Hatching chicks inside the poultry house is getting increasingly popular in north west Europe.
One of the advantages is early feeding: chicks have direct access to feed and water. And because the chicks aren’t exposed to the stress in the hatchery and during transport, they have an excellent start on farm.
Field experiences show that farmers see less need to use antibiotics as one of the results. As reducing antibiotic use has been a key focus for the industry for many years, on farm hatching is helping to get overall numbers down.