In 1998, Rob decided that the most profitable use of his 65-acre farm would be to convert it from crop growing to Free Range egg production.  The first house was built that year, containing 8,000 birds, with a second house constructed in 2000, containing 12,000 birds.  In early June 2006, a replacement flock was supplied by David Rainford to replace the flock in House No 1, bringing the total number of Hy-Line birds supplied to Rob Lea, to 108,000. 

After analysing the performance of the previous nine flocks, the results showed that all flocks had produced over 305 eggs per hen housed until 72 weeks.  Despite increased mortality in early lay in House 2 due to a TRT challenge, the flock is still on course to reach 307 eggs per hen housed up to 72 weeks, confirming Hy-Line birds’ resilience and robustness.

Commenting on the superb quality of the results during his eight years of Free Range production, Rob Lea remarked:

“I’ve always been impressed by the consistently high quality of the Hy-Line bird but these figures are outstanding.  These birds were reared by Country Fresh Pullets and housed at 16 weeks of age.  The feed was supplied to me by HST feeds.  The hens showed good body condition and superb feather retention at 72 weeks of age. Liveability was excellent with only 4.09% to depletion at 73.5 weeks and I was delighted with the result of 316.6 eggs HH to 72 weeks.  The 2005/6 occupants of House No 1 will be a hard act to follow!”

A Shropshire egg producer has accomplished another outstanding result with its flock of Hy-Line Variety Brown achieving 90% hen day production (HDP) over 30 consecutive weeks.  At 72 weeks of age, the flock was still producing at 81.5% HDP, with only 3% of eggs graded as seconds.

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