The effect of on-farm hatching and the presence of hens
On-farm hatching and the presence of adult hens alongside chicks could enhance poultry welfare and robustness of birds, and limit the use of antibiotics.
That was the premise for a French study that looked to carry out an experimental analysis of the benefits and risks associated with these practices.
To improve the early perinatal conditions of broiler chicks, alternative hatching systems have been developed. On-farm hatching with an enriched microbial and stimulating environment by the presence of an adult hen is a promising solution, the researchers say.
Day-old chicks were allotted within 5 hatching and rearing conditions:
- On-farm hatching (OFH)
- Conventional hatchery (CH)
- Conventional hatchery and post-hatching treatment with antibiotics (CH+AB)
- Both hatching systems with an adult hen at hatching (OFH+H, CH+H)
To challenge the robustness of the birds, they were exposed on day 27 to suboptimal rearing conditions of 4 hours of transport in boxes in a new room at a lower temperature, and fasting.
On their return to the original room, the chicken density was increased and birds were orally vaccinated with the Gumboro vaccine. The impacts of these conditions on hatchability, chick quality score, performance, health and robustness were determined.
Results
The results showed that OFH bodyweights were significantly greater than those of CH chicks at hatching. Whereas there was no effect of hatching conditions, the presence of hens decreased the hatchability rate, the quality score of OFH chicks and increased mortality at hatching.
Treatment of CH chicks with antibiotics (CH+AB) temporarily decreased chicken bodyweight at day 1, but the feed conversation ratio (FCR) was not modified. At day 19, OFH chicks had the highest bodyweights compared to the other groups, and the presence of hens at hatching harmed chicken bodyweight regardless of the hatching condition and FCR. An interaction between the effect of experimental rearing conditions and chicken sex was observed later for bodyweights.
In males, the OFH chickens were the heaviest compared to the other groups at day 34 but not at day 56, while in females, the presence of hens negatively impacted CH chicken bodyweights at day 56.
In females, there was no effect of hatching condition on the bodyweights at day 34 or 56, and the presence of hens had a positive impact on OFH chicken bodyweights. There was no effect of hatching conditions on health parameters.
In conclusion, the researchers said the OFH system was a hatching system at least equivalent to the CH system. The presence of the hen at hatching and during the start-up phase on performance interacted with the hatching condition and the sex of the chickens.
The publication, has been published in the Peer Community Journal here.
