Breeders Layers and Hatching Egg Production Akrum Hamdy

Breeders, Layers and Hatching Egg Production Akrum Hamdy

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

History of the Poultry Industry � 19 th century- poultry fanciers: new breeds developed which became the American class � 1 st poultry show - 1849 in Boston �American poultry assoc. Formed in 1873 �Standard of excellence published in 1874 �Chicks could be mailed - 1918

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

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

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

Types of Variations • Body shape and structure – Modern game, Japanese, rumpless

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

Breeds and Varieties

Types of Variations • Feather color – Solid coloring – Barring, penciled, mottled

Types of Variations • Feather type – Silkies, frizzles, long tails

Types of Variations • Feather distribution – Polish, cochins, naked neck

Types of Variations • Comb type – Single, rose, pea, v-shape, etc

Comb Types

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

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

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

Reproduction and Breeding • Males can be housed with anywhere from 1 to 10 -12 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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

Easter Silkies?

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

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

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

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

Fertilization • Shell formation takes 24 -26 hours to complete • Hen’s body temperature 104 106 o F

• Fertilization & Embryo Development Fertilization occurs within 5 minutes after ovulation • Shell formation takes 24 -26 hours to complete • Hen’s body temperature 104 106 o F • Laid egg represents 1 days embryonic growth (20, 000 40, 000 cells)

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 -4 mm) larger the first few hours after fertilization than at lay

Fertile and Infertile Eggs Infertile egg Fertile egg

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

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

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

What Is Secure for Them?

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

Effect Of Egg Storage On Hatchability

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

High to Low Storage Temperature 82. 3 80. 0 79. 4 76. 5 72. 9 74. 3

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)

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

Fixing Cracked Eggs – Simple fine hairline crack 1 ) paint with thin layer of glue – Break that causes indentation 1 ) cut kleenex, shell membrane of infertile egg 2 ) glue edges and dry 3 ) paint over patch – If crack leaked liquid contents, unlikely to survive

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

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

Artificial Incubation

In the Beginning. . . The Small

Small to Medium. . . The Dome Style

Medium Sized. . . Table Top Style

Large Sized. . . Cabinet Style

At the End ? . . . The Extra Large

Artificial Incubation • Important points – Temperature – Humidity – Turning – Ventilation

Artificial Incubation – Temperature Control 1 ) Range from 98. 7 to 100 F 99. 1 -99. 8 optimum ‘Still air’ incubators suggest higher incubation temperatures as opposed to ‘forced air’ units

Artificial Incubation – Humidity 1 ) Achieving specific water loss is the goal 11 -15% general rule 12% weight loss best 2 ) Relative humidity should be 55 - 60 % Wet bulb temp 80 - 85 F

Artificial Incubation – Egg turning 1 ) 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

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

Setter Operation • Ventilation – Supply of fresh air, exhausting CO 2 • Temperature control – Varies with setter type 99. 5 – 1000 F

Setter Operation • Humidity – Used to control moisture loss • Chickens ~ 12 % @ 18 days • Ostrich ~ 15% total – 840 F wet bulb (~ 54% humidity) • Turning – Ensures proper embryo development – At least 2 -3 X per day

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

Incubation Duration – Varies a great deal among species – Chicken – Duck – Pheasant – Quail – Turkey – Emu – Budgie 21 days 28 – 35 days 24 days 18 – 24 days 28 days 48 -52 days 14 days

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brooding Chicks • Start chicks at 90 to 92 o. F – Lower temp ~ 5 o. F 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!

Brooder Ideas

Just right Too cold Too hot Too drafty

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

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

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

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

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

How It Used to Be Done in 1926

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!