Egg Farming History
During the 1940s, most people
kept small flocks of hens in their
backyards for eggs and meat. The
hens were exposed to cold and
freezing temperatures, diseases
spread by contact with other birds and
contamination of their feed. These
problems caused as many as 40 out of
100 chickens to die. The strongest hens
were only able to lay 112 eggs per year.
These eggs were unwashed and kept at
warm temperatures. These hens needed
eight pounds of feed to produce one
dozen eggs.
As more and more people moved
to the cities, fewer people raised their
own chickens. There were not enough
eggs to meet the demand. Egg farmers
looked for ways to enlarge their flocks to
provide more eggs.
By the early 1960s, improved
technology and use of mechanical
equipment resulted in a shift from
small farm flocks to larger commercial
operations. Flocks of 100,000 laying
hens are not uncommon and some
flocks number more than 1 million!
The egg industry and farmers
pioneered many improvements in layer
hen flocks. Today, many egg producers
keep their hens in clean, dry laying
houses. Temperature, humidity and
light are controlled and the air is kept
circulating. Birds are either given the run
of the floor area or are housed in cages.
Automatic feeders move food through
troughs for the hens to eat. Along with
the food, clean water is always available
to the hens.
Chickens are fed a balanced diet of
corn, wheat or milo grains and soybean
meal. Vitamins and minerals are added
to their food. Limestone is used in
the diet to build strong shells. Today’s
hens eat a diet that is better balanced
nutritionally than the diet of most
people!
How much a hen eats depends
upon the hen’s size, rate of egg
production, temperature and the
energy level of the feed. It takes about
four pounds of feed to produce one
dozen eggs.
High-quality egg production begins
with using the right breed of chicken.
Most commercial egg farms use the
Single Comb White Leghorn breed. This
breed reaches maturity early, utilizes
feed well, and produces a large number
of white-shelled eggs.
Today, chickens are more than twice
as productive as their ancestors thanks
to better genetics, nutrition and care.
Each of the 285 million hens in the U.S.
produces 250-265 eggs per year.
Colorado egg farmers believe the hen always comes first . . .
by providing a healthy diet, fresh water and shelter, she will
produce an abundance of wholesome and safe eggs.
In the second paragraph it says:
“The hens were exposed to cold and
freezing temperatures, diseases . . .”
Circle the best meaning for the word
“exposed” as used in this sentence.
a. laid open to view; unconcealed
b. left or being without shelter or
protection
c. susceptible to attack; vulnerable
In the second column, second para-
graph it says: “Chickens are fed a
balanced diet of corn, wheat or milo
grains and soybean meal.”
What is the best meaning for the word
“balanced” as used in this sentence?
a. diet that is weighed out using a
balance
b. diet that provides the same amount
of each nutrient
c. diet that contains all nutrients the
body needs
In the last paragraph of this article it
says: “Today, chickens are more than
twice as productive as their ancestors
thanks to better genetics, nutrition
and care.” Circle the best meaning for
the word “genetics” as used in this
sentence.
a. selecting and breeding animals for
improved performance
b. science that studies genes
c. studying the heredity of an animal
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