Hatching eggs is a vital step in the poultry industry. The process of hatching eggs is known as incubation. Egg-laying birds incubate their eggs by sitting on them till they are ready for hatching. Hatching refers to the development of the embryo within the egg under favorable environmental conditions.

1. Hatching Eggs

2. Hatching Eggs

3. Introduction
• Hatching eggs is a vital step in the poultry industry. The
process of hatching eggs is known as incubation. Egg-
laying birds incubate their eggs by sitting on them till they
are ready for hatching.

4. Hatcheries For Hatching Eggs
Hatcheries are available for
the commercial production
of eggs. A hatchery is a unit
with artificially controlled
conditions for hatching
eggs.

5. Hatching Eggs – How Is It Done?

6. Hatching Eggs – How Is It Done?
• The process of
hatching eggs can be
divided into three
main steps. They are
as follows:
Selecting the eggs
Maintaining the eggs
Hatching eggs

7. Selecting The Eggs
• After the birds lay eggs,
checking the eggshells for
crack before putting them into
the incubators is needed to
determine their soundness.

8. Maintaining The Eggs
Incubators control temperature and
humidity. The eggs undergo turning
in the incubators until just before
they hatch. They are then moved
into a hatcher unit three days before
they are supposed to hatch.

9. Hatching Eggs
•Once in the hatchery
unit, the eggs are no
longer turned so that the
embryos get time to
orient themselves
properly for exiting
from the shell.

10. Criteria For Selecting Eggs For
Hatching
• Eggs suitable for
hatching require careful
selection. The following
parameters help to
determine the eggs
likely to hatch well.
Fertility
Egg size and shape
Eggshell
Egg quality

11. Fertility
Eggs collected from well-matured hens after 5- 7 days
of mating are suitable for hatching. It is best to collect
eggs within two days of separating the cock to be fertile.
Collecting the eggs immediately after letting the cock in
for mating may not give eggs fertile enough for hatching

12. Egg Size And Shape
Egg Size And Shape

13. Egg Size And Shape
• The size of the eggs is a significant factor for hatching.
The size of the chick hatched depends highly on the size
of the egg. The eggs should be neither too big nor too
small.

14. Eggshell
The eggshell should be of
uniform thickness. The
texture and color of the
shells must be consistent
so that there is a steady
spread of warmth during
incubation.

15. Egg Quality
Eggs should not be
stale. They should be
fresh and collected as
early as possible after
laying.

16. Thank You