Ideal ostrich egg incubation

摘要

The high value of ostrich eggs makes it imperative that incubation conditions are right if we are to maximise hatchability. Variability in egg shell thickness and the size of eggs from young ostrich flocks means that water loss from the egg can vary considerably from the desired 16% during the 42-day incubation period. According to Trevor Smith of Ecostat, who manufacture a range of specialist incubators for exotic species as well as for domesticated avian species at their headquarters near Redruth,Cornwall, England, weight loss has a critical impact upon the hatchability of the ostrich egg.