Introduction
Poultry farming plays a crucial role in many countries, contributing significantly to food security
and economic growth. In the Philippines, the poultry industry has seen substantial growth, with
broiler and layer production making up a large portion of the livestock and poultry output.
Effective management of poultry farms, especially in egg incubation, is essential for producing
healthy and productive chickens.
There is a growing demand for automated incubators that can create controlled environments
for egg hatching, reducing labor costs. Automated egg turners in circular plane surface
incubators have shown promise in enhancing hatchability and decreasing labor needs.
However, further research and development are needed to create automated incubation
technologies that can meet the poultry industry's requirements.
General Objective:
Develop an innovative automated egg turning system for a circular plane surface incubator to
enhance incubation efficiency and hatchability.
Specific Objectives:
Monitor and adjust the automated egg turning system to minimize the potential harm to
developing embryos.
Integrate advanced Arduino-based actuators for precise and consistent egg rotation at regular
intervals.
Evaluate the automated egg turner's performance by comparing hatching rates and the
uniformity of hatchling development against traditional manual egg turning methods.
REFERENCES
Adegbulugbe T.A. (2018). Development of an Automatic Electric Egg Incubator. Retrieved April
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incubation-a-review-by-mohamed-mostafa-el-ashram/.
Cyriac, S., & Joseph, L. (2022) Incubation and Hatching of Duck Eggs. Springer eBooks.
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Dardi, A., Zuffa, A., & Martino, P. A. (2019). Real-time monitoring and automated control of egg
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Damaziak K., Paweska M., Gozdowski D., Niemiec J. (2018) Department of Animal Breeding
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Decuypere, E., and Bruggeman V. (2021) The Endocrine Interface of Environmental and Egg
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Fasanmi O.G. (2018) Development of an Automatic Electric Egg Incubator. International
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Hadoune, O., Benouaret, M., & Guellati, M. (2021) Design and implementation of a fully
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of Incubation During Long-term Egg Storage on Embryonic Development and
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and Perfect Commercial Egg Incubation.
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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
To establish a resilient foundation for the automated egg incubator, this section will explore
various concepts, ideas, and insights sourced from books, journals, online references,
publications, and additional reading materials.
Importance of Egg Positioning and Turning
Smith, T., 2018 affirmed, egg positioning in the incubator and turning ensured that the
embryo was fully developed and, in a position, to hatch. The common practice in the chicken
was to set the eggs vertically with the air cell at the top of the egg. Any eggs that were
positioned on their sides should be turned on their long axis. This means the eggs were set at a
45° angle, and after a 90° turn; they face 45° in the other direction.
In addition, (Jeffrey et al., 2018) uttered, studies have shown a 1-2% increase in
hatchability over that of eggs placed on their sides because of the translucence of the egg, we
are afforded the opportunity to set the eggs vertically as well. Candle the egg to determine the
position of the air cell. If the air cell is found on the side of the egg, position the egg so that the
air cell is in line with the axis of the turn.
Furthermore, (Daily, 2022) asserted, when turning the eggs, it is advised to gently rotate them
180 degrees’ side to side, not end to end. The purpose of turning is to keep the yolk, which will
tend to float to the top, centered in the egg and to prevent the developing embryo - which rests
on top of the yolk - from being squashed between the yolk and the shell and sticking to the
membrane. By turning the egg, the embryo is swept back into the egg white, where there are
fresh nutrients that help the chick develop. The ultimate success of a hatch can often be directly
tied to properly turning the eggs.
Moreover, (Ozisik, M., 2019) asserted, any eggs that are positioned on their sides
should be turned on their long axis. This means that if the pointed ends of an egg were north
and south the egg would turn from side to side (east to west) along the equator. Eggs should
never be turned only in one direction, as this will cause the malformation of the chorioallantois
membrane (CAM) and other structures within the egg. The number of turns by automatic
incubators is typically 12 or 24 turns in any given 24-hour period. If turning eggs by hand, an
odd number (minimum of 5) should be chosen and distributed throughout the day. This
eliminates the eggs from sitting on the same side overnight.
Nonetheless, (Roeder, 2023) uttered, the importance of turning machine mechanism in
the incubators are related to the outcomes of the eggs. Eggs must be physically turned to
prevent the developing chick from sticking to the shell. More scientifically, the embryo should be
resting on top of the yolk. The yolk tends to float upward, on top of the albumen egg white
towards the shell if the egg is not turned. As a result, the developing embryo can be squeezed
between the yolk and the shell, causing potentially fatal damage. By turning the eggs, the yolk
turns within the albumin, once again moving the yolk away from the shell and making it safe for
the embryo on top until it is time to turn again.
Also, (Cutchin, 2018) stated, turning of avian eggs during incubation affects various
physiological and physical aspects of the embryo and extra-embryonic membranes, including
the formation of sub embryonic fluid, utilization of albumen, and embryonic growth. While not
turning eggs can cause abnormal development, such as reduced area vasculosa, reduced sub-
embryonic fluid (SEF) and reduced chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) development, increase
malposition and improper sticking of the allantois to the yolk membrane or the embryo to the
shell membrane, all of which can lead to embryonic mortality. Eggs turned less than 40° will
reduce hatchability and chick quality, also will increase embryonic mortality and malposition.
Furthermore, (Fasanmi, 2019) stated, the eggs must be turned several times a day for
best hatchability. This will ensure that the embryo will not stick to the shell. The turning should
be repeated throughout the entire 24-hour day. However, the night turning may be eliminated as
long as there is a late evening and at least four times during every 24-hour period. The eggs
should be turned through a 90-degree plane as gently as possible. Turning should continue until
one- or three-days period to hatching and until the egg has a “piped” position or turning will then
have no effect on hatching.
Additionally, (Meijerhof, 2022) affirmed, in a commercial incubator, eggs are normally
turned once every hour. The minimum amount of turning should be approximately once every 4
hours, so 6 times a day. If eggs are turned less frequently, hatchability will be impaired. Also
here, the earlier in the incubation process the more critical it is. Eggs should not be turned
continuously, as this can rupture the yolk sac and result in embryonic mortality. Normally eggs
are placed vertically with the blunt end up and turned over their long axis. This will orient the
embryo with the head towards the air cell. Birds in nature place the eggs horizontally and turned
over their short axis.
Benefits of Egg Turning during Storage
Özlü et al., 2021 affirmed, previous scientific studies confirmed that egg turning during
storage had several advantages such as shortened incubation duration, improved hatchability,
and enhanced embryonic development, hence better quality of chicks in other poultry species.
Moreover, the reported turning regime might have improved the storage conditions of the eggs
and therefore ensured higher hatching results. Optimize the effect of storage time (7, 14, 21,
and 28 days), and turning frequency (0, 1, and 24 times a day). A total of 1800 daily fresh
chukar eggs between 19–24 grams were collected throughout four consecutive days according
to four storage length groups. All daily collected eggs were numbered and then set to three
storage chambers (HD-960L-3in1, Turkey) at an average of 15 °C and 75% RH for the purpose
of forming three different turning treatments (0, 1, and 24 times a day).
Effects of Egg Turning on Embryonic Development and Hatchability
Decuypere & Bruggeman 2021 stated, egg traits and incubation length were analyzed
with univariate GLM procedure in SPSS (version 22.0), considering 5% probability and storage
length, turning frequency and egg position were selected as fixed effects. Egg turning during
incubation is a crucial application for the fact that unturned eggs lead to abnormal adhesion of
the embryonic membrane to the shell membrane resulting in malposition of the embryo and high
embryonic mortality due to inadequate albumen utilization. Furthermore, turning is an applicable
method during the long storage period in hatcheries to reduce abnormal development of
chorioallantois membrane during incubation. An interaction for neither egg weight loss nor chick
weight between turning frequency and storage duration was observed in broiler eggs.
Further to that, (Cyriac & Joseph, 2022) asserted, hatching egg production as well as its
incubation are specialized enterprises, which need utmost care and attention. At the time a
fertile egg is laid, there is already a small embryo floating on the yolk. The vitality of this embryo
must be preserved during storage until the incubation process starts. To achieve this, the eggs
must be handled carefully. Specific management procedures also help to minimize the loss of
hatchability during extended egg storage. Fertility and hatchability are affected by factors such
as breeder management, egg quality, egg storage, and incubation conditions.
In addition, (Idris et al., 2018) stated, the significant effect of the turning of eggs during
the storage was found to be an interesting result, both for embryos in 48 and 72 h of incubation.
In previous reports, particular attention was paid to the need to turning change the position of
eggs in later incubation periods, which is necessary for the proper development of embryonic
membrane and the orientation of the embryo before the hatching. Little attention was paid to the
analysis of an effect of turning of eggs during the storage. The studies published to this day do
not explain whether the turning of eggs during the storage may affect the initial stage of
embryonic development. The present study indicates that egg turning twice a day, i.e., 24 times
during the 12-d storage period, contributes to the faster development of embryos in the initial
incubation period.
Moreover, (Elibol and Brake, 2018) confirmed that a turning angle of less than 45° might
too often been countered in commercial incubators. A deviation could increase the incidence of
malposition embryos in certain cases. Moreover, reported that the hatchability of fertile eggs
was 91.41% at turning angel 43° to 45° while it was 50.91% at 15°. Late embryonic mortality
was 25.16% compared to 2.5% at 15° and 43° respectively. In addition, explained in their review
that, egg turning, egg position, and ventilation are associated effects of egg turning. Egg
position, and ventilation influence several processes, these include: gas exchange and heat
transfer between the eggs and the external environment, egg water loss, adhesion of the
embryo to the extra-embryonic membrane structures corium, amnion and allantois, and nutrient
availability.
In addition, documents by (Funk and Forward, 2018) examined in two experiments the
effect of turning angle on hatchability. The angles of turning eggs during incubation were, 20°,
30° and 45°, in the first experiment and 30°, 40°, 45°, a second experiment, they concluded that
43° to 45° had the best results of hatchability both hatch of all egg set and hatch of fertile eggs.
In 1960 the authors repeated the same experiments with different angles. They investigated
turning angles of 30°, 45°, 60°, and 75° from vertical and they found that 43° to 45° still
produced the best results of hatchability traits.
Egg Turning Mechanisms and Automation
Damaziak et al., 2018 affirmed, the control unit which is essential for controlling the vital
environmental and physical conditions consists of the temperature sensor, humidity sensor and
also the dc motor speed controller that occasionally turns the eggs tray. This turning is important
to prevent the yolks from sticking to the shell. This work drifted from the orthodox tilting of the
eggs tray by exploiting tray shaker to achieve the turning effect. All these are coordinated by a
microcontroller Arduino Uno programmed in Clanguage to enhance the process.
Moreover, (Ensiminger, 2020) stated, the eggs were turned at an angle of 40o on either
side horizontally at every hour and this turning lasted for four minutes. The turning effect was
(halted) for 18 days. It was inferred from the result that the locally made electric egg incubator
with a hatcher along with an egg Candler, alarming system, and turning mechanisms was tested
and found to be reliable as the performance test carried out yielded an average of 84.06%
hatchability. The incubator was developed to serve a dual purpose, unlike the imported type
which has a separate hatcher and setter. This machine can therefore be adopted by small-scale
poultry farmers.
Further to that, (Raven, 2020) uttered, the turning of eggs was achieved through two
timer relays T1 and T2, turning contactor Tk and turning motor M. Turning process- timer relay
T3 was set at an hour, was to keep the turning of motor rest for 1hr, then Timer T1 and
contactor Tk will be energized thereby make the turning motor turn for 4 minutes at timer T1 set
to 4 minutes. Eggs were turning done by hand or using the manual sway. This required time
consuming because eggs must be turned at least 4-6 times daily during the incubation period.
Hence, a well-designed incubator was an essential expectation.
In addition, (Hadoune et al., 2021) nowadays, incubation systems are playing an
increasingly important role in agriculture and poultry farming. With the evolution of technology,
these systems must also be developed to keep up with a fast-changing world. Poultry egg
incubation systems are based on the principle of providing a nest-like environment for the hen.
A hen lays about 1 egg per day, and usually takes about ten days to start hatching. So, the
incubation system presents a practical solution to increase the number of chicks.
