Day-old chicks are kept under a heat lamp at Dennis and JoAnn Dickman's farm in Herscher, IL. According to the Dickmans, the pastured chickens mature faster a bigger than normal store-bought chickens.

Nothing says spring better than bright yellow baby chicks and tie-dyed eggs. But do you know the reason behind their connection to the spring season? Egg-laying productivity is directly related to the hours of daylight. Traditionally, the longer days of spring encourage more eggs laid and more new chicks hatched.

Consider these other facts about chickens and eggs:

  • A female chicken raised for eggs is called a laying hen.
  • Only fertilized eggs will hatch.
  • About 6.1 billion dozen eggs are produced each year in the United States.
  • Illinois is ranked 25th in the nation for egg production.
  • Most eggs produced today will be at the grocery store within 72 hours.
  • Each year, a person will eat approximately 250 eggs.
  • Eggs contain one of the highest quality food proteins known.

For more facts about chickens and other farm animals, visit www.agintheclassroom.org.

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