Ideal Incubation Tips

Even chicks hatched from eggs incubated under the best conditions may still have poor navels, but it’s less likely. Poorly healed navels can be a definite sign that conditions in your incubation program aren’t ideal.

Try these tips to improve your program to promote better navel quality and healthier chicks.

• Use only fresh, fertile eggs laid at approximately the same time by breeder birds younger than 50 weeks old.

• Select eggs that are normal in color, size, shape and shell texture.

• Ensure the incubator is placed in an area free from drafts, that’s not too close to heaters or heating ducts or in direct sunlight.

• Always thoroughly clean your incubator between every hatch and ensure it’s appropriately calibrated for temperature and humidity control before setting any eggs.

• Operate your incubator for several hours before placing eggs inside to ensure temperature and humidity are stabilized.

• Maximize yolk sac utilization by avoiding temperatures that are too low or too high in the setter, where eggs are turned every hour for the first 18 days of incubation.

• Optimize hatcher ventilation regarding relative humidity and carbon dioxide.

• Avoid high temperatures in the hatcher, which can make the navel close too fast before full absorption of the yolk sac.

• Adjust the rate of weight loss during incubation, if you notice poorly closed navels combined with full bellies.

• Shoot for a narrow hatching window by promoting appropriate preheating and uniform incubation conditions.

• Avoid exposing hatching eggs to fluctuating temperatures or rapid temperature changes.

• Immediately remove any moldy, cracked or leaking eggs to prevent losing your entire hatch.