INCUBATION AND HATCHING OSTRICH EGGS.

Ostrich are large flightless birds that lay big eggs and are of economic value.The ostrich eggs are so large and they need to be handled with care so that they can hatch healthy birds. Diseases,malformations and slow development can usually occur if the necessary conditions are not adhered to; the incubation period of ostrich is between 42-46 days. The eggs must be wiped with dry cloth,the hands that handle the eggs must be clean and sterilized with lodine wash/any disinfectant.The cleaned eggs should be left to air dry and sprayed with disinfectants before setting. The incubator room must be clean and disinfected with potassium permanganate/formaldehyde or any other disinfectant suitable for hatcheries. The eggs are to be stored for 7 days under ultraviolet light at 35% relative humidity and temperature of 17-21°c.Incubators maintained at 35-40% of relative humidity and 36°c with airflow of about 45 litres/hr will ensure maximum hatachability.Candling is done to monitor embryo development,this can progress until day 40. Once piping begins,the eggs are transferred to a hatcher,where the chicks use their beaks to break the shell.Gentian violet/iodine spray/any other disinfectant are used to clean the umbilical area for 3 days. Adequate incubator parameters and handling techniques coupled with strict bio security protocol is key to increase hatachability rate of the ostrich.