Laying AN EGG

Maintaining correct male-to-female ratios and keeping flocks of younger breeding fowl will help ensure higher fertility and hatching rates.

- DOUG OTTINGER

Setting or incubating a few of eggs for our own enjoyment is something many of us do every year. We may not be overly concerned about hatch rates. We may choose eggs from our favorite hens, including those that are several years old. We might have a pet rooster that, as my grandmother would have said, "Is old enough to vote." If we incubate 30 or 40 eggs in a summer and get six replacement pullets for our home flock, we don't mind. Six new pullets is plenty for home use, and we're happy.

When raising hatching eggs for sale, however, high hatch rates and overall quality of the eggs becomes paramount. It doesn't take but a few unhappy customers and bad online reviews to destroy a small business. Individuals raising hatching eggs for sale can greatly increase their chances of product success by keeping younger breeding stock and making sure there are adequate male to female ratios in their flocks.

Egg production and egg quality for chickens and ducks reaches a peak in the first year of laying. The fertility rates, for both types of fowl is highest during this time. Young males tend to be more aggressive breeders than older males. After the first laying cycle, production levels, overall quality and egg fertility begin a marked decrease. For these reasons, most commercial hatcheries only keep their breeding flocks for one laying cycle. Raising replacement breeders, every year, is a big part of a hatchery's internal operation.

Fertility rates in hens can decrease up to 20% each year they’re in production.