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Hatching Egg Collection and Care in Poultry: Guidelines for Layer and Broiler Breeder Flocks
Proper collection and handling of hatching eggs are essential for maintaining egg quality, hatchability, and chick viability in breeder flocks. Hatching eggs should be collected at appropriate intervals, carefully selected based on shell quality and physical characteristics, and handled and stored under suitable conditions to minimize contamination and damage.
The management practices differ between layer and broiler breeder flocks, particularly in terms of the timing of egg collection, storage, and protection against shell damage.
Layer Parents
In slat or deep-litter systems, provide nest boxes at a rate of one nest hole for every 4 to 5 hens at 18–20 weeks of age. Close the nest holes at night to discourage broodiness and soiling of the nest material. Introduce males at around 22 weeks of age at a ratio of 8 cocks per 100 hens, or according to the recommendation of the primary breeder.
Collect hatching eggs when they reach at least 48–50 g in weight or from 25 weeks of age, whichever is later. Collect eggs at hourly intervals during the forenoon and once every 2 hours in the afternoon in deep-litter and wire-floor housing. In cage systems, collect eggs 2 or 3 times a day.
Broiler Parents
Broiler parents start egg production at around 22 weeks of age. Eggs for hatching are collected after 27 weeks of age and collection can continue up to 62 weeks of age.
Separate clean, soiled, dirty, broken, misshapen, and abnormal eggs soon after collection. Save clean eggs with sound shells, appropriate shape, and suitable size for hatching without cleaning. Dry-clean lightly soiled eggs with sandpaper, a dry cloth, or cotton and save them for hatching. Do not use wet cleaning methods for eggs. Discard other eggs, which can be sold for table use.
Fumigate hatching eggs with formaldehyde gas at 3× concentration and store them in an egg storage room until 6 hours before setting. Do not store hatching eggs for more than a week. In cage systems, Netlon or a rubber mat is placed over the cage floor to prevent hairline cracks (checks) in hatching eggs. Alternatively, a plastic-coated steel mesh can be used as the cage floor.
