6.2.2 – On-farm hatching

The welfare issue addressed is the long transport of small batches of chicks of specific slow-growing strains and delay before feeding and drinking between hatching in the hatchery and on-farm chick start. On-farm hatching after the transport of the eggs at 18 days of incubation limits chick manipulation and perturbation, weight loss, and dehydration (especially during hot seasons) with the possibility for the chick to eat and drink whenever it is ready to do so.

Presentations

Practice Abstracts

Video