Avian Production Management

TEMPERATURE

• Temperature plays a major role in obtaining optimum hatchability with strong, viable chicks. Variations in temperature directly affect hatching per cent and quality of chicks.
• The period of hatching, size of chicks, embryonic mortality and viability of chicks are directly controlled by temperature.
• Similarly, the stages of variations in temperatures also have a considerable effect on hatching, i.e. altered temperatures during critical stages of incubation is more deleterious than in other stages of incubation.
• On an average 37.5 to 37.8^oC temperature is required for incubation for poultry species in forced draft incubator during first phase of incubation, i.e. up to transfer of eggs to the hatcher. It is reduced by about 36.5^oC in separate hatchers.
• The same temperature can be maintained throughout incubation and hatching in case of incubator-cum-hatchers.
• The higher temperature leads to smaller and dull chicks; deformed chicks with crooked necks and toes, spread legs, etc.
• A high temperature results in delayed hatch and poor hatchability. Physiological zero is that temperature below which embryonic growth is arrested and above which it is initiated. The optimum incubation temperature as mentioned above can vary based on the following factors.
  • Size of the egg
  • Shell quality
  • Breed or strain of chicken
  • Age of the egg when it is set
  • Humidity of the air during incubation