Chicken Egg Production
Description
Establishments classified under this code specialize in the commercial breeding and raising of chickens specifically to generate eggs for the food supply and hatcheries. These operations function as integral parts of the broader agricultural sector, focusing on animal husbandry techniques designed to maximize egg yield while managing flock health and nutrition. Typical business activities involve strict biosecurity protocols, controlled lighting regimes, and precise dietary management to ensure consistent production. Workers within these facilities handle daily tasks ranging from monitoring feed intake to collecting and transporting eggs to processing plants or wholesale distributors. They also manage waste disposal, conduct routine health inspections, and oversee automated collection systems. The scale of these operations varies significantly across the United States, with small family farms often utilizing free-range methods for niche markets, while large industrial complexes employ highly mechanized technology to produce millions of units annually. Operators range from independent farmers serving local grocery chains to massive corporate entities dedicated to export markets. The primary output targets both retail consumers seeking table eggs and commercial hatcheries requiring fertile eggs for breeding new flocks. This sector drives significant local economies by providing steady employment and contributing to the national food security infrastructure through reliable poultry supply.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting timber, and harvesting fish and other animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats. The establishments in this sector are often described as farms, ranches, dairies, greenhouses, nurseries, orchards, or hatcheries. A farm may consist of a single tract of land or a number of separate tracts which may be held under different tenures. For example, one tract may be owned by the farm operator and another rented. It may be operated by the operator alone or with the assistance of members of the household or hired employees, or it may be operated by a partnership, corporation, or other type of organization. When a landowner has one or more tenants, renters, croppers, or managers, the land operated by each is considered a farm. The sector distinguishes two basic activities: agricultural production and agricultural support activities. Agricultural production includes establishments performing the complete farm or ranch operation, such as farm owner-operators and tenant farm operators. Agricultural support activities include establishments that perform one or more activities associated with farm operation, such as soil preparation, planting, harvesting, and management, on a contract or fee basis. Excluded from the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector are establishments primarily engaged in agricultural research (e.g., experimental farms) and government establishments primarily engaged in administering programs for regulating and conserving land, mineral, wildlife, and forest use. These establishments are classified in Industry 54171, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; and Industry 92412, Administration of Conservation Programs, respectively. |
| 112 | Animal Production and Aquaculture 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Animal Production and Aquaculture subsector raise or fatten animals for the sale of animals or animal products and/or raise aquatic plants and animals in controlled or selected aquatic environments for the sale of aquatic plants, animals, or their products. The subsector includes establishments, such as ranches, farms, and feedlots, primarily engaged in keeping, grazing, breeding, or feeding animals. These animals are kept for the products they produce or for eventual sale. The animals are generally raised in various environments, from total confinement or captivity to feeding on an open range pasture. The industries in this subsector are grouped by important factors, such as suitable grazing or pasture land, specialized buildings, type of equipment, and the amount and types of labor required. Establishments are classified in the Animal Production and Aquaculture subsector when animal production (i.e., value of animals for market) accounts for one-half or more of the establishment's total agricultural production. Establishments with one-half or more animal production with no one animal product or family of animal products of an industry accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production are treated as combination animal farming classified in Industry 11299, All Other Animal Production. |
| 1123 | Poultry and Egg Production 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in breeding, hatching, and raising poultry for meat or egg production. |
| 11231 | Chicken Egg Production 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 112310. |
| 112310 | Chicken Egg Production 6-digit U.S. detail | Establishments classified under this code specialize in the commercial breeding and raising of chickens specifically to generate eggs for the food supply and hatcheries. These operations function as integral parts of the broader agricultural sector, focusing on animal husbandry techniques designed to maximize egg yield while managing flock health and nutrition. Typical business activities involve strict biosecurity protocols, controlled lighting regimes, and precise dietary management to ensure consistent production. Workers within these facilities handle daily tasks ranging from monitoring feed intake to collecting and transporting eggs to processing plants or wholesale distributors. They also manage waste disposal, conduct routine health inspections, and oversee automated collection systems. The scale of these operations varies significantly across the United States, with small family farms often utilizing free-range methods for niche markets, while large industrial complexes employ highly mechanized technology to produce millions of units annually. Operators range from independent farmers serving local grocery chains to massive corporate entities dedicated to export markets. The primary output targets both retail consumers seeking table eggs and commercial hatcheries requiring fertile eggs for breeding new flocks. This sector drives significant local economies by providing steady employment and contributing to the national food security infrastructure through reliable poultry supply. |
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Classification References
- 01Establishments primarily engaged in raising chickens for the production of meat are classified in Industry 112320, Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production.
Index Items
Chicken egg production
Chicken eggs (table, hatching) production
Cull hen production
Egg production, chicken
Eggs, chicken (table, hatching) production
Layer-type chicken production
Started pullet production
How Item Can Help
Item.com's Warehouse Management System optimizes the cold chain logistics required to store eggs and milk under strict temperature conditions, while streamlining inventory counts for this high-volume, perishable sector.
The Order Management System automates demand planning and order fulfillment for retail chains, ensuring fresh eggs and milk reach customers efficiently while reducing spoilage rates through better inventory visibility.
Data Intelligence analyzes sales patterns and consumption trends to predict demand fluctuations for egg and milk products, allowing businesses to adjust production schedules and minimize waste in perishable supply chains.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 112310.
American Egg Industry Association
The primary trade association representing commercial egg producers in the United States.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Egg Industry Data
An official government page providing statistical data and production reports for the egg sector.
National Agricultural Statistics Service Egg Production
The USDA's central repository for annual compiled agricultural statistics, including specific data for chicken egg production.
