Chicks are hatched at hatcheries, raised in pullet barns for about 19 weeks and then transferred to the laying hen barn for their egg production life. The average laying hen produces more than 300 eggs a year. Wild birds lay only in springtime when daylight hours are increasing. To stimulate laying hens to lay eggs all year round, lighting is maintained for 14 to 17 hours a day. Hens are kept in cages, most often in small groups of three to five.
Eggs automatically roll out for collection and are gathered twice a day.
They are then packed and refrigerated on the farm, ready for delivery to the grading station. Proper lighting, a well-balanced diet, fresh water and comfortable surroundings are essential for hen health and production. A hen's diet consists of grains, proteins, vitamins, minerals and plenty of fresh water. No medications are used in laying hen feed. Animal Welfare Hens are kept according to humane standards set out in the national Code of Practice for poultry.