Poultry Production and Hatchery Management: Temperature

Temperature

TEMPERATURE

Temperature is the most critical single factor during incubation. Initially egg takes up the temperature from its surroundings, but as development proceeds, the embryos generate its own body heat.
Optimum temperature requirement for the development of chicken embryo is 37.5 to 37.7 ⁰C (99.5 to 99.8 ⁰F) for the first 18 days and 36.1 to 37.2 ⁰C (97 to 99⁰F) for the rest three days.
Keep a temperature of 2⁰F more in still-air incubator to that of forced air incubator to compensate for the temperature layering within the incubator.
Developing embryos are very sensitive to temperature especially for high temperatures than low temperatures.
An increase in temperature of 0.5⁰C over the required temperature results in early hatching, increased dehydration and smaller chicks.
A further increase will lead to rough navels and weak chicks and sharp drop in hatchability.
Temperature of 46 ⁰C for 3 hours or 50 ⁰C for only one hour will kill all the embryos.
Low temperatures will delay the hatch, lower the hatchability and the chicks are with unhealed navels, more of culls and early mortality.
Minor fluctuations (less than ½ degree) above or below the recommended temperatures are tolerated, but do not let the temperatures vary more than a total of 1⁰C.
The temperature is measured at the level where the embryos develop (at the top of the egg).
Do not allow the thermometer's bulb to touch the eggs or incubator. Check the thermometer for its accuracy.
An error of one degree for 21 days can seriously affects the embryonic growth.
Temperature is the easiest hatching function to regulate, provided the machine has a good set of controls.
It is better to install a temperature sensitive alarm to warn the persons regarding the potential danger of the developing embryos.
Temperature alarms are usually constructed with two temperature sensors.
One is set to activate the alarm if the temperature drops below 97 or 98^oF.
The other sensor is set to activate the alarm if the temperature goes above 102^oF.

Last modified: Sunday, 3 June 2012, 6:16 AM

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LPM 221: Commercial Poultry Production and Hatchery Management (1+1)

Temperature

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