ABSTRACT
Incubation allows increased production, particularly in rare or valuable species. Artificial incubation is rarely as efficient and effective as natural incubation. Artificial incubation is used as a means of disease control. Some aviculturists prefer to store eggs prior to beginning incubation in order to synchronise hatching and hand rearing. Eggs lose weight during incubation due to water loss through the shell. Turning of the egg allows proper development of the embryo and the blood vessels in the egg, and allows better distribution of nutrients in the albumen. By determining the stage and cause of embryonic death, the clinician can then start to narrow down the search for the underlying cause of embryonic mortality. Embryonic growth is divided into three approximately equal phases: early, mid and late terms. Embryonic position is observed before removing the embryo from the egg. The embryo is removed from the egg and examined more closely.
