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Review of different day-old chick quality parameters in layer type breeds

Review of different day-old chick quality parameters in layer type breeds
Introduction
The aim of every commercial layer hatchery is a maximum hatchability of rst quality chicks. Only healthy and vital chicks are able to have a good start in the rearing period after being handled and transported. Good chick quality is clear to see with a low rst week mortality rate and a uniform development of the whole ock. It is therefore the key to success not only for the hatchery but also the rearing farm.

A rst indicator for chick quality is the percentage of second grade chicks. This percentage is naturally inuenced by the age of the breeder ock. Young breeder ocks, e.g. at < 30 weeks, usually give poorer results. If the chick quality does not improve with the age of the breeder ock, examinations need to be performed in order to nd out the causes. These causes can either be the age of the hatching egg and the general quality of the same, transport and storage conditions as well as the disinfection of the hatching eggs. Hatchery-related conditions might also have an impact on the quality of day old chicks. These include temperature, humidity levels, ventilation, frequency and the angle of turning during incubation.

The evaluation of chick quality in the hatchery provides important information on the whole production process. If properly applied, it can be used to detect possible weaknesses of the hatchery and the working routines in the same. Either quantitative or qualitative traits can be used for the measurement of chick quality. The qualitative traits are namely Chick weight, Chick Yield, Chick Length and Feather Length. Qualitative traits include the Vitality of the Chicks, the Quality of their Navel, their Beaks and Joints. Many hatcheries still hesitate to apply the examination of the qualitative traits in their quality monitoring program as these traits are highly subjective and hardly reliable.

There are, however, methods that can help to measure the qualitative traits as objectively as possible, i.e. by reducing the individual subjectivity to a minimum. These so-called “scoring” systems enable recordings of the rst visual quality traits of a chick to be transformed into a quantifying assessment with a maximum score of 10 points. For every negative factor, one point will be deducted from the total of 10 points.

Parameters that can be included in the scoring system are all of the above-mentioned qualitative traits as well as additional factors, e.g. the eciency of vaccination and injuries. This can help to monitor and improve the chick processing quality.

At which point of the production process should chick quality be investigated?
The point of investigation should be determined by the aim of the quality control. If these investigations serve the primary purpose of improving internal production processes, then chick quality should be investigated at takeo. The advantage of this is that at this point of the production chain, an overview of the quality of all hatched chicks can be attained. This helps to make conclusions about the incubation process and can give important hints on what needs to be improved. If it is desired to get an overview about the quality Review of dierent day-old chick quality parameters in layer type breeds of the chicks that will be handed over to the customers, and if information about the sorting and handling of the chicks are just as required, then it can be more appropriate to conduct the examinations before transporting the chicks. At this point, the quality of the vaccination and chick handling can be evaluated as well.

Quantitative Traits


Chick Weight
Chick weight is highly correlated with egg weight and therefore relatively predictable. If the incubation process is done properly, the chick weight will be 2/3 of the egg weight. An extended or reduced incubation time as well as too high or too low temperatures and humidity levels during incubation can also have an im pact on chick weight. The longer the chicks stay in the hatcher, the more weight they will lose due to dehydration. On the other hand, if the chicks are pulled early, the chick weight can be higher than expected. Two methods can be used for measuring chick weight:

1. Take single chick weights of a certain number of chicks. This allows to calculate the variation of chick weights within the group investigated in addition to the average. A good or bad uniformity of chick weight can be used as an indication of the quality of hatching egg grading.

2. The other possibility is to weigh a certain number of chicks at one time and calculate the average. This is a good and simple method, i.e. if only the average chick weight is of interest.


Recording single chick weight at the hatchery
Weighing a certain number of chicks. Please don’t forget to subtract the weight of the hatcher basket before calculating the average chick weight!

Chick Yield
In relation with the chick weight, the quantitative trait “Chick Yield” (Chick weight at hatch in % of the egg weight at point of set) must be mentioned. This is a simple method of checking whether the hatch time and incubation parameters are correct. To accurately measure chick yield, it is important to measure the weight of completely lled setter trays at the point of setting and to calculate the average egg weight. (Please do not forget to subtract the weight of the empty setter tray before calculating the average egg weight). The weighed setter trays must be labelled in order to identify them on the day of transfer. On the day of hatch, the chicks which originate from these labelled setter trays must be weighed in order to calculate the average chick weight. The ideal chick weight should be between 66–67 % of the egg weight. If the chick weight is below target, this can be an indicator that the chicks were pulled too late and are therefore at the risk of dehydration. It can also be a sign that the humidity level chosen during incubation was too low. If chicks are required to travel long distances, it can be appropriate to aim for a chick yield which is about 1 % higher than the ideal of 66–67 %. This can help to guarantee that the chicks arrive as fresh as possible at the rearing farm. In order to achieve reliable results in terms of chick yield, at least 70 eggs and 70 chicks per breeder ock must be weighed. It will surely be more accurate if from every ock, 3 setter trays in dierent positions in the setter are investigated.



Chick Length
In addition to chick weight and chick yield, the length of the chicks is another quantitative trait which can be recorded in the hatchery. In order to measure a chick, it has to be placed alongside a ruler and the length needs to be measured from the tip of the beak to the end of the middle toe (see picture below). This trait is often taken in broiler hatcheries as it is well known that the chick length measured on hatch day can have a signicant impact on the performance at the end of the rearing period. For layer type chicks, this trait is not relevant as the chicks are able to compensate body weight development during the long rearing period of 18 weeks. If the hatchery manager nonetheless decides that the chick length should be recorded, the gures should be interpreted only in accordance with the hatch window. Layer type chicks can grow more than 1 cm per day which means that the age of the chicks at the point of investigation is of crucial importance.


Measuring the length of a chick with a ruler

Measuring feather length
Examining the feather length of a newly-hatched chick can, in addition to other factors, help to optimize the incubation process. It can give an impression on how fresh the chicks are and if the incubation time chosen is either just right, too long or too short. It must be taken into consideration that the feather length varies between breeds. Fast-feathering chicks (e.g. the female line of the LB parent stock) already have much longer feathers at the time of hatch and the growth rate of the primary feather is also higher than in genetically slow-feathering birds. When measuring the length of a wing feather, a ruler must be placed carefully between the wing feather and then can the length be recorded. In the hatchery, LSL parent stock chicks show an average feather length of 9.6 mm with an average growth rate of 0.09 mm per hour. LB parent stock chicks, however, already show an average wing feather length of 15.6 mm which grows at 0.15 mm per hour.


Length of a wing feather


Measuring the feather length of a wing

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