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Broiler Hatching Eggs


A broiler hatching egg is a fertilized egg that is produced as the result of a hen and rooster mating.

The Hatching Egg Industry


Breeding stock used by the hatching egg industry comes from specialized bird strains developed by one of three breeding companies with offices worldwide.

Supply Management


Supply Management is the term used to describe the national production/marketing mechanism utilized by five Canadian agricultural commodities, dairy, table eggs, turkey, chickens and hatching eggs.

History of the AHEP


Since 1986, the Canadian hatching egg industry has operated under a supply management system.

What is a Broiler Hatching Egg?

A broiler hatching egg is a fertilized egg that is produced as the result of a hen and rooster mating. Farmers ship their eggs to a hatchery where baby chicks hatch after the eggs are incubated for 21 days. Once hatched, the chicks are transported to a chicken grower’s farm where they are grown and shipped to a processor. After being processed, chicken meat is supplied to retail stores and restaurants for human consumption. A broiler hatching egg is never sold in retail stores and is not meant for human consumption.

How are Hatching Eggs Produced?

Grand Parent Breeding Stock

Breeding stock used by the hatching egg industry comes from specialized bird strains developed by one of three breeding companies with offices worldwide. The grandparent flocks that supply the industry in Alberta are located in the south eastern part of the United States.

Pullet and Cockerel Rearing

The hatching egg production cycle begins when a hatching egg producer places pullets (females) and cockerels (males) as baby chicks in their grow facilities (grow houses). Producers must carefully manage the bird for the first 18 weeks by allocating quantities of feed to achieve specific growth and body weight targets. These targets are important to ensure that the bird achieves the body composition traits necessary to create an efficient breeder hen and/or cockerel. Because the target weights for cockerels are approximately 25% to 30% higher, pullets and cockerels are usually raised and fed separately.A primary challenge during the grow phase is to ensure that the flock is highly uniform in body weight This requires careful attention to the distribution and control of feed and water as well as air quality and lighting control. Typically, birds are transferred from the grow house to the lay house when they are between 18 to 20 weeks of age. At the time of transfer, the pullets will have achieved a body weight of approximately 2 kilograms and cockerels will weigh approximately 2.6 kilograms.

Egg Production

The lay house is designed to provide the space and environment for birds to exhibit normal mating behavior and have free access to nests. While barns may be configured differently, birds are typically provided with a “scratch” area consisting of litter (either straw or shavings) as well as a raised “slatted” area that is elevated approximately 16 to 20 inches above the litter. This slatted area(s) provide birds a place to “roost” and is where the nesting system is located. Because the nutritional requirements of hens and roosters are significantly different during the production period, separate feeding systems are used. The feeding process must be carefully managed to minimize males and females stealing each others feed.The number of males that are placed into the lay house at the time of transfer various considerably between producers. By the time birds begin to achieve sexual maturity however, (usually between 23 to 25 weeks of age), an optimal ratio of males to females must be obtained. This ratio varies from flock to flock and is primarily gauged by the level of male aggression. Depending on bird strain, male body weight and condition as well as the ratio of male to female body weights, the optimal ratio is usually between seven to nine percent.Once the flock has been transferred into the lay house, the process of bringing the birds to sexually maturity and egg production begins. Initially feed increases are provided to achieve specified body weight targets that may vary somewhat between bird stains. Usually at about 22 weeks of age a lighting program, also known as “photo stimulation” is undertaken. The lighting program involves incrementally increasing the number of hours that the lights remain on from the standard 8 hours of light each day to16 hours over a period of approximately 5 weeks. During this time period, most producers will also increase the light intensity. The lighting program is designed to simulate the onset of the spring season and triggers the development of the bird’s reproductive system. Egg production will usually commence within two to three weeks of starting the lighting program and will gradually increase in volume.The time period from when the lighting program is initiated until the birds are in full egg production is arguably the most critical time to properly manage feed increases in the life of the flock. The rate of feed increases should be determined by the rate of sexual maturation and if not properly managed will have a seriously negative impact on the overall reproductive performance of the flock. If properly managed, flocks will achieve a peak level of production of approximately 85 percent. This means that the number of eggs produced daily will be 85 percent of the number of hens in the lay house. Peak production is usually achieved by 31 weeks of age and gradually declines to approximately 50 percent by the end of the production cycle (usually 59 to 60 weeks of age). Peak fertility rate (the percentage of eggs that are fertile) is usually between 96 to 98 percent in well managed flocks. Peak fertility is usually achieved at about 35 weeks of age and will normally decline to between 85 to 90 percent by the end of the production cycle

Farming Hatching Eggs

There are currently 28 registered producers in Alberta. 100% of all registered hatching egg farms are family owned and operated. All birds are “free run” (not caged) in large, clean barns. Stocking density policies established by AHEP requires that producers provide a minimum of 1.8 sq. feet per hen. The hatching eggs produced in Alberta supply the hatcheries with 85 percent of the chicks needed for their provincial broiler market. Hatcheries import the remainder of their hatching egg requirements from the United States under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The broiler hatching egg industry is a highly specialized production system that is the foundation of the chicken meat industry. As the first link in this food supply chain, hatching egg producers follow very strict bio-security and food safety protocols. All hatching egg production facilities in Alberta are certified under AHEP’s “On-Farm Food Safety Program”. Participation and compliance in this program is ensured through a system of audits.

Supply Management and Quota

Supply Management is the term used to describe the national production/marketing mechanism utilized by five Canadian agricultural commodities, dairy, table eggs, turkey, chickens and hatching eggs. Federal and Provincial governments implemented this system in Canada in the early 1970’s based on collective marketing and production planning adjusted to the needs of the Canadian market/consumers. Each commodity operates through a Provincial Marketing Board or Commission.

Supply management is based on three basic pillars, each of which is critical to ensuring that the system operates smoothly.Three pillars work collectively to support commodities operating under supply management.

  • A pricing policy, established in each province, that ensures the minimum price paid to producers covers production costs and allows for some return on investment into buildings and equipment.
  • The federal government is committed to restricting imports through over quota tariffs. For example, hatcheries in Canada have Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ). TRQ permits hatcheries to import from the US, 17.43% of the total required hatching eggs for a year. This paper can be used or sold to another hatchery in Canada.
  • Production management balances supply of the commodity with its demand. Products under supply management are mainly intended for domestic consumption and not for export.

Supply management operates under a quota unit system. Quota now has assessed value and is purchased by producers to provide them the right to produce a share of the required market. Quota holders have the privilege, granted by their Board or Commission, to engage in the production and marketing of the regulated product.

The production of broiler hatching eggs in Alberta is managed by the Alberta Hatching Egg Producers whose board was formed in 1981. Hatching Eggs Regulation (280/97), Alberta Hatching Egg Plan Regulation (283/96), Alberta Hatching Egg Producers Authorization Regulation (278/97), and Hatching Egg Producers Negotiation and Arbitration Regulation (281/97) all relate to the governance of the Alberta hatching egg industry.

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