Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for sampling an egg, the method comprising; a) fluid coupling an interior of the egg to a source of pressure, b) controlling the pressure in the interior of the egg by the source of pressure, c) expelling an amount of fluid, in particular allantoic fluid, from the interior of the egg to the exterior of the egg as a result of the pressure in the interior of the egg, and d) collecting at least a portion of the amount of fluid at the exterior surface of the egg.

Abstract: A method for producing poultry at a hatchery includes incubating a batch of eggs in incubating trays in an incubating device during a first incubating period of between about 7 to about 11 days, and then, for each egg of the batch of eggs, determining of gender of the chick embryo, in particular after determination if the egg contains a well-developed or more specifically a living embryo, and based on the gender of a chick embryo, dividing the batch of eggs into at least a male batch portion and a female batch portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an egg carrier for holding an egg in an egg handling system, wherein the egg carrier comprises; an egg accommodation, an egg clamping system to secure an egg in the egg accommodation space, wherein the egg clamping system is moveable between an egg securing position and an egg release position, an operating system coupled with the egg clamping system to move the clamping system between the egg securing position and the egg release position, wherein the operating system comprises an operating member that is operable externally from the egg carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing poultry, in particular chicken, the method comprising; a) incubating a batch of eggs in an incubating device during a first incubating period of between about 7 to about 11 days, and then, b) maintaining an egg in a predetermined sampling position during a settling time for allowing allantoic fluid to surface, c) determining a location of entry based on one or more egg parameters.

Abstract: An egg-examining device, comprising a sampling device, by which a liquid sample to be taken can be taken from an egg of a rack loaded with eggs, a feeding device for feeding the rack loaded with eggs to the sampling device, and a control unit, by which the feeding device and the sampling device can be controlled. The feeding device feeds the rack to the sampling device at an oblique angle of between 20° and 80° to a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity. A lifting-out device is provided, by which the egg can be lifted out of the rack and by which the egg can be put into a sampling position, in which the liquid amount to be taken can be taken from the egg by the sampling device.

Abstract: An egg-examining device, comprising a sampling device, by which a liquid sample to be taken can be taken from an egg of a rack loaded with eggs, a feeding device for feeding the rack loaded with eggs to the sampling device, and a control unit, by which the feeding device and the sampling device can be controlled. The feeding device feeds the rack to the sampling device at an oblique angle of between 20° and 80° to a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity. A lifting-out device is provided, by which the egg can be lifted out of the rack and by which the egg can be put into a sampling position, in which the liquid amount to be taken can be taken from the egg by the sampling device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for spectroscopical in-ovo gender determination of fertilized and incubated bird eggs comprising the steps of: a. providing a number of passages in an egg shell of an egg for allowing entrance into an interior of the egg and/or exit from the interior of the egg of electromagnetic waves suitable for spectroscopy, b. introducing electromagnetic waves into the interior of the egg c. detecting electromagnetic waves exiting the egg; d. analysing, by spectroscopy, of the exiting electromagnetic waves at at least one passage of the number of passages; and e. determining the gender of a chicken embryo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an egg carrier for holding an egg in an egg handling system, wherein the egg carrier comprises; an egg accommodation, an egg clamping system to secure an egg in the egg accommodation space, wherein the egg clamping system is moveable between an egg securing position and an egg release position, an operating system coupled with the egg clamping system to move the clamping system between the egg securing position and the egg release position, wherein the operating system comprises an operating member that is operable externally from the egg carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing poultry in, particular chicks, at a hatchery, the method comprising; a) incubating a batch of eggs in incubating trays in an incubating device during a first incubating period of between about 7 to about 11 days, and then, b) for each egg of the batch of eggs, determining of gender of the chick embryo, in particular after determination if the egg contains a well-developed or more specifically a living embryo, c) based on the gender of a chick embryo, dividing the batch of eggs into at least a male batch portion and a female batch portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for spectroscopical in-ovo gender determination of fertilized and incubated bird eggs comprising the steps of: a. providing a number of passages in an egg shell of an egg for allowing entrance into an interior of the egg and/or exit from the interior of the egg of electromagnetic waves suitable for spectroscopy, b. introducing electromagnetic waves into the interior of the egg c. detecting electromagnetic waves exiting the egg; d. analysing, by spectroscopy, of the exiting electromagnetic waves at at least one passage of the number of passages; and e. determining the gender of a chicken embryo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for sampling an egg, the method comprising; a) fluid coupling an interior of the egg to a source of pressure, b) controlling the pressure in the interior of the egg by the source of pressure, c) expelling an amount of fluid, in particular allantoic fluid, from the interior of the egg to the exterior of the egg as a result of the pressure in the interior of the egg, and d) collecting at least a portion of the amount of fluid at the exterior surface of the egg.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing poultry, in particular chicken, the method comprising; a) incubating a batch of eggs in an incubating device during a first incubating period of between about 7 to about 11 days, and then, b) maintaining an egg in a predetermined sampling position during a settling time for allowing allantoic fluid to surface, c) determining a location of entry based on one or more egg parameters.