About this Research Topic
The avian embryo is a good model to provide insights into morphologic, physiologic, and metabolic processes, and development, and their regulation by environmental conditions because it grows without direct maternal influences. The development of avian embryos is a dynamic process that requires optimum incubation conditions to achieve an optimum hatchability and chick quality. The incubation environment includes temperature, humidity, gas composition and exchange, egg turning, and light. It has been shown that deviations in incubation conditions may negatively affect the physiological status and development of chicken embryos. However, the optimum incubation conditions may not be the same for all eggs. The background of the embryo, such as genetic strain, breeder age, egg weight, and the duration of egg storage interacts with the incubation conditions and embryo development. Therefore, to achieve the best results, incubation conditions need to be adjusted to meet requirements of the developing embryo. Moreover, changes in embryo development can have long-term effects during the post hatch period.
An optimum incubation environment is important for the hatching success. Incubation temperature is the most critical factor affecting chick weight, hatching time, yolk sac absorption. Relative humidity influences embryonic mortality and water loss from the egg. Turning eggs adjusting to temperature distribution prevents adherence of the embryo and extra embryonic membranes to the inner shell membrane. Influenced indirectly is the extra embryonic membrane development and consequently embryo respiration. Lighting affects embryo development and the chick’s circadian rhythm during the post hatch. However, the background of the egg (strain, breeder age, egg storage duration and conditions, eggshell properties) also affects embryo development and its environmental needs. Considering the necessity of fine environmental balance during incubation to achieve optimum hatchability, it is essential to understand the mechanisms that explain physiological, morphological, developmental differences during embryonic stage due to the environmental conditions.
This Research Topic will focus on environmental conditions in the incubator and how manipulations in the incubation conditions influence embryo physiology, metabolism, growth, and their subsequent impact on post hatch performance.
The possible sub- topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Impact of incubation conditions on physiological, molecular, hormonal, and epigenetic mechanisms
- Implications of incubation conditions on broiler growth and laying hen performance
- Developmental mechanisms and its regulation by incubation conditions
This Research Topic encourages researchers to address these topics, with updated reviews and original research articles.
An optimum incubation environment is important for the hatching success. Incubation temperature is the most critical factor affecting chick weight, hatching time, yolk sac absorption. Relative humidity influences embryonic mortality and water loss from the egg. Turning eggs adjusting to temperature distribution prevents adherence of the embryo and extra embryonic membranes to the inner shell membrane. Influenced indirectly is the extra embryonic membrane development and consequently embryo respiration. Lighting affects embryo development and the chick’s circadian rhythm during the post hatch. However, the background of the egg (strain, breeder age, egg storage duration and conditions, eggshell properties) also affects embryo development and its environmental needs. Considering the necessity of fine environmental balance during incubation to achieve optimum hatchability, it is essential to understand the mechanisms that explain physiological, morphological, developmental differences during embryonic stage due to the environmental conditions.
This Research Topic will focus on environmental conditions in the incubator and how manipulations in the incubation conditions influence embryo physiology, metabolism, growth, and their subsequent impact on post hatch performance.
The possible sub- topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Impact of incubation conditions on physiological, molecular, hormonal, and epigenetic mechanisms
- Implications of incubation conditions on broiler growth and laying hen performance
- Developmental mechanisms and its regulation by incubation conditions
This Research Topic encourages researchers to address these topics, with updated reviews and original research articles.
Keywords: chicken, incubation conditions, physiology, metabolism, development
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
