Keep Laying Hens Happy and Profitable in Winter

Newsflash… laying hens need to be comfortable and productive to maintain profitability at any scale of operation. Click this fact sheet from UMaine Extension: Bulletin #2217, Winter Care of Your Laying Hens

Some of the most important management factors to keep your winter flock laying include:

  1. Making the transition to supplemental lighting to maintain 15-16 hours of light per day (1 60 watt incandescent/13 watt compact fluorescent will cover 200 square feet). If have not done this by December, you are behind schedule. Specialists advise to increase light by 15-20 min each week  to phase light back in slowly.
  2. Keeping birds warm. Production declines below 55 d F. Managers should consider supplemental heat and also make sure the ration supplies enough energy and nutrition to compensate for the birds biological transitions with colder conditions.
  3. Never forget clean (NOT FROZEN) water, draft reductions, proper ventilation and sanitation.

Click this fact sheet from UMaine Extension: Bulletin #2217, Winter Care of Your Laying Hens

Broiler Chicken Demand Research Report

Download the full report here:

[PDF] Broiler Demand at Small Grocers 2012-2013, FBRR-011

In the fall of 2012 University of Vermont Extension distributed a survey to a group of small  grocers  asking about chicken and egg demand in their stores with a focus on regionally-produced products. Follow-up phone interviews were conducted through the fall of 2013 to get additional feedback from the buyers in these stores. The goal of this work is to understand the demand for local poultry products and to also provide guidance for poultry farmers preparing to conduct their own market research.

Broiler AttributesThe reports provides details about which attributes consumers are looking for in poultry products and also the specific service expectations that small grocers have for farms selling them them poultry.

Click here to view or download the full report:

[PDF] Broiler Demand at Small Grocers 2012-2013, FBRR-011