Disclosed is a device for the automatic removal of rejected eggs from an incubation tray, whereby the device includes a suction power above the egg to suck up the egg, and the device further includes a blowing power against the bottom of the egg to blow away the egg, whereby the blowing power blows an air flow or overpressure against the bottom of the egg. Also disclosed is a method for the automatic removal of one or more rejected eggs from an incubation tray.

A new chick production method and a new chick production system are obtained which are different from a conventional method in which all live eggs are collectively accommodated in a hatcher tray to develop chicks. The chick production method of the present invention divides mid-hatch eggs into a plurality of groups based on physical information measured for the mid-hatch eggs during a period from when the eggs are accommodated in a setter tray to when the eggs are transferred to a hatcher tray, and accommodates the mid-hatch eggs in the hatcher tray to develop chicks. In addition, a chick production system of the present invention includes a measurement unit, a sorting unit, and an accommodation unit, and the chicks are developed by each of a plurality of hatcher trays.

A new chick production method and a new chick production system are obtained which are different from a conventional method in which all live eggs are collectively accommodated in a hatcher tray to develop chicks. The chick production method of the present invention divides mid-hatch eggs into a plurality of groups based on physical information measured for the mid-hatch eggs during a period from when the eggs are accommodated in a setter tray to when the eggs are transferred to a hatcher tray, and accommodates the mid-hatch eggs in the hatcher tray to develop chicks. In addition, a chick production system of the present invention includes a measurement unit, a sorting unit, and an accommodation unit, and the chicks are developed by each of a plurality of hatcher trays.

To determine the sex of a bird egg, a hole is produced at the blunt end of the bird egg, wherein the hole affects the calcareous shell and the outer shell membrane, whereas the inner shell membrane remains intact. In the region of the hole at the blunt end, beneath the intact inner shell membrane, at least one blood vessel is registered and the blood therein is excited by means of a preset incident radiation, the back-scattered radiation of which blood is measured, detected and evaluated for the sex determination.

To determine the sex of a bird egg, a hole is produced at the blunt end of the bird egg, wherein the hole affects the calcareous shell and the outer shell membrane, whereas the inner shell membrane remains intact. In the region of the hole at the blunt end, beneath the intact inner shell membrane, at least one blood vessel is registered and the blood therein is excited by means of a preset incident radiation, the back-scattered radiation of which blood is measured, detected and evaluated for the sex determination.

An egg conveyor assembly (1) comprises a first conveyor (4) having a first conveyor direction (X), a second conveyor (5) extending in a second conveyor direction (Y) transverse to the first conveyor direction (X) and a transfer device (6) arranged between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. The transfer device includes a transfer conveyor comprising and endless element (60) and extending in the second conveyor direction (Y). The second conveyor circulates second egg retainers (52) continuously, and the transfer conveyor circulates egg transfer retainers (62) discontinuously, in such that the egg transfer retainers of the transfer device are approximately standing still when receiving eggs from the first conveyor, and such that the egg transfer retainers of the transfer device are moving approximately synchronously with second egg retainers of the second conveyor when dropping the eggs in the second egg retainers of the second conveyor.

The present invention relates to an automated egg analyzing and determining system, comprising: a conveyor system configured to transport one or more eggs to a sampling system; a sampling system configured to extract a sample from one or more eggs; a sample transfer system configured to receive the sample for transfer to an assaying system; and an assaying system configured to receive the sample from the sample transfer system and to determine one or more characteristics of one or more eggs or the sample or an aliquot of a sample thereof.

The present invention relates to an automated egg analyzing and determining system, comprising: a conveyor system configured to transport one or more eggs to a sampling system; a sampling system configured to extract a sample from one or more eggs; a sample transfer system configured to receive the sample for transfer to an assaying system; and an assaying system configured to receive the sample from the sample transfer system and to determine one or more characteristics of one or more eggs or the sample or an aliquot of a sample thereof.

A system for determining the gender and/or fertility status of avian eggs including a sampling apparatus and an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and detector. In certain embodiments, the transmitter operates in the terahertz range. The sampling apparatus can be coupled to an avian egg. The sampling apparatus includes a vacuum source, a gas collection device, and a membrane that can be positioned in the passageway coupling the vacuum source to the gas collection device. The membrane is capable of capturing volatile organic compounds. The sampling apparatus applies a vacuum from the vacuum source to the gas proximate to the avian egg and directs the gas captured from the vicinity of the egg toward the membrane. Subsequently, the membrane is positioned within the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitter, generating a spectrum which can be analyzed to determine whether the egg is fertile or infertile, and if fertile, whether the egg is male or female. In an embodiment, the captured volatile organic compounds are transferred to a sample chamber where the captured gas is analyzed.

A system for determining the gender and/or fertility status of avian eggs including a sampling apparatus and an electromagnetic radiation transmitter and detector. In certain embodiments, the transmitter operates in the terahertz range. The sampling apparatus can be coupled to an avian egg. The sampling apparatus includes a vacuum source, a gas collection device, and a membrane that can be positioned in the passageway coupling the vacuum source to the gas collection device. The membrane is capable of capturing volatile organic compounds. The sampling apparatus applies a vacuum from the vacuum source to the gas proximate to the avian egg and directs the gas captured from the vicinity of the egg toward the membrane. Subsequently, the membrane is positioned within the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the transmitter, generating a spectrum which can be analyzed to determine whether the egg is fertile or infertile, and if fertile, whether the egg is male or female. In an embodiment, the captured volatile organic compounds are transferred to a sample chamber where the captured gas is analyzed.