Mature Parent Stock

To attain both genetic potential and consistent flock production, it is important that the producer or flock manager has good management programmed in place.

The following factors are of major importance for the production of hatching eggs that produce high-quality chicks:

A. Genetic make-up of the parent stock
B. The housing of the flock
C. Flock health and applied vaccination program
D. Feed and water
E. Male to female ratio
F. Age of the flock
G. Flock performance

Genetics of hatchability – egg quality from the perspective of a chick:
The successful production of a chick is a complex process that requires the fulfillment of several conditions; The Breeder Farm has a major influence on results at the Hatchery and it is essential for the Hatchery and the Farm to work close to each other.

1) Controlling factors of the Farm includes- Breeder Nutrition, Disease control, Matting activity, egg damage, correct male and female ratio, body weight, age, and matting ratio, Egg sanitation, and Egg storage.

2) Controlling factors of Hatchery includes-Sanitation, Egg Storage, Egg damage, Management of setters, and Hatchers and Chick handling.

3) A hen must produce an egg – hatchability depends on genetic and environmental factors affecting the laying ability of a dam.

4) The egg must be fertilized – hatchability depends on successful mating between the dam and her mate (in naturally mated flocks) or insemination. The formation of a viable embryo in this process is affected by genetic and environmental factors originating from both the hen and her mate.

5) The laid egg must be of good quality to provide a suitable environment for the developing embryo, which again seems to be primarily a function of the dam’s genotype and external environment during storage and incubation.

6) The chick must hatch – the ability of a matured chick to break out of the eggshell at hatching could be affected by the genotype of the embryo, the internal egg environment of the egg, and the environment to which the egg was exposed.

7) The genetic make-up of the parent stock is very important. The parent stock should be vigorous. Here again, rearing plays an important part. Sexing errors need to be eliminated as chicks from false crossings do not possess the predicted characteristics. The rooster and hens you select have to be of good quality; even if you just have chickens for some eggs it’s important that the parents are very fit. They have to look good; nice feathers, good tail, good cam, and more.

This is mainly because:

– There is a big change that aberrances of the parent chickens will by inheritance go to the baby chickens

– If the parents are not fit this can result in issues like a large number of nonfertile eggs, dead embryos, weak chickens, and more.

Male to female ratio

As production starts at least 8 males per 100 hens should be present. Ten males per 100 females represent the utmost limit. An excess, as well as a shortage of males, will cause fertility problems in the flock.