What are "Hylines" Chickens?

[A.T. Hagan]

Most grocery store eggs are infertile so, of course, cannot hatch.

But some stores such as Trader Joes among other do sell fertile eggs for table use. It is those that some folks try to hatch.

Not being intended for hatching so not handled appropriately for that purpose their hatch rate usually isn't all that great from what I've read but they do get some to hatch.

Refrigeration alone isn't going to negatively affect an egg's hatchability. I routinely refrigerate mine here in Florida as I save up enough eggs for a setting. I typically get 90% or better hatch rate from eggs we produce.

I keep White Leghorns from McMurray and believe they are Hyline birds.

 

[Pebbles]

Wow...thanks for the info AT. I never knew that! I just assumed that fertile eggs had to be kept warm at all times or the embryo dies - facinating - thanks again for the info!!

 

[Fred's Hens]

It is extremely likely that some of the hatcheries/feed stores sell stock that are in truth, a Hyl-ine genetics bird. Extremely likely.

That said, why not consider the ISA Brown? Why guess? It has terrific laying traits and in my experience, handles cold reasonably well and laid 330 eggs their pullet year and 300 their second year. You can be assured of getting genuine ISA Brown's from TownLine Hatchery in Zeeland, MI. Beside selling millions of chicks to the industry, TownLine also sells to feed stores and even TSC in some areas. You'll get first generation chicks, which have the zip you are looking for. Many folks breed second, third and fourth generations of Hy-Line and other commercial lines, but the zip seems to decrease a bit in subsequent generations.

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
Me too... I had the pleasure of working with Descarted ones and guess what they still outlaid my OEGs...

they are small and lay Huge brown eggs

 

[extraordinaryfowl]

Let me be clear here - not trying to put anyone down at all, but I would never buy from Hy-line even if I did do hybrid production hens. Here is an article by Harvey Ussery of the Modern Homestead who I like to reference

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http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Moral+Puzzles.html

Anyway, the video of Hy-line's way of disposing of their excess cockerels makes me sick and angry to watch. I just think people should know about this. Though I find it acceptable to cull humanely I think it it disgusting how they dispatch the thousands of innocent lives.

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
it's Business as usual, I try not to think about as everything they do is to cut expenses down and that brings eggs and meat pricess down...

just to put it this way here in nicaragua a dozen egg price is about 2$ which is very similar to the USA but keep in mind most people make 5$ a day...

here in Nicaragua a pound of chicken meat is $2 and is so high our Socialist Goverment is having to step in and bring meat from the USA to bring the cost down.... that's how efficient you guys are...

so most of us are happy paying less money for a good quality protein meat and not think much about the lives of poor hens.. now you can buy organic eggs and meat but the price double and that business will never take off here in nicaragua....

in Nicaragua we eat none production hens(we call them criollo hens) on christmas eve instead of Turkey but even that tradition is dying why? the price of a mature hen here can be as high as 10$ for a 4 pound hen so that's $2.50 per pound, but last year the price for a complete production type broiler was $1.20 so guess why people are changing their habits ? Money or the lack of it..

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
I see nothing wrong with their disposal method. Death comes almost instantaneously. They're not being slowly fed into the grinder feet first after all.

Those videos are made and promoted by people with ulterior motives that have less to do with the welfare of chicks than the complete elimination of animal husbandry at all.

 

[Fred's Hens]

A.T. Hagan :

Quote:
I see nothing wrong with their disposal method. Death comes almost instantaneously. They're not being slowly fed into the grinder feet first after all.

Those videos are made and promoted by people with ulterior motives that have less to do with the welfare of chicks than the complete elimination of animal husbandry at all.

X2 Agree with Hagan

In what world are equal number of roosters needed? These are egg laying breeds (strains) not meat birds. By definition, 50% of the 150,000 eggs hatched per day, 100's of millions per year, are males, yet with zero market for them? Quick euthanizing is the only answer. The motives of folks who oppose the hatcheries is quite questionable. Yes, the hatcheries should be as healthy and decent about their work as possible, but in the end, the millions of roosters die. There is no hatchery anywhere that doesn't follow similar proceedures.​

 

[mg15]

Well, then where can I order chicks that are not HyLine ?

Thanks.