On-farm hatching for organic small-scale poultry systems

On-farm hatching reduces chick transport stress, weight loss, and dehydration by enabling immediate access to food and water after hatching. Tested on small-scale organic and label-type farms in France, it improves chick quality and performance, particularly with slow-growing breeds and outdoor systems using gas radiants. However, maintaining optimal eggshell temperature (36–37°C) requires careful climate control, especially in fluctuating ambient conditions, necessitating heating pads and ventilating heaters. The method is most viable in warm seasons with stable temperatures and demands collaboration with hatcheries to supply 18-day incubated, ideally vaccinated, eggs. It increases labour demands but enhances chick welfare and farm satisfaction. Additional resources are available via the EIP-AGRI and PPILow project websites.