A hatchery is a place where eggs are kept warm and protected until they hatch. Fish hatcheries raise salmon, trout, or other fish from eggs to young fish before releasing them into rivers and lakes. Bird hatcheries do the same for chickens, ducks, or endangered species like California condors.

The process works like an artificial nest. Workers keep the eggs at just the right temperature and humidity, turning them regularly so the animals inside develop properly. In a salmon hatchery, millions of tiny eggs rest in trays of flowing water. Workers watch them carefully, removing any eggs that won’t hatch. When the eggs hatch, the facility continues caring for the young fish until they’re strong enough to survive on their own.

Hatcheries serve different purposes. Some help restore wild populations of endangered animals. Others produce fish to stock lakes for fishing, or raise chickens for farms. Sea turtle hatcheries protect eggs on beaches from predators, giving baby turtles a better chance of reaching the ocean.