Post on 24-Dec-2015
Poultry Egg ProductionLivestock Prouduction
Ms. Boyt
Today we will…
Identify the breeds of poultry most often used for egg production.
Describe the components of an egg.List stages of egg development.Describe what happens during each stage
of egg development.
Laying Hens
Layers are housed in large laying facilitiesLaying lifespan of 2-3 yearsAverage individual consumption of 247
eggs/yearMost hens begin to lay around 4-6 months of age
Characteristics of Laying Hens
Genetically selected for high egg productivity
Small bodied (undesirable for meat production)◦Allows them to put nutrients towards egg
production instead of body size
Layer Breeds
White Leghorn◦Most common in commercial industry◦Most abundant egg laying breed◦Lays white eggs
Brown Leghorn◦Lays brown eggs
Rhode Island Red◦Lays brown eggs
Layer Breeds
White Leghorn
Rhode Island Red
Brown Leghorn
What is an egg?
Chicken Embryo Development
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PedajVADLGw
Chick Development
Chick Development
Day 1 Day 2
• Appearance of vertebral column
• Beginning of nervous system, head, and eyes
• Beginning of heart and ears
• Heart beats
Chick Development
Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
• Beginning of legs, nose, and wings
• Beginning of tongue
• Formation of reproductive organs and differentiation of sex
Chick Development
Day 6 Day 7
• Beginning of beak • Toes are visible• Intestines begin to
loop
Chick Development
Day 8 Day 9
• Beginning of feathers • Mouth opening forms• Claws begin to form
Chick Development
Day 10 Day 11
• Beginning of beak hardening
• Flight feathers develop
• Bottom of feet become padded
• Chick begins to take in calcium from egg shell
Chick Development
Day 12 Day 13
• Scales appear on lower legs
• Body fairly well covered with feathers
Chick Development
Day 14 Day 15
• Embryo starts to turn its head towards the large end of egg
• Skull and ribs begin to ossify
• Scales, claws, and beak becoming firm
Chick Development
Day 16 Day 17
• Albumen is nearly gone and yolk is increasingly important for nourishment
• Chick turns beak toward air cell
Chick Development
Day 18 Day 19
• Amnion begins to disappear
• Yolk sac begins to enter body cavity
• Chick occupies all space in egg besides air cell
Chick Development
Day 20 Day 21
The yolk sac is completely drawn into the body
The beak breaks through the inner shell membrane
The lungs begin to function and to use the air cell for breathing
Tell me what you know…
What are common breeds of chickens used for egg production?
What are some characteristics of commercial egg producing breeds?
Draw a quick sketch and label the components of an egg.
How many days does it take for an egg to develop before it hatches?
What is an overview of the stages of chick embryo development?
Today we…
Identified the breeds of poultry most often used for egg production.
Described the components of an egg.Listed stages of egg development.Described what happens during each
stage of egg development.
References
http://msucares.com/poultry/reproductions/poultry_chicks_embryo.html
http://www.growwithtyson.com/chicken-production-process/
http://www.uspoultry.org/educationprograms/PandEP_Curriculum/Documents/PDFs/Lesson1/IntroductiontothePoultryIndustryver3.pdf
http://www.poultryhub.org/physiology/incubation/