Hi-Pro moves to end shortage of baby chicks

The chronic shortage in the availability of baby chicks may soon be alleviated after a major distributor of the birds disclosed that it has plans to re-introduce its second hatchery in response to rising demand.

Small poultry farmers across the island have been struggling to source baby chicks since COVID-19 as more persons have been opting to raise broiler birds.

However, Colonel Jaimie Ogilvie, vice-president at Hi-Pro, said there has been a strong surge in demand for baby chicks, well beyond the normal.

"This increased level of demand means that there is now a sustainable situation for which we can plan and prepare and, as such, we will be ramping up our operations to make more baby chicks available to small farmers so that they can continue production towards meeting the demands of the market," said Ogilvie.

He further indicated that the increased levels of activity in the sector by the thousands of small chicken farmers would allow them to regain their livelihoods, spur further growth in the sector and contribute to the overall economic recovery of the country, while boosting food security.

"We are preparing our second hatchery at Cumberland, Portmore, in readiness for any additional demand. Persons are turning to chicken farming for a living, now that competing imports have been significantly reduced in the market," Ogilvie said.

fertile hatching eggs

In addition to making adjustments to ready their second facility, the company has placed emphasis on sourcing additional fertile hatching eggs to ensure continued supply to the hatchery operations in support of the sustainability of this critical sector.

Ogilvie said, however, that "escalating the production of baby chicks is not an overnight occurrence", adding that the hatching cycle of the birds is 21 days.