From Egg to Breeder: How We Raise Poultry

A future breeder begins long before it is old enough to reproduce. The process starts with selecting the parent mating, collecting and handling eggs, incubating, hatching, brooding, growing the young birds, and evaluating them over time.

1. Plan the Mating

We begin with a reason for the pairing and a record of which birds are expected to produce the hatch.

2. Collect & Incubate

Eggs are collected and set according to the needs of the species and project. Hatch results are useful information about breeder fertility, egg handling, incubation, and the line itself.

3. Brood & Grow

Young birds are given time to develop before final breeding decisions are made. Early promise is useful, but many traits become clearer with age.

4. Evaluate

We compare the growing birds with the goals of the project. Some may be retained, some may be sold, and some may be removed from the breeding pool.

5. Select the Next Generation

The birds chosen as breeders become the starting point for another cycle. Their offspring then show whether the previous selection decisions moved the program in the intended direction.