WO1997004645A1

WO1997004645A1 - Watering commercially hatched birds

Info

Publication number: WO1997004645A1
Application number: PCT/IL1996/000063
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gadi Gvaryahu; Nahum Snapir
Original assignee: Yissum Research Development Company Of The Hebrew University Of Jerusalem
Priority date: 1995-07-26
Filing date: 1996-07-24
Publication date: 1997-02-13
Also published as: IL114743A0; AU6629296A

Abstract

A commercial hatching process of commercially hatched birds such as chicks, young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like, in a commercial hatchery. The hatching process includes providing the hatched birds with drinking water prior to housing the birds in a farm.

Description

WATERING COMMERCIALLY HATCHED BIRDS

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a process of hatching chicks and other commercially hatched birds such as young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process of hydrating (watering) and/or feeding commercially hatched chicks and other newly hatched birds during their stay in a commercial hatchery and/or during their transportation to a farmer/buyer, that is a process of hydrating (watering) and/or feeding commercially hatched chicks and other newly hatched birds prior to their housing in a farm.

As a matter of simplicity further descriptions will mostly refer to the commercial hatching process of chicks and young turkeys.

The efficiency of a commercial hatching process of chicks and young turkeys is very important for obvious economical reasons. Efficiency, as referred to herein, means low mortality rates and quick and non-delayed development of chicks and young turkeys into commercially worthy adults broilers or laying hens and turkeys, respectively. High mortality rates and slow and/or delayed development/feed conversion of chicks and young turkeys at early and later stages after hatching, severely affect the commerciability of the hatching process. For this reason it is desired that the commercial hatching process of chicks and young turkeys will yield chicks and young turkeys characterized by high viability rates and which are able to develop as quickly as possible into commercially worthy laying hens or broilers and turkeys, respectively. The commercial hatching process of chicks in commercial hatcheries is carried out under controlled conditions and typically includes four major stages.

During the first major stage of the commercial hatching process, eggs are collected after laying and are stored in a controlled temperature and humidity room at a temperature ranging from 1 1 °C. to 21 °C and at humidity ranging from 75 - 85%, depending on storage duration. Under this temperature condition, the embryonic development of the embryo within the egg is arrested. Hence, the first stage of the commercial hatching process is to enable a similar development starting point for a large quantity of eggs which may some times be collected over a period of few days or more. When a predetermined number of eggs, typically 5,000 - 10,000 is collected, the eggs are removed from the cold room and are left at room temperature (Ca. 22°C) for at least few hours, typically over night, to avoid temperature shock upon incubation as is described under the following major stage of the commercial hatching process.

During the second major stage of the commercial hatching process, the eggs are placed on a rotating device in an incubator with controlled temperature (37 - 38 °C) and humidity (usually 58 - 61 %) . Incubation is carried out for 1 8 days during which the eggs are rotated every sixty minutes to imitate the natural incubation process. After 18 days of incubation in the above described conditions the chick embryos are nearly fully developed and the eggs are therefore placed in hatching boxes and are further incubated in a hatching chamber (often referred to as a hatcher) in which they are left to hatch for approximately two days. The temperature in the hatching chamber is gradually lowered and the humidity is gradually elevated to 23.9°C and 75%, respectively, and the carbon dioxide (C0₂) level is controlled and is maintained at 0.5% to meat the needs of the newly hatched chicks. After hatching, the chicks are kept for another

4-5 hours in the hatching chamber for drying and hardening, after which the third stage of the commercial hatching process begins.

During the third stage of the commercial hatching process, a selection of the .chicks is made in which female chicks are separated from male chicks, crippled chicks and/or under developed chicks which are of no use. The female chicks are vaccinated and/or beak trimmed according to regulations set by the ministry of agriculture or other governmental agencies and/or requirements set by the farmer/buyer.

During the fourth and last stage of the commercial hatching process, the chicks are boxed in shipping boxes which may vary in size, shape and material of made and are shipped to the farm. Typically shipping boxes are made of corrugated fiber or plastic, are sized 56 x 46 x 1 5 cm³ and are suitable to contain 100 chicks, typically in two or four compartments separated by one or more dividers, 50 or 25 chicks in each compartment, respectively. Although each box holding 100 chicks is usually divided into two or four compartments to prevent the chicks from piling in one corner, some material in which they may clamp their toes should cover the bottom of the box. Many are used, but the excelsior pad or rough, absorbent mat predominate. Many boxes of patented design are commercially available on the market. Some call for the use of staples for holding them together; others have intricate corner folds that can be snapped together without stapling. In most cases, for aeration purposes, any given box must be separated from the box situated above it. Originally, this separation was accomplished by gluing a piece of wood to the box cover, but now the boxes have extensions of the dividers that protrude through and above the lid. These extensions act as separators, keeping the boxes apart. In another configuration the boxes are piled one on top of the other, wherein the bottom of an upper box serves as a cover to a box beneath it. In this case aeration holes are situated in the side of each of the boxes. After the chicks are boxed, the shipping boxes are mounted on the load section of a shipping truck which has a temperature controlling device and are shipped to the buyers farm in which the chicks are housed.

Depending on the facilities in the commercial hatchery and the amount of automation implemented, the time in which the chicks are placed in the shipping boxes may vary. In manually operated hatcheries, the chicks are typically placed in the shipping boxes after being removed from the hatching chamber, whereas in automated or semi-automated hatcheries the chicks are placed in the shipping boxes at a later stage, depending on the level of automation.

Nevertheless, during all four stages described above, the chicks are not watered nor they are fed. The first time commercially hatched chicks and young turkeys are watered and fed is during their housing in a farm.

Various ways to improve the efficiency of the commercial hatching process of chicks and young turkeys were suggested over the years. McNaughton and colleagues found that age of parents and hatching egg weight influenced broiler chick mortality (See McNaughton et al. 1 978 Effects of age of parents and hatching egg weight on broiler chick mortality. Poultry Sci. 57:38-44). Skoglund and colleagues discovered that chicks from eggs weighing less than 50 grams will not grow as profitable broilers as chicks from larger eggs, because of high mortality and lower weight of broilers hatched from small eggs (See Skoglund et al. 1952 Growth of broiler chicks hatched from various sized eggs when reared in competition with each other. Poultry Sci. 31 :796-799).

The egg serves as a readily available energy source for the growing chick embryo during embryonic development. However, when chicks hatch, this energy source is partially eliminated.

Only the functional yolk sac and limited available dietary carbohydrates serve as an energy source for the newly hatched chick. Houpt observed that newborn chicks are characterized by profound physiological changes as it adapts to its new and more variable environment, the most critical change being new nutritional sources (See Houpt. 1958 Effect of fasting on blood sugar levels in baby chicks of various ages. Poultry Sci.

37: 1452-1459). Thaxston and Parkhurst suggested that hydration accompanied by a readily available energy substrate, favor metabolism that results in broiler growth. These researchers found that broiler chicks that received a sucrose solution (10% solution of sucrose in tap water w/v) before they were placed on feed, showed larger body weights and lower feed conversion ratios than the chicks that received only water before being fed.

However, differences were not significant among groups fed sucrose water and tap water (See Thaxston and Parkhurst. 1 976 Growth, efficiency and livability of newly hatched broilers as influenced by hydration and intake of sucrose) . McNaughton and colleagues found in a second work that (1 ) broiler chick mortality was reduces by a factor of approximately 1 .6 when were hydrated with a sucrose solution as compared with ones hydrated with tap water during the first 1 5 hours of housing; (2) presence or absence of feed during the first 1 5 hours of housing had no effect on mortality (See McNaughton et al. 1978 Effects of sucrose in the initial drinking water of broilers on mortality and growth. Poultry Sci. 57:985-988). Nevertheless, the researches described hereinabove were all conducted on chicks after housing. Therefore, a research assessing the influence of hydration and diet on newly hatched chicks and young turkeys immediately after hatching was conducted by Y. Noy (Thesis submitted to the faculty of agriculture of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Ma. Sci., Rehovot, Development of chicks and poults post hatch: The effect of exposure to feed. 1993). In this work, the development rates of chicks and young turkeys, hydrated immediately after hatching, were assayed for the first 48 hours of life, as well as the effect of hydration and diet in later stages of the birds life. It was found that providing broiler chicks and young turkeys with water and food immediately following hatching resulted in increased body weight of 10% and 20%, respectively, as measured 48 hours after hatching as compared with chicks and young turkeys that were prevented of water and food for the first 48 hours after hatching. It was further found that increased body weight characterized thus hydrated and fed broilers until the age of 40 days and turkeys for up to 28 days after hatching.

Unfortunately, in the process of commercial hatching of chicks and other commercially hatched birds such as young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like newly hatched birds, all newly hatched birds do not hatch at the same time. For example, even under the best of incubation procedures, about 32 - 35 hours elapse between the time the first and the last chick hatches in commercial hatcheries. Therefore, some chicks are one and one half days of age before the last ones hatch. Most scientist agree that a chick should drink no latter than 36 hours after hatching, but because some chicks are 32 - 35 hours old when removed from the hatching chamber, they will be more than 58 hours old when they reach the farm and housed. From a practical stand point, chicks should be delivered to the farm about 1 2 hours after the entire group is removed from the hatching chamber. Even than some will be at least two days old.

According to the research by Noy, described hereinabove, it is desired for commercial reasons that chicks and young turkeys will be watered and optionally also fed during their stay in commercial hatcheries and/or during their transportation to the farmer/buyer, that is prior to their housing in a farm.

There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a commercial hatching process in which newly hatched birds are hydrated and/or fed during the process of commercial hatching.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a commercial hatching process of commercially hatched birds such as chicks, young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like newly hatched birds, in commercial hatcheries, comprising the step of providing the hatched birds with drinking water.

According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the commercial hatching process further or alternatively includes providing the hatched birds with food.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the drinking water provided to the hatched birds are supplemented with metabolites such as sucrose and/or other carbohydrates; orally administrated medicines; vitamins, metabolites, hormones and/or vaccinating agents. According to yet still further features in the described preferred embodiments, providing the hatched birds with drinking water is accomplished by installing at least one nipple drinker in each of the shipping and/or the hatching boxes in which the hatched birds are shipped or hatched, respectively. According to yet still further features in the described preferred embodiments, providing the hatched birds with drinking water is accomplished by installing a watering device in the hatching chamber, the watering device including water tubing, the water tubing including nipple drinkers and the water tubing and the nipple drinkers being arranged so that the nipple drinkers are reachable by the hatched birds after hatching.

According to yet still further features in the described preferred embodiments, providing the hatched birds with drinking water is accomplished by installing a watering device in the load section of a shipping vehicle, the watering device including water tubing, the water tubing including nipple drinkers and the water tubing and the nipple drinkers being arranged so that the nipple drinkers are reachable by the hatched birds which are boxed in shipping boxes. According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a commercial hatching process of commercially hatched birds such as chicks, young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like newly hatched birds, in commercial hatcheries, comprising the step of providing the hatched birds with food. The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known processes by providing a commercial hatching process of commercially hatched birds such as chicks, young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like, in commercial hatcheries, which includes a step of providing the newly hatched birds with water and/or food, thereby yielding newly hatched birds characterized by high viability rates and which are able to develop faster and reach a higher weight in a decreased amount of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a watering system including nipple drinkers connected to water tubing set in the hatching chamber; FIG. 2 is a cross section view of a watering system including nipple drinkers and water containers implemented in boxes or containers.

FIG. 3 is an end view of a watering system including nipple drinkers connected to water tubing set in the load section of a transporting vehicle;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is of a process of hatching chicks and other commercially hatched birds such as young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like and more particularly, to a process of hydrating (watering) and/or feeding commercially hatched chicks and other birds during their stay in a commercial hatchery and/or during their transportation to the farmer/buyer, that is a process of hydrating and/or feeding commercially hatched chicks and other birds prior to their housing in a farm.

The present invention can be used to increase the efficiency of the commercial hatching process, that is to provide a commercial hatching process which is characterized by low mortality rates and quick and non-delayed development of newly hatched birds into commercially worthy adults.

As delineated above, in the process of commercial hatching of chicks and other commercially hatched birds, newly hatched birds do not hatch at the same time, and about 32 - 35 hours elapse between the time the first and the last chick hatches, resulting in a situation wherein some of the chicks are more than 58 hours old, when they reach the farm and being housed.

As further delineated above, a research conducted by Noy discovered that (1 ) providing broiler chicks and young turkeys with water and food immediately following hatching resulted in increased body weight of 10% and 20%, respectively, as measured 48 hours after hatching, as compared with chicks and young turkeys that were prevented of water and food for the first 48 hours after hatching; and (2) increased body weight characterized thus hydrated and fed broilers until the age of 40 days and turkeys for up to 28 days after hatching.

However, during the stay of newly hatched birds in commercial hatcheries and/or upon transporting the newly hatched birds to the farmer they are not being watered nor fed.

Nevertheless, the above described experiments were carried out under calm laboratory conditions which does not reflect commercial conditions. Therefore, experiments to observe the effects of watering chicks prior to their housing in a farm were conducted under conditions which more accurately imitate commercial conditions. In these experiments the effect of watering of heavy strain (broilers) chicks and light strain (hens) chicks and the behavioral effect of exposing light strain chicks to nipple drinkers prior to their housing were examined. For this purpose chicks were boxed in shipping boxes as in the fourth step of the commercial hatching process described above. The shipping boxes which included the experimental groups contained nipple drinkers whereas the shipping boxes which included the control groups did not.

In a first experiment 43 heavy strain chicks served as an experimental group and 47 heavy strain chicks served as a control group. Immediately after the third stage of commercial hatching, as described above, the chicks of the experimental and control groups were weighted. The experimental group chicks weighted 46.56 grams on the average and the control group chicks weighted 46.22 grams on the average. The average weight difference between the experimental and control groups is statistically insignificant. After the weighing process was completed, the 43 chicks of the experimental group were boxed in a standard shipping box as described above which included nipple drinkers, whereas chicks of the control group were boxed in a similar shipping box devoid of nipple drinkers. All chicks were weighted 6 hours after their boxing in shipping boxes, after which nipple drinkers were installed in the control group box and all chicks were re-weighted 72 hours post the beginning of the experiment. After 6 hours the chicks of the experimental group weighted 47.90 grams on the average, which reflects an average of 3% increase in their body weight, whereas the chicks of the control group weighted 44.99 grams on the average, which reflects an average of 3% decrease in their body weight. The differences in body weights of the experimental and control groups after 6 hours is statistically significant (p < 0.0001 ).

When re-weighted 72 hours post the beginning of the experiment, the chicks of the experimental group weighted 66.27 grams on the average whereas the chicks of the control group weighted 64.09 grams on the average. The differences in body weights after 72 hours is on the edge of statistical significance (p < 0.08) . Nevertheless, if after 72 hours compared is the average body weight of chicks that weighted 49.9 grams or less at the beginning of the experiment (Ca. 80% of the chicks) a statistically significant difference in body weight in favor of the experimental group chicks is observed (p < 0.04) .

In a second experiment 80 light strain chicks served as an experimental group and 80 additional light strain chicks served as a control group. The chicks were boxed in groups of 20 chicks per shipping box. All other experimental conditions in the second experiment were identical to those in the first experiment described above. The results of the second experiment are summarized in Table I.

Table I Experimental group:

Box No. Average Body Average Body % of Original Weight at Weight at Body Weight Time 0 Hours Time 6 Hours After 6 Hour

1 38.85 38.60 99.38

2 37.55 37.80 100.67

3 39.35 38.60 98.09

4 39.80 39.35 98.87

Control groi jp:

5 39.25 38.35 97.71

6 38.90 38.05 97.81

7 38.75 38.00 98.06

8 38.70 37.90 97.93

As shown in Table I above, the experimental group chicks lost 1 .0% of their body weight as measured 6 hours post the beginning of the experiment, whereas the control group chicks lost 2.5% of their body weight during the same period of time. These body weight differences are statistically significant (p < 0.04) . Furthermore, the light strain chicks participated in the second experiment described above were used in a third experiment for behavioral preference testing, to examine their reluctance from or attraction to nipple drinkers. This kind of behavioral experiment was conducted to study the effect of exposing chicks to nipple drinkers prior to their housing in a farm whereat, according to the prior art of the commercial hatching process, the chicks, for the first time in their lives, are exposed to such devices, and therefore should be examined to make shore they are drinking.

For this purpose chicks of the experimental group of the second experiment described above, which were exposed to nipple drinkers for 6 hours and chicks of the control group were situated, each chick at a time, in a device that enables the chicks to select between a chamber which includes nipple drinkers and a chamber which does not. The results of this experiment are summarized in Table II, wherein right turns refer to a turn towards the chamber which includes nipple drinkers. Table II Experimental group:

Box No. No. of Right Turns % Right

1 1 3 8 61 .54

2 1 3 8 61 .54

3 1 3 7 53.85

4 1 3 6 46.1 5

Control grc )up:

Box No. No. of Right Turns % Right Repeats Turns

5 14 6 42.86

6 1 3 3 23.08

7 13 5 38.46

8 14 6 42.86 As shown in Table II, light strain chicks that were previously introduced to nipple drinkers (the experimental group) substantially equally preferred the presence or absence of nipple drinkers (with slight preference to the presence of nipple drinkers). On the other hand, light strain chicks that were not previously introduced to nipple drinkers (the control group) preferred the absence of nipple drinkers. The differences in preference between the experimental and control groups are statistically significant (p < 0.04).

It should be noted that these three experiments described above were performed immediately after the third stage of the commercial hatching process. This timing is equivalent to Ca. 4 - 6 hours prior to chicks housing in a farm, whereat chicks are watered for the first time, according to the prior art of commercial hatching. Had these experiments take place at an earlier stage of the commercial hatching process, for example immediately after hatching, it is fairly reasonable to believe that the differences measured between the experimental and control groups should increase in both aspects; body weight and preference of nipple drinkers. According to the present invention there is thus provided a commercial hatching process of commercially hatched birds such as chicks, young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like, in which the newly hatched birds are watered and/or fed during their stay in commercial hatcheries and/or their transportation to the farmer, that is prior to their housing in a farm.

In a preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention, watering of newly hatched birds is by providing the newly hatched birds with water via nipple drinkers. As shown in Figure 1 , the nipple drinkers 10 may be connected to water tubing 1 2 set in the hatching chamber 14. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 2, the nipple drinkers 10 may be attached to any of the boxes or containers 16, or boxes or containers covers 18 used in the hatching chamber and/or during other stages of commercial hatching of birds and/or to shipping boxes employed when transporting the newly hatched birds to the farmer. In these cases each of the nipple drinkers may be connected to a water container 20. Yet further alternatively, as shown in Figure 3, the nipple drinkers 10 may be connected to water tubing 1 2' set in the load section 22 of the transporting vehicle 24 transporting the newly hatched birds to the farm.

As hatching chamber 14 is typically dark, it is important to provide hatching chamber 14 with lighting means 1 5 to enable the newly hatched birds to see nipple drinkers 10 or any other watering device employed.

It is important to notice that according to the process of the present invention, newly hatched birds may be watered, employing various watering devices, such as but not limited to nipple drinkers, at various stages before housing in a farm. In yet another preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention, the commercial hatching process further or alternatively includes providing the hatched birds with food.

It is important to notice that according to the process of the present invention, newly hatched birds may be fed with various kinds of food such as but not limited to compounded nutritionally balanced food, employing various feeding devices such as but not limited to an automated feeding system, at various stages before housing in a farm.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention the drinking water provided to the hatched birds is supplemented with metabolites and/or nutrients such as sucrose and/or other carbohydrates; orally administrated medicines; hormones; vitamins; and/or vaccinating agents.

The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known processes by providing a commercial hatching process of commercially hatched birds such as chicks, young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like, in commercial hatcheries, which includes the step of providing the newly hatched birds with water and/or food, thereby yielding newly hatched birds characterized by high viability rates and which are able to develop faster and reach a higher weight in decreased amount of time.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A commercial hatching process of commercially hatched birds such as chicks, young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like, in a commercial hatchery, comprising the step of providing said hatched birds with drinking water prior to housing said birds in a farm.

2. The process as in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing said birds with food prior to said housing of said birds in said farm.

3. The process as in claim 1 , wherein said providing said birds with said drinking water is by installing at least one nipple drinker in a shipping box in which said birds are shipped to said farm.

4. The process as in claim 2, wherein said providing said birds with said drinking water is by installing at least one nipple drinker in a shipping box in which said birds are shipped to said farm.

5. The process as in claim 1 , wherein said providing said birds with said drinking water is by installing a watering device in a load section of a shipping vehicle, said watering device including water tubing, said water tubing including nipple drinkers and said water tubing and said nipple drinkers are arranged so that said nipple drinkers are reachable by said birds being boxed in shipping boxes.

6. The process as in claim 2, wherein said providing said birds with said drinking water is by installing a watering device in a load section of a shipping vehicle, said watering device including water tubing, said water tubing including nipple drinkers and said water tubing and said nipple drinkers are arranged so that said nipple drinkers are reachable by said birds being boxed in shipping boxes.

7. The process as in claim 1 , wherein said providing said birds with said drinking water is by installing a watering device in a hatching chamber, said watering device including water tubing, said water tubing including nipple drinkers and said water tubing and said nipple drinkers are arranged so that said nipple drinkers are reachable by said birds after hatching.

8. The process as in claim 7, wherein said hatching chamber includes lighting means.

9. The process as in claim 2, wherein said providing said birds with said drinking water is by installing a watering device in a hatching chamber, said watering device including water tubing, said water tubing including nipple drinkers and said water tubing and said nipple drinkers are arranged so that said nipple drinkers are reachable by said birds after hatching.

10. The process as in claim 9, wherein said hatching chamber includes lighting means.

1 1 . The process as in claim 1 , wherein said drinking water includes a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metabolites, medicines, hormones, nutrients, vitamins and vaccinating materials.

12. The process as in claim 2, wherein said drinking water includes a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metabolites, medicines, hormones, nutrients, vitamins and vaccinating materials.

13. The process as in claim 3, wherein said drinking water includes a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metabolites, medicines, hormones, nutrients, vitamins and vaccinating materials.

14. The process as in claim 4, wherein said drinking water includes a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metabolites, medicines, hormones, nutrients, vitamins and vaccinating materials.

15. The process as in claim 5, wherein said drinking water includes a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metabolites, medicines, hormones, nutrients, vitamins and vaccinating materials.

1 6. The process as in claim 6, wherein said drinking water includes a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metabolites, medicines, hormones, nutrients, vitamins and vaccinating materials.

17. The process as in claim 1 , wherein said drinking water includes a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metabolites, medicines, hormones, nutrients, vitamins and vaccinating materials.

18. The process as in claim 9, wherein said drinking water includes a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metabolites, medicines, hormones, nutrients, vitamins and vaccinating materials.

1 9. A commercial hatching process of commercially hatched birds such as chicks, young turkeys, ducklings, newly hatched ostriches and the like, in a commercial hatchery, comprising the step of providing said birds with food prior to housing said birds in a farm.