There are several reasons why you shouldn’t set misshapen eggs for hatching:
1. **Reduced Hatching Success**: Misshapen eggs often have irregularities in their internal structure or nutrient distribution, making it difficult for the embryo to develop properly. This can result in a lower hatch rate, meaning fewer chicks successfully hatch from misshapen eggs.
2. **Developmental Abnormalities**: The irregular shape of the egg can lead to developmental issues in the growing embryo. This can result in malpositions, deformities, or even death during the incubation process or upon hatching.
3. **Increased Incubation Time**: Misshapen eggs may require more time to hatch because the embryo may struggle to position itself correctly for pipping (breaking through the shell). This extended incubation period can further increase the risk of developmental problems.
4. **Physical Stress**: Misshapen eggs can cause physical stress on the developing embryo, potentially leading to weaker chicks upon hatching. These chicks may have difficulty moving, feeding, or surviving.
5. **Risk of Contamination**: Misshapen eggs can have microcracks or weakened shells, which increase the risk of bacterial contamination. This can be detrimental to the health of the developing embryo and increase the likelihood of unsuccessful hatching.
6. **Resource Allocation**: Incubating misshapen eggs requires valuable resources such as incubator space, time, and energy. Setting these eggs may not be the most efficient use of these resources when considering the likelihood of successful hatching and chick quality.
In commercial poultry farming, misshapen eggs are typically culled or not set for incubation to optimize hatch rates and ensure the production of healthy chicks.
-By Dr. Rasel Ahmed (Assistant Manager – Hatchery, Nahar Agro Group Chattogram, Bangladesh)
