Chicken Industry February 8, 2017

Main Categories Broiler Production Egg Production Replacement Pullets Broiler Breeder

Commercial Chicken Houses These buildings offer automated heating, ventilation, water, and feeding systems.

Commercial Chicken Houses Most houses have an earth floor and is covered by 2-4 inches of Litter.

Commercial Chicken Houses Litter – is an absorbent material that serves as bedding for the chickens.

Replacing Litter

Chicken Litter

Preventing Disease Monoculture - the cultivation of a single crop in a given area.

Diseases

Broiler Production Chickens to Nuggets

Broiler Production

Broiler Production Producing meat is the main focus of broiler production. Producers enter into a company contract, receive birds from a hatchery, and grow chickens to market weight in about six weeks.

Chicks to market size in just 6 weeks! Broiler Process Chicks to market size in just 6 weeks!

Egg Production Laying hens are housed in specifically designed cages. Producers (farmers) aim to get one egg per hen each day. The eggs roll into a shelf where they are picked up, washed, and graded. Hens in laying cages

Egg Environment The amount of light dictates when the birds start laying eggs. The ideal temperature range for laying houses is 57 to 79 degrees.

Egg Production

Molting Molting – a period of time when chickens will shed and then renew their feathers. Some growers will induce molting in laying houses so all chickens will molt at the same time.

Molting Fully Feathered Molting

Egg Collection Systems In-line systems Off-line systems Allows for laying, collection, and grading of eggs to take place at one facility. Transports the eggs out of the laying house directly to an egg cooling room and then transported to an egg processing facility.

Replacement Pullets Replacement pullets are raised for egg production. These chickens will replace the hens in current egg production. These birds are raised from freshly hatched hens until they reach about 20 weeks.

Replacement Pullets Once a pullet has reached 20 weeks they are transferred to a laying farm for egg production. Pullets are usually mature enough for egg production at 24 weeks of age.

Broiler Breeders Broiler breeders are chickens that are used to produce fertile eggs that will be hatched to become broilers. These chickens are selected on genetic background and their “meat potential”.

Broiler Breeders Once eggs are laid in a broiler breeder house they will be transported to an egg collectoin room on a conveyor belt. The eggs are then boxed and sent to a hatchery where they chicks will be hatched before they are sent to a broiler production house.