Page 17 - RealDirtENG2020

Hens and eggs
Egg-laying hens in Canada can live in ve different types of barns:
• Enriched—Hens live in smaller, more natural sized groups with nest boxes, scratch pads, and perches that allow them to exhibit natural behaviour. This method will be the industry standard in Canada by 2036.
• Free run—Hens live in larger groups, and can move around freely on the entire barn oor, but don’t go outside. They have scratch pads, and lay their eggs in nesting boxes.
• Free range—Hens in larger groups are raised in barns similar to free run, but can go outside when the weather is suitable for them to do so. They are able to scratch and lay their eggs in nesting boxes.
• Aviary—Larger groups of hens live in a barn with several levels for perching, eating, and drinking. They lay their eggs in nest boxes, and can go down to the barn oor to scratch.
• Conventional—Hens live in small groups with equal access to fresh food and water. Mesh oors allow the hens’ waste to fall away, keeping the birds and eggs clean. Canadian egg farmers began eliminating this type of barn in 2014, and any new barns that are being built, or existing barns that are being renovated, must follow the new housing standards.
Each type of housing has pros and cons, but the focus is always on ock health. And research is ongoing in Canada and around the world continuously to develop the best housing solutions for birds, farmers and consumers.
Check out www.FarmFood360.ca to tour farms using the different types of hen housing, and to learn what the labels on your egg cartons mean.
Career Pro le
Egg Farmers
David, Glen and Tyler Coburn
David Coburn and his sons, Glen and Tyler, are sixth and seventh generation farmers in Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick. Like many others in Eastern Canada, the Coburns have diversi ed their farm, which
now includes laying hens, row crops, a feed mill, pumpkins and an apple orchard, as well as a small beef herd.
They like to think of their farm as a closed loop. Their in-vessel composting system, the rst in Atlantic Canada, is used to compost organic waste including manure and apple pomace, which can then be applied to cropland to grow feed for the animals.
In 2018, they built an enriched housing barn for
their hens – a project of the two brothers as they increasingly take over management from their father. Coburn is proud to see his sons take over the farm and make their own contributions to the Coburn family history.
Coburn has been working on creating an on-farm museum that details its 200-year-old history. The family proudly showcases the museum annually when they invite the local community to visit and tour the farm.
Photo courtesy of Egg Farmers of Canada
DID YOU KNOW?
The average hen lays about 340 eggs per year. That’s more than 28 dozen!
Enriched hen housing
Aviary free run hen housing
Chapter 3: Farm Animals 17
Jill Denys