How to start up a poultry business: Golden Timing for Layer Farming

Best placement time: Every December.Why? Please continue reading below.

In layer farming, profit doesn’t just depend on feed efficiency or breed—it heavily relies on timing. Understanding the golden timing for layer farming can make the difference between just breaking even and hitting consistent profit peaks. Let’s break down the logic in a simple, practical way.

1. Core Principles Behind Golden Timing

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Before jumping into dates, there are six key facts every poultry farmer should know:

• Egg price peaks: Every year, August to November is when egg prices hit their highest.
• Egg size price gap:
  • The smallest gap is from October to January.
  • The largest gap is from April to September.
• Production performance:
  • Peak egg-laying lasts about 10 months after onset of lay.
  • Molting requires about 45 days.
  • By 250 days old, a hen’s egg weight reaches about 42 jin (per case).
• Profit cycle rule of thumb: A flock usually needs to stay over 600 days to turn profitable.
• Early stage reality: The first 500 days mainly recover feed and pullet costs.

2. Golden Timing Model – Example: December Placement

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Let’s use December 2024 flock placement as an example:

• Stage 1 (August 2025):
  • At 240 days old, egg weight is stable (42 jin/case).
  • Coincides with the annual price peak, lasting 3–4 months.
• Stage 2 (December 2025):
  • At 360 days, large egg price advantages kick in.
  • Laying performance still strong.
• Key decision point (April 2026):
  • At 480 days, the farmer must decide:
    • Molt: Add a 45-day molting period to capture another 6-month laying peak (covering the July–December high price season).
    • Cull: End the flock and restart.

3. Full Cycle Profitability

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The optimal cycle looks like this:

• December placement → August peak → April molting → Year-end cull.
• Total cycle: about 720 days.
• Captures two peak “7–8–9 months” egg price seasons.

Risk management tips:

• Avoid culling too early at 400–420 days.
• Keep molting costs under 4.5 RMB per bird.
• Maintain flock health up to 700 days for maximum return.

4. Practical Recommendations

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• Best placement time: Every December.
• Second-best option: Mid-year placement, but then you need to plan for a super-long cycle (up to 800 days).
• Decision basis: Always calculate how many “August–November high-price windows” you can capture in one cycle.

Final Thought

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In poultry farming, profit doesn’t just come from the birds—it comes from timing the market. The golden timing for layer farming is simple: bring in your flock when you can align their production peaks with the annual egg price peaks. December placement remains the most strategic move for farmers who want to maximize both egg output and market value.