Managing the poultry hatcher environment

This chapter will discuss these two aspects of the hatching phase. First, the hatcher phase will be described from an embryonic point of view, focusing on the developmental and physiological changes during the final days of the incubation process. Second, the hatcher phase will be described from an incubator point of view, discussing the influence of the main environmental conditions – temperature, relative humidity and CO2 concentration – in relation to survival and chick quality at hatch and in later life. This chapter will focus mainly on broiler and layer chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus).