How do major egg production corporations consistently get the extra large egg?

Date sort Score sort
serenitywest

serenitywest

Hatching
8 Years
Aug 5, 2011
3
0
7
How do major egg production corporations consistently get the extra large egg? Obviously chicken breed/genetics is of key importance. Are there any insider tricks?
 
Have you checked out some of the rearing guidelines that some of the companies have for some of their birds, like the ISA people have published. phttp://www.isapoultry.com/en/ (check the crosses under "Layers", they have guidelines for each) It seems to be a combination of genetics, selecting for egg size, and rearing techniques/feeding program.
 
Some of the ways they get such a consistent egg size are not available to the backyard breeder. For instance, they'll withhold certain amino acids when the pullet's egg size is at 80% of where they want to final egg size to be, which keeps them from getting too large to fit in the cartons. Then when the pullet's eggs are the correct size, they'll add those aminos back to the ration. Also, remember that the same layer house might be putting the mediums in one carton, the larges in another, and the extra-larges in yet other cartons. Easy to do when you've got a robot to do the sorting for you.

That's actually my biggest problem--eggs that are too big to fit in the carton. I'd much rather have more size large eggs than fewer size jumbos, which is what I've got right now. I'm considering lowering my protein percentage in order to see if that decreases the egg size for my next batch of birds.
 
Quote: Just out of curiosity, which of your breeds are laying the jumbo eggs? A breed known for that or not?
Thanks,
Karen
 
Layer feed.
I have 3 exbat leghorns that I fed kitchen(s)crap(s) for 4 months because feed was unavailable, I got smaller and less eggs, (1 maybe 2 per day).
I now have been feeding them layer feed and get 3 large eggs per day.
 
3riverschick said:
Just out of curiosity, which of your breeds are laying the jumbo eggs? A breed known for that or not?
Thanks,
Karen
Click to expand...

We run a lot of Golden Comets from Meyer. They've been the biggest offender by far. Some hens, instead of giving me 6 large eggs a week, will give me 2-3 140g eggs that aren't even double-yolkers.
 
The egg factories sort the eggs and eliminate any odd shape, size, even texture. Any egg that does not make the grade, gets cracked into a pouch with other rejects and sold for commercial use such as cake and pastry factories. Saw it on a documentary.

As for breed, my Barred Rock lays jumbo eggs that do not fit in any carton. Next is Production Red. My RIR, BO, BA, SLW all lay typical size.
 
Last edited:
Commercial egg FARMS, do not all have the same size egg, as stated there is a great deal of sorting that goes on. there are many factors that influence egg size age genetics, environmental/ lighting and feed. While many times we only see what the stores order there are many eggs that a are packaged of all sizes at the egg facility and yes the eggs that don't fit into the days need generally get sent to breaking plants for liquid egg, or further processed egg products.
 

Similar threads

haley3k1
    • Like
What do large hatcheries do with extra chicks?
2 3
Replies
22
Views
5K
dheltzel
dheltzel
goats-n-oats
Inconsistent average flock egg size
Replies
8
Views
730
rosemarythyme
rosemarythyme
F
Sort of frustrated with Hoover's Hatchery, but giving them another chance.
2 3
Replies
27
Views
2K
NatJ
NatJ
Diveks
New flock planning?
2
Replies
10
Views
965
Diveks
Diveks
lancasterflock
    • Like
What is this smell!!??! Ahhhh!!!
Replies
6
Views
494
lancasterflock
lancasterflock

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom