French study on innovative radiant heating, and results in the broiler house
High hatching rate and heavy chicks
Efficient use of radiant heaters in a broiler house leads to a hatching rate of eggs just as high as when using an incubator. This was the finding of a study by French institutes, including ITAVI, in partnership with One2Born. Chicks that hatch in the broiler house are significantly heavier (1.5 grams on average) than chicks that hatch in an incubator.
Warming hatching eggs on One2Born trays with radiant heaters in a broiler house results in a high hatching rate due to a constant and uniform eggshell temperature of almost 36 °C during the hatching days. The result is high hatching rates: for a slow-growing breed (Hubbard JA657), the average rate was 99.3%, and for a fast-growing breed (Ross 308) 98.7%. This is comparable to hatching rates in incubators (98.8% for Hubbard and 98.9% for Ross). This important conclusion was reached by a study with 500 hatching eggs that was conducted by four French research institutes, including the Institut Technique de l’Aviculture (ITAVI). ITAVI conducts applied research for various groups, including professionals in poultry farming. It also investigates the probability of chicks hatching in the broiler house, in particular the effects on animal welfare and sustainability.
Innovative and sustainable heating
“Recent research shows that radiant heat can be used to heat hatching eggs very specifically, which results in high hatching rates,” concludes Frank de Louw of One2Born. “It’s possible that this innovative method of heating can also be used to hatch eggs in a smaller area. This saves energy during hatching, and the chicks are kept warm with radiant heat for the first few days after they’re born.
In a previous study, the French institutes EASM, INRAE and Saint Pierre d’Amilly had already determined the best way to arrange radiant heaters in a broiler house to achieve an optimal temperature on the largest possible area on the ground. It found that the best set-up consisted of Systel 5-kW Sol’Air radiant heaters at a sufficient height (2.2 metres) in combination with a control sensor on the cells approximately 40 cm from the middle with a set point of 35 °C and a heating range of 1 °C.
Heavier chicks in the broiler house
The French study also confirms the positive effect of the One2Born system on chick weight. On average, chicks that hatched in the broiler house were 1.5 grams heavier than chicks hatched in an incubator. The chicks were weighed after all the chicks had hatched. The average weight of all chicks (both breeds) hatched in the broiler house was 41.2 grams. That was 1.5 grams more (a significant difference) than the weight of chicks hatched in an incubator, which averaged 39.7 grams. This is explained by the fact that chicks in the broiler house have direct access to water and food. In an incubator, the time between the first and last chick hatching can vary from 24 to 36 hours. “That means some chicks have to wait a long time before they can eat and drink, so the chicks that hatch first can dehydrate in the incubator,” says De Louw. The quality score of Hubbard chicks that hatched in the broiler house was equal to those that hatched in an incubator. This was not the case with Ross chicks; those that hatched in the broiler house had a better appearance, and fewer signs of dehydration (quality score 101.8) than those born in the incubator (quality score 99.5).
The advantage of access to water and feed for those that hatched in the broiler house was also studied. The chicks were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of chicks that only had access to water, while Group 2 consisted of chicks with immediate access to water and feed. The weight of Ross chicks in Group 2 was significantly higher (44.2 grams) than Ross chicks in Group 1 (42.2 grams). This difference was insignificant for Hubbard chicks; 38.7 grams (water only) compared to 38.9 grams (water and feed).
Follow-up research
Incubating chicks in the broiler house is gaining popularity in many European countries. “We’re delighted with the French research into the benefits of hatching eggs in a broiler house, and the combination of radiant heat. This was only a relatively small, but successful, study using radiant heat in which practically all the eggs hatched in the barn. We’re sure to see further developments, including the application of new technology to optimise the hatching of chicks in a broiler house further.” Follow-up studies with larger groups of hatching eggs will be conducted, with and without feed and water, and with specific measurements of chicks.
ITAVI is a French applied research and development Institute which serves professionals in the poultry, rabbits and aquaculture sectors.