How to Artificial Insemination in Poultry?

Semen collection procedures

01, Before semen collection, please prepare for Test glass tube, breaker, plastic head Dropper, as 

well as plastic Gloves, masks and clothes.

02, Two workers are required during the semen collection, one is to hold the chicken properly, and

clean the cloacal region to keep it clean, without polluted the semen, and the other is to collect the

semen with glass tubes.

(Please scan QR Code for 720 Factory Panoramic View)

Also Read: Artificial Insemination in Poultry

03, Prior to semen collection, Roosters need to be trained and this can be done through abdominal

and back massage for about a minute for 3 days, continuously. Abdominal massage method is the

most commonly used since it is non-invasive and has minimal stress on the cock.

04, The procedure involves restraining the male, followed by gentle but rapid stroking of the abdomen

and back region towards the tail. This stimulates the copulatory organ causing it to protrude. At this

point, the handler quickly pushes the tail forward with one hand and, at the same time, using the thumb

and forefinger of the same hand to gently squeeze the region surrounding the sides of the cloaca to 

“milk” semen from the ducts of the copulatory organ.

05, Semen may then be collected in a small tube or any glass breaker container. This procedure is 

repeated twice, once a day; if Twice a day, it may cause damage to the testes and cloacal region.

Please keep the semen clean, and without any pollution.

 Also Read: Does 'cage-free' mean a better life for chickens?

The volume of semen that can be collected from a single cock ranges from about 0.7 to 1.0 ml, with

a spermatozoon concentration of 3 to 4 billion/ml. However, the quantity of semen depends on 

genetics and environmental factors such as age, body weight, season and nutrition. What’s more, 

the degree to which Roosters will respond to abdominal massage and the pressure applied on the 

ejaculatory ducts will also influence quantity of semen produced.

Chicken semen begins to lose fertilizing ability when stored for more than 1 hour; therefore it must 

be deposited in the hen within the 1 hour of collection. In the case of short-term storage and 

transportation of the semen, it is necessary to use liquid cold (4 Degree C) storage to maintain 

spermatozoa viability for up to 24 hours.

Also Read: How to build a modern commercial chicken house ?

Semen deposition procedure

Vaginal insemination is commonly used for semen deposition for there are less chance of injury for

the hen.

Preliminary stroking and massaging of the back and abdomen is required to stimulate the hen. 

This is followed by applying pressure to the left side of the hen’s abdomen around the vent 

causing evertion of the cloaca hence protrusion of the vaginal orifice.

An inseminator containing the semen is inserted 2.5 cm deep into this opening for semen to be 

deposited. As the semen is expelled by the inseminator, pressure around the vent is released, so 

that the oviduct can return to its normal position and draw the semen inwards to the utero-vaginal

junction.

 Inseminators such as straws, syringes or plastic tubes may be used. During insemination, the 

volume of semen required per hen is about 0.1ml which contains about 100 to 200 million sperms.

Timing of the insemination should be considered. It is best to inseminate hens in the late afternoon

(2:00pm and 4:00pm), since in the morning hours hens may have an egg in the oviduct, making it 

difficult for the sperm to swim up to the ovary.

Also Read: How to build a good micro-climate of Breeding house  

A significant feature of the reproductive physiology of the hen is her ability to store fertile spermatozoa

for up to 14 days in the sperm storage tubules located at the utero-vaginal junction. The tubules release

the semen, slowly over time, which swim to the fertilization site and therefore allows for hens to be 

inseminated consecutively for two days for the first time, and thereafter at regular intervals of 14 days. 

Twenty-four hours after insemination, egg-breakout analysis is carried out to determine egg fertility.

Artificial Insemination can be trained, and it demand for no background on poultry. Chicken farmer can

take practical lesson on semen collection and deposition skills in his chicken farm.