A broiler chicken weights approximately 7 pounds. Female broiler chickens lay eggs, but these eggs are not often eaten. Breeds of meat chicken most common are the White Cornish that is crossed with the White Plymoth Rock. Cross breeding promotes fast growth in chickens.
Chickens that are raised for egg production are called "layers." Only female chickens, or hens, can lay eggs. Layers weight about 3.5 pounds. 99% of the eggs bought in grocery stores are produced by layer chickens. Roosters are not needed for the hens to lay eggs.
As a layer chicken gets older, the quality of the shell on the eggs she produces decreases. Once a layer chicken becomes too old to lay eggs, she is termed a "spent hen." These hens are used for processed meats, such as the meat found in many soups and hot dogs. Because of the age of the birds, the fat profiles lend themselves to making soup stock flavorfull.
Chickens eat starter, grower or layer mash (depending on age) that contains a mixture of corn, alfalfa and soybeans. Minerals, vitamins, and sometimes medications (coccidiastats) are added to the feed for better health. Since chickens have no teeth, chicken feed is ground up for better digestibility. Chickens use a special internal organ, called a gizzard, which contains gravel and grit to grind up food for digestion.
Egg Layer Chicken Operations
Egg Layer chickens are raised inside buildings called layer houses. These houses are very large and can house tens of thousands of chickens. The layer house is kept on an artificial lighting schedule. Using this type of lighting schedule, the farmer attempts to maximize a chickens laying ability. Changing the amount of light in a layer house will either slow or stop egg production. By altering the among of light an animal is exposed to, a farmer can adjust the chickens laying schedule.
A layer chicken does not start laying eggs until it is around 20 weeks old and the hen lays eggs for about a year. Around a year old, the hen goes through a non-laying period (called a "molting" period) that lasts for about three weeks. After the molting period, the hen starts her laying cycle again.
A productive layer chicken lays one egg a day. The hen will lay one egg per day for several days in a row and then will not lay another egg for 1 or 2 days. This is called a clutch period.
Chickens for the most part are kept in cages. When a hen lays an egg, it rolls onto a belt where they can be collected easily. Modern layer houses have a conveyor collection system where the eggs are collected and then placed into an egg flat or carton. Eggs are collected 2-3 times a day. Eggs must be refrigerated within 5 hours of laying to ensure the best quality. Since roosters (male chickens) are kept out of hen cages, the eggs that are produced are infertile, and are the ones we commonly buy at the grocery store. Eggs that are fertilized by a rooster are called hatching eggs and if incubated will develop into a chick. All eggs are checked for cracks and abnormalities before using on the farm by "candling." Candling is done by shining a light through the egg to see any imperfections.
Broiler Chicken Operations
Broiler houses are also kept on artificial lighting cycles. The amount of light is increased to maximize the broiler chicken’s feed consumption, maximizing meat production. When feed consumption and meat production reach their maximum, that particular lighting schedule is maintained.
Broiler chickens also eat starter or grower feeds with added proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins. Broiler chickens are also housed in large buildings called broiler houses. Like layer houses, broiler houses can hold many thousands of chickens.
When a broiler chicken reaches the proper size for market, it is sent to a processing facility for slaughtering and processing into the chicken we buy at the grocery store. All eggs and birds from larger commercial farms are inspected for wholesomeness as dictated by USDA.
Chicken Farm Sites