The Egg Farmers of Ontario marketing board is cutting the
maximum egg-laying lifetime for birds to 12 months.
Some producers have been keeping their hens in lay for 13
months.
The board is making the move through an amendment to its “home
week” policy.
As hens age, a higher percentage of their eggs fail to meet
Grade A standards, mainly because of an increased incidence of cracks.
In a message to its quota-holding members, the egg board
says anyone who keeps a flock longer than 12 months will be “in contravention”
of board regulations.
