Chick Hatching; First Days Of Life; Benefits Of The Infra-Red Lamp; Nutrition - Borotto REAL Series Instruction Manual

9 – Chick hatching
The operation described below is very critical and must be done quickly, it is recommended to be assisted by
another person to speed up the operation so the eggs do not get excessively cold.
For the semi automatic incubator:
A. In the last 3 days before the expected hatching extract the metal lever located at the front of the incubator.
For the automatic incubator (with egg turning motor)
A. In the last 3 days before the expected hatching stop the egg turning motor by unplugging it from the power
socket, possibly when the eggs are still in vertical position.
B. Remove the eggs from the cells and gently place them on a blanket.
C. Remove the egg cells.
D. Place the plastic grate in the base of the incubator paying attention to ensure the two tabs of the grate cover
the 2 communicating water ducts to prevent the chicks from falling in and drowning.
E. Distribute the eggs on top and close the cover plate again.
F. Fill the trays with lukewarm water as needed (as shown in the table in chapter 7.4).
G. Set the temperature at 37.2°C.
VERY IMPORTANT: During hatching (in the last 3 days) DO NOT open the incubator! When the cover plate is lifted
unnecessarily the accumulated moisture escapes and it takes several hours to restore it. Therefore, the curiosity
to see the chicks about to hatch thus opening the incubator all the time will result in the chick inside the egg
dying for dehydration and desiccation! Open once a day at the most to remove hatched and properly dry chicks
then close again immediately. Keep the newly hatched chicks in the incubator for about 12 hours. They can stay in
it for as long as 3 days without drinking or eating without suffering.
Leave the incubator on 2 or 3 days longer than the incubation table, to give time to laggards to hatch,
9 – First days of life
Place the chicks in an environment that assures the necessary heat and light, with no air drafts, where they can
be fed and watered.
SUGGESTIONS: you can use a 50x50 cm cardboard box. Cover the bottom with newspaper, which must be
changed every day. Otherwise you may use the complete weaning pen or artificial hen available on the website
www.borotto.com
For heating, hank a reflector with infra-red lamp at about 20-25 cm from the ground. Adjust the temperature by
changing the height of the reflector. The box must be large enough to contain a water pan and one for the feed.

9.1 - Benefits of the infra-red lamp

Infra-red lamps not only serve to warm the chick, but act in depth, on the tissues and muscles, fixing calcium in
the bones and supporting the expansion of the blood and lymph vessels, thus improving blood circulation and,
consequently, the nutrition of cells. This promotes healthy growth of the chick which will also be more resistant to
disease.
The reflectors (used to convey heat) and infra-red lamps are available on the website: www.borotto.com

9.2 - Nutrition

Chicks usually start eating and drinking from the second/third day of life.
Place in the box/pen: a water trough and a manger with chick feed. We suggest scattering some feed also on the
newspaper.
Manger and water troughs are available on the website www.borotto.com
If other water troughs are used, ensure the pan is not higher than 3-4 cm otherwise the chicks will risk getting
wet or drowning. To prevent that, place pebbles on the bottom, which will also attract the chick to the drinking
water.
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