Egg production

xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

Producing eggs, like the meat industry, beekeeping industry, fishing industry, and farming, creates food. In egg production, collection and cooking of eggs is the primary activity, as, over time, domestic poultry, such as chickens, can produce much more food as eggs than the same animal produces as meat when butchered (1 egg = 1 meat = 1 meal). When starting out a new fortress, raising poultry can be an excellent way to quickly fill up your food barrels as it requires very little set-up for your dwarves. As a by-product of egg production, older or excess animals can be butchered as part of the meat industry.

Acquiring egg-laying animals

There are several sources for obtaining egg-laying animals, outlined below.

Embark

You can buy domestic poultry at embark and even decide how many males and females of each animal you embark with. Since you don't need males to produce eggs, and need only one male to breed, you could embark with three or four hens, and a single rooster. Poultry animals are very economical to purchase at embark, costing only 6☼ each.

Of the domestic poultry, turkeys produce the most eggs per clutch on average, followed by ducks, then chickens and guineafowl. Turkeys are also the largest poultry animals, and produce the most meat and other products if butchered as part of the meat industry, with geese and blue peafowl only slightly smaller. All domestic poultry become adults one year after hatching, but geese, blue peafowl, and guineafowl grow to full size at one year; other poultry only reach full size after two years.

Migration

Domestic poultry may arrive at your fortress with a wave of migrants. These animals may be strays or pets.

Trading

Requires: A trade depot, a trader, a merchant, and some tradeable goods

You can purchase egg-laying animals from a caravan. While human and dwarven merchants will generally bring standard poultry, elven merchants may bring tamed exotic egg-laying animals, which may prove useful for value or defense purposes.

Cage traps

Requires: Cages, mechanisms, a mechanic, animal training zone and an animal trainer

It is also possible to catch egg-laying animals through judicious use of cage traps. This, of course, involves building cage traps where these animals will walk or fly. Once they are trapped the caged animal (or invader) will be delivered to an animal stockpile and the trap will be reset with a fresh cage.

Cage traps should be built where animals will walk, not where they are when you decide to trap them. Any dwarves sent out to create and arm traps in the animals' midst will scare them away, or trigger their aggression. To successfully trap large animals, form a choke point some distance away from them: build walls, perhaps several z-levels high, to create a continuous barrier to movement.

Leave a small gap one or two tiles wide (depending on how many of the critters you want to trap) and build your cage traps there. If the animals haven't moved off or been scared off by the time you're done, and they're docile enough to not attack once they see your dwarves, use military orders to send a dwarf (or several) around behind the animals and herd them toward the choke point.

Note also that cage traps cannot be built within a certain number of tiles of the map edge, so when planning your funnels and choke points, be sure to leave four or five tiles as a buffer zone.

What wild egg-layers are available depends highly on the biome. In general, most maps have flying birds of one kind or another, but they tend to stay up in the air, where cage traps can't get them. Several underground creatures are egg-layers, and as such are available on every map, such as the crundle, elk bird or the rare and dangerous jabberer.

Egg-laying animals that are caught in a cage trap need to be tamed by an animal trainer at an animal training zone before they can be safely used to produce eggs. Note that you are not limited to standard domestic poultry; some of the most lucrative and prolific egg-layers are reptiles.

Breeding

Requires: One or more adult females and one adult male of each species, one or more nest boxes, and time

If a compatible male and a female of the same species are adjacent to each other and there is an open constructed nest box for the female to occupy and lay a clutch of eggs in, then sooner or later (and probably sooner) the male will fertilize the eggs laid by the female. A female can lay a clutch of eggs again immediately after the last clutch hatches. A female that cannot claim a nest box will not lay a clutch of eggs.

A fertilized clutch will only hatch if they are left in the nest box undisturbed and their mother is allowed to incubate the eggs. Collecting the eggs, slaughtering or training the mother, or deconstructing the nest box will all prevent the eggs from hatching. A clutch of eggs to be used for breeding should be forbidden to prevent their collection. Even if the eggs and mother are left undisturbed, it is possible that clutch was not fertilized. Eggs that don't hatch after two seasons will likely never hatch. To make sure that the eggs are left undisturbed, make sure that no stockpiles accept that type of egg, and if you cook any meals make sure that that type of egg is turned off in the kitchen sub-screen of the status screen. Alternatively, you can put the nest boxes in a room behind a door and forbid the door to keep your dwarves away from the eggs.

As a large number of free-roaming animals will reduce your game speed, a common strategy is to cage all your young poultry until they mature. Keep in mind, though, that some tamed wild species take more than a year to mature, unlike most domestic animals. For example, it may be excusable to butcher a saltwater crocodile hatchling right away, rather than wait 3 years for it to mature and produce more meat and bones.

Using cage traps judiciously (or taking advantage of the animals elves trade) can sometimes snag you a breeding pair of a wild animal. Tame something unusual and start something crazy, like a cave crocodile farm!

Capture

Through the use of expeditions a player can capture animals not otherwise available. For example raiding a goblin settlement may yield beak dogs which, curiously, lay eggs.

Egg collection

Requires: A tame adult female egg-laying animal, a nest box, and food hauling

Once you have at least one tame adult female egg-laying animal, you need to build a nest box to begin production of delicious and filling eggs. Every so often, the adult females will claim a nest box and lay a clutch of eggs. Then, a food hauler will collect the eggs and move them to a food stockpile. Food hauling is an unskilled labor, so any dwarf in the fortress can do it. Egg collection is a great way to use those peasants that otherwise just move boulders around the fortress.

Eggs must be cooked into prepared meals at a kitchen before they can be eaten by dwarves.

Egg-laying animals

Outdoor Animals

Animal	Body Size (max)	Maturation Time (years)	Max Age (years)	Number of Eggs	Egg Size**	Notes
Adder	150	0*	15-20	3-10	16
Albatross	8,000	1	40-50	1	305
Alligator	400,000	1	60-100	10-30	80
Alligator snapping turtle	80,000	0*	30-70	5-10	70
Barn owl	500	1	10-20	3-6	32
Beak dog	150,000	1	10-20	5-10	1600	Domestic in goblin civilizations. Not tameable until v0.44.07.
Black mamba	5,000	0*	10-15	10-30	50
Blue peafowl	4,000	1	15-30	6-8	102	Domestic
Bushmaster	8,500	0*	12-24	10-20	22
Buzzard	1,400	1	10-20	2-3	60
Cassowary	50,000	1	40-50	3-6	550
Chicken	3,000	1	7-15	4-15	62	Domestic
Common snapping turtle	30,000	0*	30-50	5-10	50
Desert tortoise	5,500	1	80-100	3-5	40
Duck	1,000	1	7-9	8-13	52	Domestic
Eagle	4,000	1	20-30	1-3	142
Echidna	10,000	1	10-20	1	1
Emperor penguin	30,000	1	20-50	1	465	Not tameable
Emu	35,000	1	15-25	5-15	805
Giant adder	201,049	0*	15-20	3-10	16
Giant albatross	256,320	1	40-50	1	305
Giant alligator	3,268,000	1	60-100	10-30	80
Giant anole	200,629	0*	5-7	1-2	10
Giant barn owl	203,500	1	10-20	3-6	32
Giant black mamba	235,100	0*	10-15	10-30	50
Giant bluejay	200,700	1	10-20	2-7	11
Giant bushmaster	259,845	0*	12-24	10-20	22
Giant bushtit	200,035	1	1-2	5-13	1
Giant buzzard	209,804	1	10-20	2-3	60
Giant cardinal	200,350	1	10-20	2-5	9
Giant cassowary	560,000	1	40-50	3-6	550
Giant chameleon	201,049	0*	5-10	40-50	10
Giant cockatiel	200,629	1	15-30	2-8	11
Giant crow	203,500	1	10-15	4-6	21
Giant desert tortoise	238,645	1	80-100	3-5	40
Giant eagle	228,040	1	20-30	1-3	142
Giant echidna	270,500	1	10-20	1	1
Giant emu	450,100	1	15-25	5-15	805
Giant gila monster	214,020	1	20-30	2-12	32
Giant grackle	200,840	1	10-20	1-7	12
Giant great horned owl	214,020	1	15-20	1-5	51
Giant grey parrot	202,800	1	40-60	1-5	40
Giant hornbill	217,525	1	35-40	1-4	50
Giant iguana	228,040	1	10-20	40-50	15
Giant kakapo	221,040	7	60-120	1-4	52
Giant kea	207,010	1	30-50	2-5	62
Giant kestrel	201,750	1	10-20	3-6	32
Giant king cobra	242,160	0*	15-25	10-30	5
Giant kingsnake	210,510	0*	20-30	5-12	20
Giant kiwi	217,525	1	20-50	1-2	450
Giant loon	242,160	1	25-30	2-4	152
Giant lorikeet	201,400	1	15-30	2	11
Giant magpie	201,400	1	10-20	2-5	11
Giant masked lovebird	200,629	1	10-15	4-5	7
Giant monitor lizard	933,000	1	20-30	15-25	70
Giant oriole	200,280	1	10-20	3-7	8
Giant osprey	214,020	1	20-30	2-4	60
Giant ostrich	857,700	1	35-45	10-15	2000
Giant parakeet	200,840	1	15-25	2-4	11
Giant peach-faced lovebird	200,419	1	10-15	4-6	9
Giant peregrine falcon	113,292	1	12-15	3-4	46
Giant platypus	214,020	1	10-20	1-3	11
Giant pond turtle	203,500	0*	40-100	1-15	6
Giant puffin	205,252	1	15-20	1	30
Giant python	1,700,000	0*	10-20	10-30	50
Giant raven	208,404	1	20-40	3-7	52
Giant red-winged blackbird	200,350	1	10-20	2-4	11
Giant saltwater crocodile	6,440,000	3	60-100	20-70	100
Giant skink	203,500	0*	15-20	10-30	10
Giant snapping turtle	414,000	0*	30-50	5-10	50
Giant snowy owl	214,020	1	10-30	5-10	62
Giant sparrow	200,210	1	5-10	2-7	3
Giant swan	270,500	1	10-25	5-7	340
Giant tortoise	300,000	1	100-200	5-10	82
Giant vulture	263,430	1	10-20	1-3	60
Giant white stork	221,040	1	20-40	1-7	110
Giant wren	200,280	1	5-7	3-10	5
Gigantic tortoise	2,478,000	1	100-200	5-10	82
Gila monster	2,000	1	20-30	2-12	32
Goose	4,500	1	10-24	3-8	152	Domestic
Great horned owl	2,000	1	15-20	1-5	51
Grey parrot	400	1	40-60	1-5	40
Guineafowl	1,500	1	10-15	4-15	42	Domestic
Hornbill	2,500	1	35-40	1-4	50
Iguana	4,000	1	10-20	40-50	15
Kakapo	3,000	7	60-120	1-4	52
Kea	1,000	1	30-50	2-5	62
Kestrel	250	1	10-20	3-6	32
King cobra	6,000	0*	15-25	10-30	5
Kingsnake	1,500	0*	20-30	5-12	20
Kiwi	2,500	1	20-50	1-2	450
Kobold	20,000	12	150-170	1-2	1100	Forms crude civilizations, not tameable
Little penguin	1,500	1	20-30	2	53	Not tameable
Loon	6,000	1	25-30	2-4	152
Monitor lizard	100,000	1	20-30	15-25	70
Osprey	2,000	1	20-30	2-4	60
Ostrich	90,000	1	35-45	10-15	2,000
Penguin	4,000	1	20-30	2	125	Not tameable
Peregrine falcon	600	1	12-15	3-4	46
Platypus	2,000	1	10-20	1-3	11
Puffin	750	1	15-20	1	30
Python	200,000	0*	10-20	10-30	50
Raven	1,200	1	20-40	3-7	52
Saltwater crocodile	800,000	3	60-100	20-70	100
Sea serpent	9,000,000	6	150-175	1	6100	Aquatic, cannot lay eggs due to a bug.Bug:4105
Snowy owl	2,000	1	10-30	5-10	62
Swan	10,000	1	10-25	5-7	340
Turkey	5,000	1	7-10	10-14	87	Domestic
Vulture	9,000	1	10-20	1-3	60
White stork	3,000	1	20-40	1-7	110

* This creature cannot be fully tamed by dwarves, and thus will require frequent training.

** Egg size does not currently affect food quantity.

Subterranean Animals

Animal	Body Size (max)	Maturation Time (years)	Max Age (years)	Number of Eggs	Egg Size**	Notes
Cave crocodile	600,000	3	60-100	20-60	80
Cave dragon	15,000,000	0*	Immortal	1-3	6100
Crundle	10,000	0*	10-20	5-20	60
Elk bird	100,000	1	10-20	2-10	60	Grazer, may starve itself to death while incubating eggs.Bug:4637
Giant cave swallow	200,000	1	10-20	2-3	2100
Helmet snake	50,000	0*	40-60	10-30	50
Jabberer	4,500,000	1	10-20	1-2	5100

* This creature cannot be fully tamed by dwarves, and thus will require frequent training.

** Egg size does not currently affect food quantity.

Megabeasts

Animal	Body Size (max)	Maturation Time (years)	Max Age (years)	Number of Eggs	Egg Size**	Notes
Dragon	25,000,000	0*	Immortal	1-3	6100
Roc	20,000,000	1	Immortal	1-2	201000

* This creature cannot be fully tamed by dwarves, and thus will require frequent training.

** Egg size does not currently affect food quantity.

Animal People*

Animal	Body Size (max)	Maturation Time (years)	Max Age (years)	Number of Eggs	Egg Size**	Notes
Adder man	35,075	0	60-80	3-10	16
Albatross man	39,000	1	60-80	1	305
Alligator man	235,000	1	60-80	10-30	80
Anole man	35,045	0	60-80	1-2	10
Barn owl man	35,250	1	60-80	3-6	32
Black mamba man	37,500	0	60-80	10-30	50
Bluejay man	35,050	1	60-80	2-7	11
Bushmaster man	39,250	0	60-80	10-20	22
Bushtit man	35,002	1	60-80	5-13	1
Buzzard man	35,700	1	60-80	2-3	60
Cardinal man	35,025	1	60-80	2-5	9
Cassowary man	60,000	1	60-80	3-6	550
Cave swallow man	35,050	1	20-30	4-5	11
Chameleon man	35,075	0	60-80	40-50	10
Cockatiel man	35,045	1	60-80	2-8	11
Crow man	35,250	1	60-80	4-6	21
Desert tortoise man	37,750	1	60-89	3-5	40
Eagle man	37,000	1	60-80	1-3	142
Echidna man	40,000	1	60-80	1	1
Emu man	52,500	1	60-80	5-15	805
Giant tortoise man	185,000	1	60-80	5-10	82
Gila monster man	36,000	1	60-80	2-12	32
Grackle man	35,060	1	60-80	1-7	12
Great horned owl man	36,000	1	60-80	1-5	51
Grey parrot man	35,200	1	60-80	1-5	40
Hornbill man	36,250	1	60-80	1-4	50
Iguana man	37,000	1	60-80	40-50	15
Kakapo man	36,500	7	60-80	1-4	52
Kea man	35,500	1	60-80	2-5	62
Kestrel man	35,125	1	60-80	3-6	32
King cobra man	38,000	0	60-80	10-30	5
Kingsnake man	35,750	0	60-80	5-12	20
Kiwi man	36,250	1	60-80	1-2	450
Loon man	38,000	1	60-80	2-4	152
Lorikeet man	35,100	1	60-80	2	11
Magpie man	35,100	1	60-80	2-5	11
Masked lovebird man	35,045	1	60-80	4-5	7
Monitor lizard man	85,000	1	60-80	15-25	70
Oriole man	35,020	1	60-80	3-7	8
Osprey man	36,000	1	60-80	2-4	60
Ostrich man	80,000	1	60-80	10-15	2000
Parakeet man	35,060	1	60-80	2-4	11
Peach-faced lovebird man	35,030	1	60-80	4-6	9
Peregrine falcon man	35,300	1	60-80	3-4	46
Platypus man	36,000	1	60-80	1-3	11
Pond turtle man	35,250	0	60-80	1-15	6
Puffin man	35,375	1	60-80	1	30
Python man	135,000	0	60-80	10-30	50
Raven man	35,600	1	60-80	3-7	52
Red-winged blackbird man	35,025	1	60-80	2-4	11
Reptile man	50,000	12	60-80	1-3	1600
Saltwater crocodile man	435,000	3	60-80	20-70	100
Serpent man	50,000	12	60-80	1-3	1600
Skink man	35,250	0	60-80	10-30	10
Snapping turtle man	50,000	0	60-80	5-10	50
Snowy owl man	36,000	1	60-80	5-10	62
Sparrow man	35,015	1	60-80	2-7	3
Swan man	40,000	1	60-80	5-7	340
Vulture man	39,500	1	60-80	1-3	60
White stork man	36,500	1	60-80	1-7	110
Wren man	35,020	1	60-80	3-10	5

* Animal people cannot be tamed, but they can join civilizations during worldgen and later arrive as visitors.

** Egg size does not currently affect food quantity.'

Vermin*

Animal	Body Size (max)	Maturation Time (years)	Max Age (years)	Number of Eggs	Egg Size**	Notes
Anole	90	0	5-7	1-2	10
Blue jay	100	1	10-20	2-7	11
Bushtit	5	1	1-2	5-13	1
Cardinal	50	1	10-20	2-5	9
Cave swallow	100	1	10-20	4-5	11
Chameleon	150	0	5-10	40-50	10
Cockatiel	90	1	15-30	2-8	11
Crow	500	1	10-15	4-6	21
Grackle	120	1	10-20	1-7	12
Lorikeet	200	1	15-30	2	11
Magpie	200	1	10-20	2-5	11
Masked lovebird	90	1	10-15	4-5	7
Oriole	40	1	10-20	3-7	8
Parakeet	120	1	15-25	2-4	11
Peach-faced lovebird	60	1	10-15	4-6	9
Pond turtle	500	0	40-100	1-15	6
Red-winged blackbird	50	1	10-20	2-4	11
Skink	500	0	15-20	10-30	10
Sparrow	30	1	5-10	2-7	3
Two-legged rhino lizard	1,000	1	2-3	10-30	40
Wren	40	1	5-7	3-10	5

* Vermin cannot currently be used for egg production in fortress mode.

** Egg size does not currently affect food quantity.'

Bugs

Aquatic egg laying animals will not claim a nest box. It doesn't matter if the box is built underwater or on land. ^Bug:4105

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