Incubating eggs of chicken or other poultry in an atmosphere in which the CO.sub.2 concentration is elevated at controlled levels, enhances the health and survivability of the chicks and, in the case of chickens, reduces the tendency of chicks hatched from the eggs thus treated to disorders such as Woody Breast.

An incubator includes a housing defining a chamber, an air inlet for introducing air into the chamber, and a first air outlet for discharging air from the chamber. The first air outlet is spaced from the air inlet, and a stack of operatively vertically spaced first trays is disposed within the chamber between the air inlet and the first air outlet. A first tilting mechanism is provided for tilting the stack of first trays on a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of operative airflow from the air inlet to the first air outlet. A stack of operatively vertically spaced first deflectors are disposed operatively upstream of the first trays for dividing the airflow from the air inlet to the first air outlet into streams of airflow directed over the first trays. The incubator further includes a second tilting mechanism for tilting the first deflectors on a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of operative airflow from the air inlet to the first air outlet to align the first deflectors with the first trays.

The invention relates to a tray for containing a number of eggs in an incubation chamber, the tray comprising a number of egg accommodation spaces in which space an egg is able to be hatched, and at least one passage for a chicken through which passage a chicken hatched from said egg may pass through the tray and enter a chicken accommodation space located below the tray.

Provided herein are methods for promoting production of male embryos in avian eggs, utilizing a composition which includes Ginseng extract, Vitamin D and/or folic acid. Further provided are systems for delivering one or more substances for promoting the production of male embryos in avian eggs via a humidity unit of an incubator in which the fertilized avian eggs are incubated.

A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the eggs.

A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the eggs.

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems in egg hatching, based on hatching eggs in a tray (2), comprising arranging eggs in a pattern in or on the tray, comprising egg supporting positions and holes together defining the pattern, wherein the holes are dimensioned to allow chicks (27) after hatching to pass there through into a crate (4), detecting at least one of numbers of unhatched eggs (22) in or on the tray; numbers of dead chicks in the crate; and numbers of objectionable chicks in the crate, and supplementing or removing chicks to or from the crate in correspondence therewith.

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems in egg hatching, based on hatching eggs in a tray (2), comprising arranging eggs in a pattern in or on the tray, comprising egg supporting positions and holes together defining the pattern, wherein the holes are dimensioned to allow chicks (27) after hatching to pass there through into a crate (4), detecting at least one of numbers of unhatched eggs (22) in or on the tray; numbers of dead chicks in the crate; and numbers of objectionable chicks in the crate, and supplementing or removing chicks to or from the crate in correspondence therewith.

Spore forming bacteria and Lactic Acid Bacteria for application in poultry hatcher cabinets to alter the bacterial bloom towards a more beneficial microbiota, positively affecting performance parameters such as mortality, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio throughout production.

Spore forming bacteria and Lactic Acid Bacteria for application in poultry hatcher cabinets to alter the bacterial bloom towards a more beneficial microbiota, positively affecting performance parameters such as mortality, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio throughout production.