Key Points and Methods of Ostrich Egg Incubation Technology Explained
The ostrich is an oviparous animal. Ostrich eggs are generally up to 15 cm long, 8 cm wide, and can weigh up to 1.5 kg, equivalent to 30 chicken eggs, making them the largest eggs in the world today. The incubation method is somewhat similar to that of chicken eggs. Let's take a look at ostrich egg incubation technology below!
Selection of Ostrich Breeding Eggs
1. Egg collection: The vast majority of female ostriches lay eggs between 3-6 PM, with a few laying in the morning or at night. After the ostrich lays eggs, they should be collected promptly to reduce breakage and contamination. Male ostriches have an instinct to protect the female ostrich and the eggs, so two people should cooperate when collecting: one person drives the bird away, and the other picks up the eggs. When collecting eggs, hands should be washed or gloves worn to avoid contaminating the breeding eggs. Contaminated breeding eggs should be wiped clean with a disinfected damp towel. Breeding eggs must be registered, noting the female and male breeding bird numbers and the laying date, and weighed and numbered.
2. Breeding egg selection: Qualified breeding eggs must be clean, with no soil, feces, or other contaminants on the surface. Second, they must be of moderate size. Eggs that are too large or too small will affect the hatch rate and chick quality. Generally, breeding eggs should weigh about 1.5 kg; eggs over 2 kg and under 1 kg should generally be discarded. Third, the breeding eggs should be oval in shape, with a longitudinal diameter of 16-17 cm and a transverse diameter of 13-14 cm. Eggs that are too long, too round, flat, or deformed have low hatch rates. The color of breeding eggs is generally milky white or cream. Pure white eggs have a lower hatch rate.
3. Breeding egg storage: During storage, breeding eggs should be placed vertically or at an angle with the large end up. The storage time should preferably be 3-5 days. If the storage period does not exceed 7 days, turning is not necessary. If breeding eggs are stored for no more than 4 days, the storage temperature should preferably be 16-18°C. If stored more than 4 days, it should be around 13°C. Relative humidity should be 60%.
Disinfection Preparation Before Incubation
1. Disinfection of the ostrich egg storage room: Wipe the floor with disinfectant solution once every 2 days, thoroughly clean and disinfect the entire room every 2 weeks, and fumigate with formalin solution.
2. Disinfection of breeding eggs: When the ostrich lays eggs, the keeper should catch them with disinfected gauze, then send them to the incubation room for disinfection. The disinfection dosage is 42 ml of 37% formalin and 21 g of potassium permanganate per sq m, fumigated for 30 minutes. If the egg is not caught, wipe off surface dirt with gauze soaked in disinfectant solution and immediately send it to the incubation room for disinfection. Before incubation, soak in disinfectant (temperature not exceeding 40°C) for 20-30 seconds, then wipe dry with sterilized dry gauze and the breeding eggs are ready for incubation.
3. Disinfection of the incubation room: Mop the floor of the incubation room with disinfectant once every 2 days, spray the walls and ceiling with disinfectant once every half month, and conduct a comprehensive cleaning once a month.
4. Disinfection of the incubator: Before each incubation, wipe the inside, outside, and surface of the incubator with disinfectant, and fumigate with formalin for disinfection.
Incubation Period Management Technology
1. Incubation temperature and humidity control: The ostrich incubation period is 42 days. During the early and middle stages of incubation, the temperature should be kept constant at 36.8°C. In the late incubation stage, from 30-42 days, the embryo itself produces a large amount of heat, so the required temperature is relatively lower, preferably 36°C.
2. Egg candling: The purpose of egg candling is to observe the degree of embryonic development and any abnormalities, and to promptly remove infertile eggs and dead embryo eggs. The first candling is done at the time of incubation to check whether the air chamber is facing up when the breeding eggs are placed in the egg tray. The second candling is on the twelfth day of incubation. At this time, the ostrich's beak and beak tip begin to form, the legs and wings are roughly differentiated, the allantoic membrane extends to the inner surface of the shell membrane, and the embryonic trunk enlarges. During candling, clear blood vessels can be seen, and two small round masses of the head and trunk can be observed, called "double beads."
3. Egg turning: Ostrich egg yolk contains a lot of fat, has a relatively low specific gravity, and floats in the middle of the egg suspended by the chalaza. The embryo absorbs nutrients and eliminates waste. If kept in one position for a long time, the yolk cannot remain in the center of the egg and easily adheres to the inner membrane of the eggshell. The purpose of turning eggs is to position the embryo in its external space, while also preventing adhesion and promoting amnion movement. During the ostrich incubation period, eggs are generally turned once every 2 hours, and turning stops after transferring to the hatcher on day 40. Generally, the turning angle designed for incubators is 45 degrees forward and 45 degrees backward. According to research, if the turning angle is increased to 50-55 degrees, it will promote embryonic development and blood circulation, and improve the hatch rate.