Hatchery Practice"recognizing the normal hatching position"

A number of embryos fail to hatch because they end up in so called malposition .Not all the malpositions are leathel but they should be recognized by the person examining the egg and record in case their frequency changes as a result of inappropriate management practice

NORMAL POSITION

The normal hatching position is where the spine of the embryo runs parallel to the long axis of the egg and the beak of the embryo is underneath the right wing.the beak tip is directed toward the air cell in the blunt pole of the egg when the beak is underneath the right wing the wing hold the shell membrane away from the face of the embryo and thus gives the beak more freedom of movement.in addition the wing helps stretch the inner shell membrane and helps the piercing of this membrane by the beak in this way the embryo gain access to the air cell of the egg and begins to ventilate its lungs.

if the head of the embryo has turned to the right it stand a good chance of hatching however the actual hatching percentage will be influenced by whether the head is above or below the right wing or in the large end or small end of the egg