[pests]

I admit I have not read the article yet but I have done independent research into these stats previously a few weeks ago. I found the 30m quoted number is the monthly cull amount. I have seen many references to the 115m or similar numbers but have no idea over what time period. I had my own ~120m number come up from my calculations: The industry claims it takes 4-6 months to clean, disinfect, hatch and re-grow, and get the chickens to egg-laying age. If you take the ~30m and ~4-6m period, you end up around ~120-180m "missing" egg-laying chickens in the flock at any time assuming this replacement is taking place at expected levels.

[Jtsummers]

The article's 115 million is over 3 years. Your 30 million monthly represents one sampling period within that same 3 year period.

[genewitch]

Us cull numbers in 2024 were between 130mm and 180mm depending on who is saying the numbers.

But I heard our flock numbers in that period were 10 times that. So I'm not sure what to think.

I do know it was easy to get chicks this year, so that confused me even more.

Perhaps the lack of grocery eggs was because they were incubated instead?

I don't know.

[SoftTalker]

> Perhaps the lack of grocery eggs was because they were incubated instead?

Grocery eggs aren't even fertilized.

[ryao]

Some are:

https://www.delish.com/food-news/a63842548/what-are-fertile-...

You will find a number of people who have claimed to have hatched a number of types of birds from store eggs, including chickens.

[soulofmischief]

I didn't hatch a live bird, but one time I broke a store egg over a meal in the pan and it was filled with blood, a fetus and a couple tiny feathers

[ryao]

We had a similar experience at my house one time, except it was in a bowl and all we saw was blood in the yoke. It had not been quite as developed as the one in your egg.

[genewitch]

where do chickens come from? eggs! If one needs more chickens, one could let the eggs be fertilized and then incubate those eggs. all you need is a rooster in good health. Eggs that are incubated in this way won't be in the grocery store in cartons, because they will be chickens instead.

[oliwarner]

It's a very different supply chain. You don't just chuck a rooster in with your layers because then you have to inspect all your eggs.

New layers are bred away from the main flocks in relatively tiny volumes, under 1% of layers' eggs. Culls may drive a need for more layers to be raised, increasing that percentage but the cycle rate for these hens in intensive farms is pretty regular already (<18 months) so I doubt they'd invest in the additional hatchery facilities for a temporary population lull.

[genewitch]

> increasing that percentage but the cycle rate for these hens in intensive farms is pretty regular already (<18 months) so I doubt they'd invest in the additional hatchery facilities for a temporary population lull.

this actually speaks to my point more than the other replies you (and other) gave. A temporary shed for layers to nest isn't insurmountable. Especially if you know that the end result is more money for you because of supply issues.

What i am not sure about, is why that didn't happen, since you say it did not. anyhow, it was just an idle thought. If i was selling eggs, and suddenly a quarter of my flock was wiped out - by a fox or something - i would probably immediately borrow a rooster and let the layers nest. I've done it before, so i'm not just "guessing." Contemplating protecting nesting chickens is the only thing that gives me pause, as i don't really like "outside dogs", but i have a herding dog.

[pests]

I have since read the article and you are correct, thank you.