In on-farm hatching systems, eggs aretransported at d 18 of incubation to the broiler farm,where chickens have immediate access to feed and waterafter hatching. In hatchery-fed systems, newly hatchedchickens have immediate access to feed and water in thehatchery and are transported to the farm thereafter.Conventionally hatched chickens can remain withoutaccess to feed and water up to 72 h after hatching untilplacement on the farm. The current study compared day-old chicken quality, performance, and slaughter yield ofbroiler chickens that were on-farm hatched (OH),hatchery-fed (HF), or conventionally hatchery-hatched(HH).

Read more