CHICKENS

WHY DO CHICKENS PRODUCE EGGS DAILY

• Some breeds lay eggs daily, some every other day, some once or twice a week. Some hens never lay eggs.
• Hens do not have an estrus cycle.

WHY DO STORE BOUGHT EGGS NOT PRODUCE CHICKS?

• Store bought eggs will not produce a chick because they are unfertilized.

HOW DOES THE YOLK GET INTO THE EGG?

• The yolk doesn't get into the egg, a hard shell forms around the yolk for protection.

HOW DOES THE ROOSTER FERTILIZE THE EGG?

• For the eggs to be fertilized, the hen and rooster must mate first, and this process must occur prior to the formation of the egg.

WHY DO SOME EGGS HAVE 2 YOLKS?

• Double-yolked eggs are the result of a defect in the egg generation process in the hen. They can happen in any breed of hen. It is a result of two ova being generated at the same time, and then being made in a single shell.

ARE ALL CHICKEN EGGS WHITE?

• White feathered chickens lay white eggs and brown or red chickens lay brown eggs. There are even some breeds of chickens that lay blue eggs.

HOW DOES NUTRITION AFFECT REPRODUCTION

• Laying chickens require a completely balanced diet to sustain maximum egg production over time. Inadequate nutrition can cause hens to stop laying. Inadequate levels of energy, protein or calcium can cause a drop in egg production. This is why it is so important to supply laying hens with a constant supply of nutritionally balanced layer food. Feeding whole grains, scratch feeds and table scraps will cause the birds diet to become unbalanced.

HOW DOES THE CHICK GET OUT OF THE EGG?

• After 18 days of the hatchery process the egg shell gets worn off and starts getting cracked from inside. When the chick is fully developed it breaks the inner membrane and forces pressure against the calcium shell, it breaks and out comes the chick.

HOW DO TURKEYS AT PRICE CHOPPER DIFFER FROM THE TURKEYS YOU HUNT?

• Turkeys that you hunt have a more games taste that the store bought turkeys.