A conventional hatchery vs "on-farm" hatching of broiler chickens: hatching process dynamics, and biochemical and...

On-farm hatching (OFH) is presented as an alternative, welfare-focused approach to conventional hatching in a hatcher (HH). The objective of this study was to compare conventional hatchery hatching and two on-farm hatching systems in terms of hatchability, hatching dynamics, chick quality, physiological status, and subsequent broiler performance. A total of 2 250 Ross 308 eggs were incubated commercially. The chicks were then hatched either in a hatcher or using two OFH methods: the eggs were either placed directly on litter or on plastic trays. The following were evaluated: hatchability, hatching process dynamics, chick quality, blood endocrine and biochemical parameters of 1-day-old chicks and broiler chicken rearing performance. There was no difference in hatchability between the systems (P = 0.841). However, OFH chicks began pipping and hatching 12-15 h later than HH chicks (P < 0.001), although the hatching window remained similar. The quality of hatchlings was superior in the OFH groups, with only 0.2-0.3% (P < 0.001) of individuals found to be second-grade or dead, compared to 2.1% in the HH. Plasma corticosterone (P < 0.001) and noradrenaline (P < 0.001) concentrations were approximately 1.5-fold higher in HH than in OFH chicks, accompanied by elevated thyroxine (P = 0.011), glucose (P = 0.003), triglycerides (P < 0.001), Mg (P = 0.020), total protein (P = 0.002), globulins (P = 0.002), and higher aspartate aminotransferase activity (P = 0.020), indicating metabolic and endocrine stress. HH chickens showed higher BW only until day 21 of rearing. Ultimately, therefore, the hatching method did not influence the final performance parameters of broilers. On-farm hatching reduced peri-hatch stress and improved chick quality without negatively impacting hatchability or final production results. Therefore, it appears that this method can be successfully used in broiler production, but only if the farm environmental conditions are properly managed.