Environmental conditions in broiler multi-stage setter: a case study

Abstract

Production of one day-old chick production is one of the most important segments in the poultry production business. Broiler chicken incubation environment needs to be homogeneous and adequate so hatchability and final product quality are not affected. This research aimed at evaluating environmental conditions inside a multi-stage setter in a commercial hatchery house. The incubator was split into six areas and data loggers placed in the geometric center to register temperature and relative humidity data; carbon dioxide concentration and number of colony forming units (CFU) of fungi were also sampled and analyzed; Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test was used for statistical analysis; significant differences in temperature and relative humidity distribution inside the incubator (p < 0.05) were detected, but no differences were found in CO2 concentrations or CFU distribution inside the incubator (p >; 0.05). Fungi incidence varied from average to good. Critical points were detected in all areas inside the setter.