Broiler breeders are hens and roosters that live together on a broiler breeder farm, also known as a hatching egg farm. Broiler breeders are housed in climate-controlled barns and are free-run, meaning the hens and roosters roam freely throughout the barn and the hens lay their eggs in nest boxes. Hens are about 24 weeks old when they start laying eggs, and they will produce eggs for about 36 weeks. Each hen will lay approximately 150 eggs during that time. Because roosters live with the hens, the eggs are fertilized; unlike eggs we buy from the store, these eggs have chicks inside.

Manitoba chickens are shipped when they weigh approximately 2 kg (4.5 lbs). After the chickens are sent to the processing plant, the barn and equipment are thoroughly cleaned. Barns are typically left empty for a week or more before a new flock arrives, which helps keep chickens healthy.

The chickens are transported to processing companies in trucks designed for carrying poultry. At the processing plant, chickens are checked by an inspector. Manitoba has two federal processing plants (Exceldor Cooperative and Dunn-Rite Food Products) and three provincial plants (Waldner’s Meats, Favour-Rite Meats, Westman Processors).