Creating STOCK
Hobby Farms|March - April 2024
Breed and raising your own replacement layers for a small-scale egg operation.
DOUG OTTINGER
Creating STOCK

Are you a poultry owner who maintains a small-scale, egg-selling business? One challenge all egg producers face, whether they have a large or small operation, is the reality of restocking their flocks with young, more productive pullets every year or two. For an egg-production operation to be sustainable, laying stock needs periodic culling and most birds need to be replaced at least once every two years.

FREQUENT FLOCK REPLACEMENT 

Chickens lay the most eggs in their first year of laying. By the second year, many high-producing hens only produce at about 60% of what they did the first year. By the third year, they may only produce at 10% to 20% of their original production. This means a hen that lays 260 eggs in her first year of production may only lay 160 eggs her second year, and in the third year might only pump out 25 to 50 eggs.

While eggs laid by older hens tend to be extra-large in size, shell quality is often of poorer quality, leading to lower-graded eggs. Even though they may not produce as many eggs, older hens still consume lots of feed, making your cost for each dozen eggs produced considerably higher.

There are hens who continue to lay well into their third, fourth and even fifth years, but they’re rare. Longevity of lay is an inherited trait. These hens are real treasures, and you might want to consider using these as breeders in flock perpetuation.

 REPLACEMENT PULLETS

Denne historien er fra March - April 2024-utgaven av Hobby Farms.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra March - April 2024-utgaven av Hobby Farms.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA HOBBY FARMSSe alt
The RISE of Opportunist WEEDS
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The RISE of Opportunist WEEDS

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3 mins  |
January - February 2025
LIVESTOCK Health
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LIVESTOCK Health

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6 mins  |
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CUT FLOWER Farming
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CUT FLOWER Farming

If you're considering growing flowers for sale, brush up on these five key things to know before diving in.

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3 mins  |
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WINTER Survival
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WINTER Survival

Keep your land, animals and yourself in good shape this winter with this helpful advice.

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5 mins  |
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COVERAGE CONCERNS
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COVERAGE CONCERNS

Avoid common insurance mistakes for rural and hobby farm businesses.

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7 mins  |
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FARMER'S GUIDE Berries
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FARMER'S GUIDE Berries

Set the stage for tasty strawberries, blueberries and brambles with these soil-boosting garden tips.

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Preconditioning CALVES
Hobby Farms

Preconditioning CALVES

Follow our step-by-step guide to get more money for your calves.

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Soil Conservation
Hobby Farms

Soil Conservation

Often, outside of having a specific problem that needs to be addressed, soil conservation isn't something every farmer readily thinks about. Yet conserving the soil should be at or near the top of every farmer owner or manager's list of concerns because absent the prevention of soil erosion, we have the opportunity for another dust bowl.

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4 mins  |
January - February 2025
Year-Round Lettuce & Salad Mixes
Hobby Farms

Year-Round Lettuce & Salad Mixes

It's easy to think of salad greens as just a spring- or fall-garden crop, but it's possible to enjoy freshly harvested lettuces, mustards and more from your own garden year-round.

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6 mins  |
January - February 2025
Barn Improvements
Hobby Farms

Barn Improvements

Days are never long enough for a farmer. From dawn to well into the night, tasks arise that often require immediate action. Having to search for tools or equipment is an enormous time waster and incredibly frustrating when you can't find what you need, especially when you know you have it.

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3 mins  |
January - February 2025