• ISA Brown: A very productive, hardy breed known for its high egg yield.
• Hy-Line Brown: Adaptable to various environments and a prolific producer of brown eggs.
• Lohmann Brown: Known for consistent production and disease resistance.
• H&N: A top global breed characterized by excellent laying persistency.
• White Leghorn: A classic commercial white-egg layer, known for being very productive.

Key aspects of raising commercial layers

• Life stages:
  • Brooding (0–8 weeks): Chicks require a warm, controlled environment with continuous lighting for the first week.
  • Grower (8–18 weeks): Young hens, known as pullets, are raised with lower protein feed. Their growth and weight are carefully monitored to ensure they reach the correct body weight before starting to lay.
  • Laying (18+ weeks): Hens are moved to laying houses and fed a high-calcium “layer mash” diet. Egg production typically peaks at around 30–35 weeks.
• Housing and environment:
  • Systems: Commercial operations commonly use either battery cages, which maximize space, or deep litter systems, where birds roam on a bed of absorbent material.
  • Ventilation: Proper airflow is critical for preventing heat stress and the buildup of harmful ammonia.
  • Lighting: Consistent light exposure of 14–16 hours per day is necessary to stimulate and maintain peak egg production.
• Feeding and nutrition:
  • Feed types: A hen’s diet changes according to her life stage. Starter, grower, and layer feeds provide the necessary protein, vitamins, and minerals.
  • Calcium: During the laying phase, high levels of calcium are vital for strong eggshells.
  • Water: A constant supply of clean, fresh water is essential, as water intake directly impacts egg production.
• Health and biosecurity:
  • Vaccinations: Layers are vaccinated against common diseases to ensure high livability and a long productive period.
  • Hygiene: Proper sanitation, including regular cleaning and disinfection, is necessary to prevent the spread of disease.
• Management practices:
  • Debeaking: In some systems, hens are debeaked to prevent feather and egg pecking.
  • Culling: As hens age and their egg production decreases, they are culled from the flock to maintain efficiency.