1. Poultry Egg Production
Principles of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
c 12 B

2. Chicken Embryo Development

3. Today we will…
Identify the breeds of poultry most often used for egg production and their characteristics.
Describe the components of an egg.

4. Laying Hens Layers are housed in large laying facilities
Laying lifespan of 2-3 years
Average individual consumption of 250 eggs per year
Most hens begin to lay around 4-6 months of age

5. Characteristics of Laying Hens
Genetically selected for high egg productivity
Small bodied (undesirable for meat production)
Allows them to put nutrients towards egg production instead of body size

6. Layer Breeds White Leghorn White Plymouth Rock Rhode Island Red
Most common in commercial industry
Most abundant egg laying breed
Lays white eggs
White Plymouth Rock
Lays brown eggs
Rhode Island Red

7. Layer Breeds
White Plymouth Rock
Rhode Island Red

8. Laying Hens
Pullets grown in cages until they are moved into the laying house at 16 to 17 weeks of age
Begins laying eggs at approximately 20 weeks of age and by the end of year produce 250 eggs
90% of hens lay at least once egg a day before 30 weeks- peak production
After 30 weeks at peak production slows to once every 26 hours.

9. What is an Egg? 65% water, 12 % protein 11% fat, 70 cal.
It includes the following:
Shell
Shell membranes
Albumen
Yolk
Together they protect and nourish.

10. Parts of an Egg Shell- hard outer surface; calcium
From Outside to inside:
Shell- hard outer surface; calcium
Shell membranes- there are two one next to the shell, and surrounding albumen, yolk.
Air Cell- air space between two shell membranes.
Albumen- egg white.
Yolk- true egg, if fertilized become embryo.
Germ Spot - white spot on the yolk where an embryo can begin to develop if the egg has been fertilized and incubated.
Chalazae- thick strands of inner thick albumen at each end of the yolk

11. What is an Egg?