The Layer Industry

Question 1

Why has there been an increase in egg production over the years?

Answer 1

there has been a massive increase due to nutrition, reproduction - selection, and management practices

Question 2

What is the average amount of eggs a hen will lay in her lifetime?

Answer 2

average 296 eggs

Question 3

What percentage of the laying hens will lay an egg in one day?

Answer 3

about 81%

Question 4

What is the number one state for egg production?

Answer 4

Iowa

Question 5

What are other top laying states?

Answer 5

Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Michigan, California

Question 6

Where does MO rank for layers?

Answer 6

11 :((

Question 7

What are eggs used for (percents)?

Answer 7

60.1% - retail shell eggs
30.1% - further processing
7% - food service
2.8% - exported

Question 8

How much space of laying hens provided in caged systems?

Answer 8

67 sq in per bird

Question 9

What is automated in a laying system

Answer 9

food, water, egg collection

Question 10

Why is weight management important for laying hens?

Answer 10

They need to stay a relatively small size so they produce eggs that will fit in cartons

Question 11

What do the hens stand on in a caged system?

Answer 11

wires, when they are pullets they have paper to stand on

Question 12

define pullet

Answer 12

a young laying hen that is not laying yet

Question 13

Aviary

Answer 13

a cage free system, there is no front part on the cages, birds can roam freely

Question 14

Enriched Cage

Answer 14

a cage free system, adds enrichment options (dust bath, perches, drinkers, nesting boxes)

Question 15

Floor Housing

Answer 15

a cage free system, less birds and you need to electricity things you don’t want perched, may lay eggs on the ground and they could be stained

Question 16

Brooding

Answer 16

Having heaters for the chicks, you can brood the whole house of have rooms

Question 17

How often does a hen lay an egg/ovulate?

Answer 17

every 24-26 hours

Question 18

define clutch

Answer 18

a group of eggs laid by a bird

Question 19

How is an egg formed?

Answer 19

a yolk is ovulated, it travels through the oviduct to get a shell

Question 20

What is special about the development of the hens oviduct?

Answer 20

Only one oviduct developed (typically the left) and the other one does not. If the hen can no longer use one oviduct, the other side will develop.

Question 21

What are the sperm host glands?

Answer 21

sperm can live 10-14 days in the hen so she does not need to make everyday to fertilize her eggs

Question 22

When do hens start laying eggs?

Answer 22

at 18 weeks

Question 23

When is peak laying for hens? How long can they maintain this?

Answer 23

at 32 weeks, they can maintain this for 65-68 weeks

Question 24

How old are hens when they are culled?

Answer 24

around 18 months, they are no longer as productive

Question 25

What are the sizes of the eggs in increasing order?

Answer 25

peewee, small, medium, large, extra large, jumbo

Question 26

define molt

Answer 26

the bird will shed its old feather and will stop laying, it allows the hen to “reset”, happens in January and February or can be induced

Question 27

How can the industry induce molting?

Answer 27

decrease light and decrease the quality of the diet

Question 28

What is a spent hen or souper?

Answer 28

she is no longer productively producing eggs

Question 29

What do they do with hens when they are culled?

Answer 29

euthanized (can not be used in human grade products), can be sent to zoos to feed to the animals

Question 30

How are the eggs cleaned?

Answer 30

all eggs are cleaned before human consumption
- they need to be dried to avoid bacteria
(the cuticle/bloom on the egg helps keep out bacteria and you remove it when it is washed)

Question 31

AA quality egg

Answer 31

-shel l= clean and unbroken
-air cell = 1/8th inch or less
-white = clear and firm
-yolk = outline sightly defined and practically free from defects

Question 32

A Quality

Answer 32

-shell = clean and unbroken
-air cell = 3/16 in or less
-white = clear and reasonably firm
-yolk = outline fairly well defined and practically free from defects

Question 33

B Quality

Answer 33

-shell = clean to slightly stained and unbroken
- air cell = over 3/16 inch
-white = weak and watery and small blood and meat spots
-yolk = outline plainly visible, enlarged and flat, a visible germ but no blood

Question 34

Grading eggs is dependent on what?

Answer 34

condition of shell, egg white, egg yolk, and air cell size

Question 35

Ways to package eggs?

Answer 35

an egg flat –> 30 eggs
an egg carton –> 6,12,18 eggs

Question 36

What temperature are the eggs cooled to?

Answer 36

45 degrees F, keep constant

Question 37

Do eggs need to be cooled?

Answer 37

No! they can last us to 2 weeks without being cooled if they still have a cuticle/bloom

Question 38

define blastoderm/germinal disc

Answer 38

site of fertilization in the egg

Question 39

define chalaza

Answer 39

spiral structure in the egg that holds the yolk in the center

Question 40

define albumen

Answer 40

structure in the egg that keeps the chick hydrated and a cushion

Question 41

what is the purpose of the yolk?

Answer 41

give nutrients to the chick