Egg-Laying Hen Production
The Flock. The Egg. The Enterprise.
YSA’s Egg-Laying Hen Production program covers the complete cycle of egg production — from flock health and housing management to grading, marketing, and quota systems — on a real working poultry operation.
Program Overview
A regulated industry with stable economics — and a steep learning curve.
Egg production is a significant and highly regulated sector of Canadian agriculture, governed by supply management and production quotas. Understanding how this system works — from flock management to the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency — is essential for anyone entering the industry.
YSA’s poultry facility gives students direct experience caring for laying hens, collecting and grading eggs, managing housing environments, and tracking flock performance. Students also engage with the business side: supply management policy, quota valuation, and enterprise financial analysis.
This program is ideal for students interested in poultry production, supply-managed agriculture, food systems, or the broader business of regulated commodity production.
What You’ll Learn
The full toolkit of an egg producer — biology, regulation, and enterprise.
Course Pathway
A three-year progression from foundation to mastery.
Year 1 · Grade 10
Foundation
- Introduction to Agriculture I
- Animal Science I
- Poultry Production Fundamentals
- Ag Safety & Effective Communications I
- Flock Care Practicum I
Year 2 · Grade 11
Specialization
- Layer Management II (Housing & Environmental Controls)
- Egg Grading, Food Safety & Handling
- Supply Management Policy & Quota Systems
- SAE Project Development — Poultry Enterprise
- Agricultural Business Fundamentals
Year 3 · Grade 12
Mastery
- Advanced Poultry Production Management
- Poultry Enterprise Capstone
- Flock Health & Biosecurity Management
- SAE Project Completion & Presentation
- Post-Secondary Transition: Poultry Science & Ag Business
Certifications & Credentials
Graduates leave with industry credentials that travel.
01
Canadian Egg Farmer Training Program (Egg Farmers of Canada)
02
HACCP Food Safety Certificate (introductory)
03
Alberta Farm Safety Certificate
04
Poultry Emergency Depopulation Training
05
Flock Supervisor competency credential (provincial)
Career Pathways
Where this program leads.
Egg Quota Holder / Producer
Own and operate a regulated egg production operation.
Poultry Production Manager
Manage flock operations for commercial laying operations.
Hatchery Technician
Assist with incubation and chick placement in commercial hatcheries.
Poultry Feed Sales Representative
Sell nutritional programs to egg and broiler producers.
Supply Management Analyst
Work within commodity boards and industry organizations.
Poultry Health Technician
Monitor flock health and manage biosecurity for producers.
Egg Grader / Quality Assurance Technician
Ensure egg quality standards in processing facilities.
Agricultural Lender (Poultry)
Evaluate poultry quota and enterprise financing applications.
Industry Connections
Built with the producers running Alberta’s laying barns.
Egg-Laying Hen Production at YSA is shaped by commercial egg producers, provincial commodity boards, and post-secondary partners across Alberta — mentors who help design the curriculum and open doors to placements.
Become an Industry Partner- Egg Farmers of Canada / Egg Farmers of Alberta — formal educational partnership connection
- Local egg producers in the Medicine Hat region — mentorship and site visits
- Poultry processing and grading facility tours
- Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation — poultry extension officers as guest speakers
- Olds College and Lakeland College poultry science programs — post-secondary pathway
SAE Opportunities
Real projects. Real outcomes.
Every YSA student designs and runs a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project. Here are five starting points for Egg-Laying Hen Production students:
Apply Now
Ready to build a career in Egg-Laying Hen Production?
Applications for Fall 2027 are open. Get in touch — or jump straight in.