How do the large

[ridgefire]

chicken farms brood their chicks.

I'm talking about the large egg farms, where they have thousands of chickens.

Do they buy birds just as they are just coming into egg laying or do they somehow brood hundreds of birds at a time? Just trying to figure out how they do it. I mean if they cram 5-9 birds in a cage how well do they care for day olds.

 

[Cetawin]

Here is a video showing the incubation process at a hatchery.

Hatchery incubation

They have their own breeding stock and they get fertile eggs from other farmers too.

It is much larger than you think.

 

[snowydiamonds]

I don't know and I don't think I really want to know... enjoying mine so much, I'd hate to think of the ones that don't have such a wonderful life and I sure am thinking mine are wonderful...

 

[Cetawin]

It is not that bad snowydiamonds...I feel for the chicks because of everything that goes on in the first day of life and the rough handling but it is not brutal or gross....you can watch and feel a pang of sorrow that we cannot have them all.

 

[ridgefire]

Quote:
I've seen hatcheries. I'm talking about egg farms, that sell eggs to grocery stores. When they replenish their stock do they buy young birds or do they somehow brood hundreds of chicks.

 

[Cetawin]

Both I think. I would assume they would buy chicks in huge lots, raise their own or both. Good question.