Start at the earliest stage

Today broilers frequently suffer from bone problems, as chicks develop a huge muscle mass within a short space of time. The bones have difficulty keeping pace with the speed of muscle development. In the worst case, lameness can result in mortality. If chicks are unable to move properly they will have a lower feed and water intake and their development will lag behind.

Preventing bone problems starts with the nutrition given to the breeders and the bacteria pressure they experience. So you can take action at an early stage to promote good bone development in chicks.

Nutrition and eggshell temperature are essential

During incubation, the correct egg shell temperature is essential  - the EST should be 100⁰F. Generally speaking, more active animals develop healthier bones and vice versa. This is one of the reasons why access to light, feed and water at hatch is good for bone development. Supplying feed with the right calcium-phosphorus ratio can also have a positive impact on bone development. 

Superior bone quality

We guarantee that each individual embryo will be kept at the optimal eggshell temperature. Our incubators have an excellent cooling capacity which prevents the embryo from overheating. This is essential for bone development, particularly in the last phase.

With HatchCare we stimulate further improvement of bone development by feeding the chicks at hatch. They become more active and utilise the residual yolk sac for its intended purpose; to build a strong body.

Finally, HatchCare reduces stress by providing immediate access to light, feed and water. And that represents 100% benefits for the development of the chick!

'Exceptionally interesting'

Before Carla joined our team four and a half years ago, she studied animal sciences at Wageningen University. “The subject of my graduation thesis was layers. That helped me discover that poultry is an exceptionally interesting research topic”, says Carla.