VM136
A Systematic Approach to Solving Hatchability and
Chick Quality Problems1
Gary D. Butcher, DVM, Ph.D. and Amir H. Nilipour, Ph.D.2
A program involving routine analyses of incubating eggs Table 1. Egg break-out data for 40 week production cycle.
and hatch residue provides a powerful monitoring and Parameters %
diagnostic tool to breeder, broiler, and hatchery managers. Hatch 85
This program would allow managers to stay abreast of many Second quality chicks 1.0
problems with breeder performance, egg management, and Dead chicks 0.25
broiler grow-out. An organized, scheduled program would
Pipped eggs 1.25
verify that the processes of egg production and incubation
Infertiles 4.50
are being done correctly. Data generated by egg breakout
1-4 2.50
analyses provide information of the flock history, details of
breeder and hatchery management, and anticipated early 5-10 1.25
broiler performance. Table 1 provides practical industry 11-17 1.25
standards for the various parameters monitored in an egg 18-21 2.50
breakout program. These standards should be used as a Contamination 0.50
guide for comparison purposes. These parameters were Total 100.00
compiled from break-out analyses conducted during a
5-year period from breeder flocks utilized at Group Melo, Why Conduct Egg Breakouts?
S.A. in Panama. These data are the average for the 40-week
Breakout studies are conducted to determine what is
heavy breeder production cycle.
“occurring” inside the hatching eggs. The data generated
should provide information to direct an investigation as
With optimal breeder farm and hatchery conditions, 85
to the likely causes of the problem, so that deficiencies can
healthy chicks should be produced from each 100 eggs set.
be corrected. For each parameter in an egg breakout that
In many companies, hatches of 81-82% or less are com-
deviates from the standard in Table 1, an investigation must
mon. In some operations, the number of healthy chicks
be conducted to determine the reason. The egg breakout
produced is as low as 70 to 75 chicks per 100 eggs set.
studies must be conducted on a routine, scheduled basis,
even when hatch is at an acceptable level. This program
reveals if there is a problem at any point in the embryogen-
esis process, and possibly suggests where corrections can be
made proactively. In large modern hatcheries, identifying
1. This document is VM136, one of a series of the Veterinary Medicine-Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service,
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date June 2002. Revised April 2009. Reviewed February 2012.
Visit the EDIS website at [Link]
2. Gary D. Butcher, DVM, Ph.D., Diplomate, American College of Poultry Veterinarians, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL
32611. Amir H. Nilipour, PhD, Director of Investigation and Quality Assurance, Grupo Melo, S.A., Panama, Republic of Panama.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to
individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national
origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A&M University Cooperative
Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean
and correcting even small problems, which result in 0.5% • % hatch for the lot
losses in hatch, can result in considerable savings. • % hatch for the three trays selected
• Total number of eggs per tray selected
Garbage or Valuable Samples? •
•
Number of healthy chicks
Number of dead chicks
In hatcheries, hatch residues are usually promptly discarded
• Number of second quality chicks
after pulling chicks to permit washing and disinfecting
• Number of exploders
of the hatcher and chick room. That is done to maintain
plant sanitation and minimize risk of cross contamination.
However, when properly selected, separated, and evaluated,
The Egg Breakout Procedure
hatch residues provide a valuable and reliable source of From the selected hatch trays, collect the remaining pips,
information for the breeder farm, hatchery managers, and unhatched eggs, and dead chicks. Place the eggs with the
broiler growers. large end up in egg flats, and count and record the number
of dead chicks. The three flats must be identified as to
breeder flock and hatcher tray position. The following steps
Sample Collection Frequency should be taken to minimize errors and confusion when
Evaluating three trays per breeder farm on a weekly basis collecting and analyzing data.
is recommended. A representative sample, with each tray
separately identified, should include one tray from the • Count the pips. Remove the shell cap and determine
top, one from the middle, and one from the bottom of one the reason for not hatching. Record observations and
buggie per farm. The three tray samples must come from comments. To facilitate the process, an assistant may
the same farm and egg collection day to allow comparisons record the findings.
to be valid.
• With a spoon or forceps, gently open remaining eggs at
the large end.
How to Conduct an Egg Breakout
Analysis • Remove the eggshell cap and shell membranes with
It is a simple procedure that can be learned quickly with care. The blastoderm or very small embryo may adhere
training and supervision. It is not necessary to be an to the inner air cell membrane and be inadvertently
embryologist! The requirements include only an interest, discarded. These eggs may be mistakenly classified as
organization, clear objectives and appropriate tools. infertile.
• After opening and examining the unhatched eggs,
Plan of Action
tabulate and classify the findings into the following
Egg breakout analyses must be conducted in an orderly categories: infertiles, embryonic mortalities at 1-7, 8-14
sequence as follows: and 15-21 days of incubation and contamination. After
classification, discard the eggs. At each stage ensure
Communication: Maintain channels of communication
that all eggs are counted and classified, and the infor-
among breeder, hatchery, and broiler personnel and employ
mation is recorded on the data form. When conducting
simple language to be understood by all.
the breakout analyses, it is not necessary to remove the
egg contents unless there is doubt as to the reason the
Be prepared: The hatchery manager should schedule the
embryo was unable to hatch. Most commonly, eggs
farms for the breakout analysis in advance and note the
that do not hatch fall into these categories: infertile,
location of the eggs. The data sheets should be available
deformed, dehydrated, malpositioned, contaminated,
and ready to be filled out with the necessary background
oversized embryo, etc.
information. The minimum data required are age of the
flock, breed cross, health status, type of machines used to
incubate the eggs, and duration of egg storage. Determine the Stage of Embryo
Development
Vital data: After locating the three preselected trays from a This is learned by practice. A common technique is to
specific breeder flock for breakout analyses, the following display a reference poster in the work area which has
information for each tray must be recorded on the data high quality scale photographs of the embryo and chick
sheets. at progressing stages of incubation. These posters may be
2
obtained by contacting incubator manufacturing compa- analyses provide information to enable a manager to
nies. It is also recommended during the learning process to determine where problems are occurring and allow timely
open eggs at various incubation ages to learn how a normal resolution. Some common causes of hatch failures are
growing embryo develops on a daily basis. described below. A more detailed listing is available in
many textbook and hatchery guides.
Key distinguishing features:
• High infertility : due to impotent males, unreceptive
• 7-8 days of incubation-- eyes can be distinguished. females, incorrect male to female ratios, mycotoxins in
the feed, sexual maturity delays, feed imbalances, high
• 13-14 days-- feathers have started to develop. stocking densities, poor ventilation, overweight breed-
ers, lighting problem, etc.
• 15 days-- all structures of the embryo have been
formed, the embryo is now increasing in size and • Elevated embryo mortality between 1-4 days of incuba-
positioning for hatch. tion: due to egg management, egg room temperature
and relative humidity, duration of egg storage, and
Fertile or Not Fertile sperm age and quality.
In many cases, it is difficult to accurately distinguish among
• Elevated embryo mortality between 5-18 day of incuba-
eggs that are fertile, eggs that are infertile or eggs that
tion: due to machine management, egg turning, too
exhibit positive development when analyzing hatch residue.
high or low temperature and relative humidity.
To increase accuracy of findings, it is recommended to
candle the eggs at 9 to 12 days of incubation in the setter,
• Increased dead in shells: due to poor ventilation in the
when it is easier to distinguish fertile and infertile. The
hatcher, malpositioned embryos, and poor ambient
percent of infertiles and early deads obtained at this stage
conditions.
can be used as a standard at hatch time when the egg
breakout is conducted for the same batch. The list of causes for hatch failures can be long at the start.
However, if a routine egg breakout program is in place,
Establish Standard there is no need for panic. The causes of many problems
After conducting break-out analyses at an operation and can be promptly identified and reported, and then changes
developing a data base, standards for various categories may made to resolve the problem.
be generated based on local factors such as breed types,
fertile egg source, and feeding and incubation equip-
ment. In hatcheries, three standard tables are commonly
developed that take into account the age of the breeders.
This variable has a major impact on percent hatch, infertil-
ity, and embryonic mortality. The three age periods are
usually 25-35, 36-55 and 56-65 weeks. The most dramatic
differences in these tables, based on increasing breeder age,
would involve percent infertility, second quality chicks and
contamination related to egg shell thinning.
Why is the Percent Hatch
Declining?
Hatchability has been declining over the last several years as
reported by hatcheries throughout the world. This decline
has been related to the recent emphasis on aggressive
genetic selection for the characteristic of breast yield over
other criteria. However, some deviations in hatch have
nothing to do with genetics, but with how we produce,
manage and incubate the eggs. Routine egg breakout