Incubation and eggs for hatching
We are talking about incubation, where the quality of the chick is only as good as the quality of the egg from which it is hatched. A common fallacy is that all eggs have the same nutritional value. Not all eggs have the same ability to produce healthy strong chicks. This is especially true of fowls fed commercial “least cost formulations” and are designed to give sufficient protein, energy, vitamins and minerals to produce maximum laying rate. This does not mean that those eggs will have a high hatch rate. Breeder flocks are fed very different rations, the difference being the levels of vitamins and minerals but protein levels may also be different. Laying rations are often supplemented by green feed to supply these extra nutrients. This can be successful but depends a great deal on the quality of the green feed. The simplest way to ensure that hatching will not be nutritionally limited is to use a good quality feed and a water soluble vitamin supplement, in their water, which contains Vitamins A, D, E and all the B group. Give to breeding birds 2 weeks prior to collection of eggs for incubation for setting which will generally ensure that there is no major nutritional limitations.
Quality chicks from quality eggs