Skip to main content

Commercial Egg Production

  • Chapter
Poultry Meat and Egg Production

Abstract

Mass production of chicken eggs has become a highly efficient, competitive enterprise. Several farms in the United States now have over two million birds on a single farm. The following example illustrates the complexity of these operations. To set up and operate a 300,000 layer farm requires an investment of over two and one-half million dollars. The hens consume about 35 tons of feed a day and 16,000 gal of water. They produce 75,000 lb of manure and 600 cases of eggs daily. Equipment consists of 4–5 miles of watering troughs or cups, 14 miles of feeders, 14 miles of egg belts, and several hundred fans and electric motors. Only one person is required to handle 100,000 birds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bell, D. 0. 1986. Personal communication. California Agriculture Extension Service, Riverside, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brake, J. T., and Carey, J. B. 1983. Induced Molting of Commercial Layers. Poultry Science and Technology Guide No. 10, NCSU at Raleigh Extension Poultry Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, T. A., and Vocke, G. F. 1978. Contract Commercial Egg Production. PS and T Guide No. 12, NCSU at Raleigh Extension Poultry Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, T. B., Martin, G. A., and Mills, W. C., Jr. 1972. Egg Size and Profit. PS and T Guide No. 14, NCSU at Raleigh Extension Poultry Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • North, M. 0. 1984. Commercial Chicken Production Manual, 3rd Edition. AVI Publishing Company, Westport, CT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patrick, H., and Schaible, P. J. 1980. Poultry Feeds and Nutrition, 2nd Edition. AVI Publishing Company, Westport, CT.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Van Nostrand Reinhold

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Parkhurst, C.R., Mountney, G.J. (1988). Commercial Egg Production. In: Poultry Meat and Egg Production. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7053-6_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7053-6_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-7055-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-7053-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics