptions or shocks that could negatively impact their viability.

In cases where the local collection isn't feasible, eggs might need to be sent via post or transported by truck. If utilizing the trucking method, it is vital to uphold consistent environmental conditions, aligning the temperature within the truck with that of the farm egg storage area.

Mitigating jolts and vibrations is of utmost importance, necessitating well-maintained suspension systems and secure cart fixation within the truck. Adequate conditions for access to farms and incubators are also essential.

To closely monitor the eggs' condition during transportation, temperature recorders should be employed to track temperature fluctuations. Similarly, it's advisable to measure both the external and internal temperatures of various eggs from different locations, ensuring the preservation of optimal temperatures. Following transportation, a resting period of at least 12 hours is recommended before initiating the incubation process.

Thorough cleaning and disinfection of all components involved in egg transportation are crucial to prevent the potential spread of pathogens. Preventing the cooling of recently loaded eggs is particularly crucial, especially if the truck is carrying eggs from various farms.

Cooling can lead to reduced albumin and yolk volume, subsequently increasing the air chamber's size and potentially allowing the ingress of external air, whether contaminated or not, into the egg.

How to Handle Hatching Eggs

When handling hatching eggs, it is crucial to follow certain guidelines for successful incubation. To begin with, avoid washing eggs before incubation, as this can remove the protective "bloom" and make the eggs susceptible to bacterial contamination.

Additionally, refrain from using eggs with unusual shapes or extreme sizes, as larger eggs, often double-yolkers, have lower hatch rates and may require special assistance if they do hatch, while smaller eggs, known as pullet eggs, are not ideal for hatching.

Before placing eggs in the incubator, ensure they are stored with the smaller end facing downwards. This positioning allows the eggs to settle properly and the air cell to establish in the correct position. During storage, remember to gently rotate each egg three times a day to prevent the yolk from adhering to the inner shell. Keep in mind that refrigerating eggs before incubation is not recommended.

Instead, maintain a humidity level of 55–65 degrees Fahrenheit, as adequate humidity prevents the eggs from losing moisture due to their porous nature. Furthermore, temperatures lower than 65 degrees Fahrenheit prevent premature development, and excessively low temperatures can impair the eggs' ability to develop at all.

To avoid potential issues, it's essential to allow the eggs to reach room temperature before placing them in the incubator. Cold temperatures can lead to condensation, creating a favorable environment for bacterial growth that could compromise the incubation process. Moreover, refrain from incubating eggs older than 10 days, as their hatch rates significantly decrease with age. As eggs age, their structural integrity diminishes, resulting in fewer viable opportunities for successful development and hatching into healthy chicks.