Incubation & Brooding



Guide To Better Hatching

By Janet Stromberg
Easy to understand information on all phases of hatching, completely illustrated. A good book for the beginning or advanced bird producer.



Table of Content

  1. Structure of the egg
  2. Formation of the egg
  3. Fertility of the egg
  4. Management of the breeder stock
  5. Proper care of the egg before incubation
  6. Selection of the hatching eggs
  7. 10 commandments for successful hatching
  8. Incubating the egg
  9. Sanitation Procedures
  10. Natural Hatching
  11. Artificial Insemination of Poultry
  12. Incubation trouble shooting
  13. Little known historical poultry facts of interest
  14. Sources of equipment
  15. Hatching time table
  16. Incubators
  17. Credits
  18. Glossary
  19. References
  20. SPPA

There are numerous factors affecting the successful hatching and raising of all fowl.  The chain of events begins long before the eggs are set or placed in the incubator. Our modern science and technology has provided us with a great deal of information on the subject.  A Guide to Better Hatching discusses many of these factors.

Each species of fowl has its own peculiarities that should be understood. Basically. we must consider the parent stock, their nutrition, and their environment. We must study all the factors leading up to the laying of a fertile egg.

Once the egg is produced, great care should be taken to insure that the egg to chick cycle runs its full course.  We know that there are certain types of eggs that hatch better than others. The hatching eggs must be stored and cared for properly.

Finally, the egg must be incubated properly in order to hatch.  There are many styles of incubators that will perform the function of hatching fowl successfully. Care for the eggs does not end when the egg is placed in the incubator, but must be continued throughout the incubation period.  The whole idea of incubation is to turn an egg into a strong healthy chick.  This means we must have a fertile egg from a healthy, well fed, hen and the proper equipment to provide temperature, exercising (turning), humidity, and ventilation for the egg during the transition from egg to chick.

*****************************************