Course Description
This is an on-line distance learning course intended to educate veterinarians regarding hatchery practices and poultry health.
Athena Title
HATCHERY PRACTICES
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The objective of the course is to educate poultry veterinarians regarding hatchery management. Egg handling and incubation dramatically affect the health and vitality of chicks and poultry and understanding proper husbandry will allow the veterinarian to differentiate diseases from husbandry malpractice. At the conclusion of the course, veterinarians are expected to be proficient in hatchery management of commercial poultry operations.
Topical Outline
Course concepts include egg collection, pre-incubation, on-farm and hatchery egg coolers, setting, transfer, in ovo vaccination, hatch, and pull of chicks/poults. 1. Types of incubation equipment 2. Differences in management of equipment that affects hatchability 3. Chick quality as affected by equipment from breeder hen to delivery