Incubating eggs of different sizes: it’s all about incubator design

Carla van der Pol MSc.

Embryo development and chick quality are optimal when the embryo temperature is maintained between 99.5 – 100.5ºF throughout incubation. When eggs are not incubated at an embryo temperature between 99.5 – 100.5ºF, embryo development is impeded and chick quality at hatch and in later life is negatively affected. Egg shell temperature (EST) is a reflection of the embryo’s temperature and can therefore be used in practice to determine the correct machine temperature required for a batch of eggs.

Maintaining all eggs within an incubator at the correct EST is a challenge because varying egg characteristics, such as eggshell conductance and egg size, can lead to variation in EST. When ESTs in a batch of eggs vary, development of some embryos is impeded while it is increased for others. The consequences of variation in development within an incubator are a longer hatch window and reduced chick quality and uniformity, because some embryos are incubated at suboptimal temperatures. Uniform and correct ESTs are vital to ensure optimal hatch results and chick quality. Download the entire article via the button below.