Selecting the Best Hatchery Site

A critical step in the development of a new hatchery is site selection. A hatchery is not a typical industrial building: It is highly specialised with unique requirements in terms of location, layout and design. It is therefore important to give considerable thought to the location and conditions of yourhatchery site. This articlehighlights6 factors to bear in mind when selectinga hatchery site.

By Renos Xanthakis, Hatchery Project Coordinator

Why proper hatchery site selection is critical

Starting a new hatchery represents a significant capital investment for any owner. By taking an approach that addresses a hatchery’s production and performance requirements in conjunction with the site location and conditions, hatchery owners can make more informed decisions that lead to project success.It is advisable to evaluate the following 6 factors when selecting a new hatchery site.

1. Accessibility

A hatchery should have good accessibility, preferably by means of hard-surfaced roadsin good conditionwith easy access for large trucks. Rough transport on bumpy roads will negatively affect hatching egg quality.Places isolated from the road network will require approach roads, which cause an additional cost that has to be carefully evaluated.Additionally, the greater the distance is from breeder farms and grow-out houses to the hatchery, the higher the transportation costs will be.

2. Geological factors

The topography of the landhas an impact on the hatchery construction work, so it is important to choose a site where the conditions are most favourable:

  • Flat land: A hatchery has to be built on a flat surface. Only when starting from a flat surface, the right inclination in the flooring can be created to ensureadequate drainage.Ground preparation work to level the landcan add substantially to thetotal construction cost.
  • Stable soil: The ground at a new hatchery site has to be stable;if not,problems at foundation level can arise.

3. Hatchery orientation

Hatcheries should be oriented to maximise the benefits from thelocal climate and weather conditions and shelter from undesirable winds. It is sensible to look at the prevailing winds for a site throughout the year to see which winds to take advantage of or avoid. Orientation is measured by the azimuth angle of a surface relative to true north:Successful orientation rotates the hatchery to maximisethe benefits.

Hatcheries should be oriented to maximise the benefits from the local climate and weather conditions.

4. Proximity of livestock facilities

Because a hatchery is concerned with theproduction of living animals, specialconsideration must be given to the proximityof neighbours, and more specifically poultry and livestock facilities.Forbiosecurity reasons, a hatchery must be locatedat a safe distancefrom other livestock facilities to minimise the risk of spreading diseases. The distance from the hatchery location to any livestock facility needs to be greater if prevailingwinds are directed toward the hatchery.

5. Infrastructure

It is advisable to review whichelectricity and water supply sources are readily available to the site.A connection to the mainselectricity (industrial power supply)is an essential requirement.Self-evidently, water must be available for incubators and HVAC as well as for general utilities,cleaning, etc. As a general rule, it is best to locate hatcheries in sites that can be easily connected to the internet.Reliable internet accessis fundamental to any modern business.

6. Future expansion

The key to a hatchery’s long-term success is that it fulfills its function for many years to come. It is therefore recommended to verify if the site canaccommodate future expansion and growth.

Get the right expert advice

The best way for you to ensure the key site selection factors are sufficiently investigated is by relying on expert advice. Petersime has a multidisciplinary in-house team that can guideyour hatchery project from A to Z.

Through an integrated approach from design to execution, Petersime’s teamtakes care of the complete project, includinghatchery layout, hatchery flowsand building material requirements such as floors, walls, drains, doors, generators and other electromechanical equipment. The decision to locate a hatchery at a specific site willof course always be made with consideration of the local conditions and regulations.Petersime is there for customers at every key stage of the hatchery’s life cycle. Contact us to discuss your future projects.