When a hen ceases incubation of her eggs earlier than they hatch, the developmental course of inside these eggs halts. The viability of the embryos decreases over time, and they’re going to ultimately perish. Exterior elements like temperature fluctuations and potential bacterial contamination additional speed up the deterioration course of.
Understanding the destiny of unattended eggs is essential for poultry farmers aiming to maximise hatch charges. Abandonment can stem from varied elements, together with environmental stress, illness, or inexperience, particularly amongst first-time moms. Traditionally, farmers have monitored nests intently to intervene when abandonment happens, using incubators to salvage probably viable eggs.