In fact, long ago, our ancestors who aimed to raise professional egg-laying hens used similar training methods. Through artificial breeding over time, they gradually improved the hens’ laying performance and increased their egg production, eventually turning them into efficient egg layers. When selecting a professional laying hen, egg production is the most important and measurable trait, but there’s another key factor that shouldn’t be overlooked—its physical appearance.
Many people might wonder, “What’s the difference between a layer and a regular chicken? Aren’t they all the same?†In reality, there's more to it than meets the eye. The size of a laying hen plays a crucial role in determining how many eggs it can produce. But what exactly defines a well-built laying hen? One key indicator is the width of its chest.
Pan Yuhua explains: “If you want a hen with high egg production, its chest should be wide. A narrow chest may lead to lower egg output.†This is because the structure of the hen’s chest directly affects its internal organs and overall body composition.
This is the skeleton of a laying hen. The chest area has a specific angle known as the keel. Why does a wider chest influence egg production? According to Teacher Pan, this is related to genetics. A broader chest allows for faster muscle growth, which means more energy is directed toward meat development rather than egg production. In other words, when a chicken grows faster in terms of flesh, its egg-laying ability tends to decrease. This is a classic example of a genetic trade-off—when one trait is emphasized, another may decline.
So, the expert’s conclusion is clear: chickens that grow too quickly in terms of meat tend to lay fewer eggs, while those with a more delicate, less obese build are better at laying eggs. Therefore, a slim and well-proportioned body is a sign of a high-producing layer hen.
The combination of good egg-laying ability and a neat, attractive appearance is a defining feature of professional laying hens. When choosing your hens, keep these traits in mind. However, after years of selective breeding, there are now many different types of professional laying hens. Their strains and names vary, and it’s important to know which ones are suitable for your needs.
Teacher Pan says: “Today, professional laying hens are generally categorized based on the color of their eggshells—brown-shelled, white-shelled, and even pink or light-colored eggs. These are the main categories, though pink-shell eggs are less common.â€
In China, the three primary types of commercial laying hens are white-shell, brown-shell, and pink-shell varieties. Each of these groups includes numerous well-established and high-performing breeds. If you choose your hens within these categories, you’re likely to find a reliable and productive strain without much difficulty.
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