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Best winter layers?

post #1 of 21
7/22/12 at 3:00am
Thread Starter 

If I were looking for a lightweight heritage breed that laid the most through short winter days - without a light - what would I pick? Or is that even feasible?


Edited by UrbanEnthusiast - 7/26/12 at 10:41am

I'm nobody's wife or mother. Leftist, feminist, atheist, polyamorous, activist, dancer, musician, outlaw. Going to have chickens again when I move out to Whidbey Island next year, but right now I'm just a dreamer. Mostly I'm here to obsess over what breeds I want!

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I'm nobody's wife or mother. Leftist, feminist, atheist, polyamorous, activist, dancer, musician, outlaw. Going to have chickens again when I move out to Whidbey Island next year, but right now I'm just a dreamer. Mostly I'm here to obsess over what breeds I want!

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post #2 of 21
7/22/12 at 4:34pm

Australorp, Barred Rock, Marans, Jersey Giants, Buckeye, Brahama, Buff Orpington, Wyandotte, Delawares.. Hope this helps

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post #3 of 21
7/23/12 at 11:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by UrbanEnthusiast View Post

If I were looking for a heritage breed that laid the most through short winter days - without a light - what would I pick?

The Sussex, if hatched in  March, is a wonderful winter layer. It is one of the hallmarks of the breed. This is because the breed needed to lay eggs which hatched in early Spring so the chicks could be fattened for Derby Day dinners.

Best,

 Karen in western PA, USA

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post #4 of 21
7/24/12 at 4:43am

Chantecler. This breed developed in Canada with winter lay rate as a primary criteria. If you can locate birds from the original lines winter lay rate is unsurpassed.
 

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post #5 of 21
7/24/12 at 6:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ejb3810 View Post

Chantecler. This breed developed in Canada with winter lay rate as a primary criteria. If you can locate birds from the original lines winter lay rate is unsurpassed.

 
The ONLY breed developed in Canada! big_smile.png They are relatively easy to find here.

I would suggest RSL. My girls laid right through winter, and I am in Canada. They are TOUGH! At least the ones here are tongue.png

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

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LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply
post #6 of 21
7/26/12 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the responses, everyone! thumbsup.gif

I actually prefer lightweight breeds and have edited the OP to reflect that. I understand that it may not be feasible, but I'm definitely going to ask around! 

I'm nobody's wife or mother. Leftist, feminist, atheist, polyamorous, activist, dancer, musician, outlaw. Going to have chickens again when I move out to Whidbey Island next year, but right now I'm just a dreamer. Mostly I'm here to obsess over what breeds I want!

Reply

I'm nobody's wife or mother. Leftist, feminist, atheist, polyamorous, activist, dancer, musician, outlaw. Going to have chickens again when I move out to Whidbey Island next year, but right now I'm just a dreamer. Mostly I'm here to obsess over what breeds I want!

Reply
post #7 of 21
7/26/12 at 10:56am
What do you mean by light weight? A bantam or a small standard? What colour of eggs?

White: Try Silver Spangled Hamburg. They definitely lay really well. My mix of SSH and Polish laid right through winter. Her and my Red Sex Link were the only two that did, but this was before my barred rock started too...

A RSL is very light weight by the way.

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply
post #8 of 21
7/26/12 at 10:59am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by aoxa View Post

What do you mean by light weight? A bantam or a small standard? What colour of eggs?
White: Try Silver Spangled Hamburg. They definitely lay really well. My mix of SSH and Polish laid right through winter. Her and my Red Sex Link were the only two that did, but this was before my barred rock started too...
A RSL is very light weight by the way.

 

Don't care about color of eggs, but I am looking for flightiness to escape predators and a good feed conversion. Size of egg matters. Small eggs are OK but only if they are laying at least four or five per week through the winter.


Edited by UrbanEnthusiast - 7/26/12 at 11:09am

I'm nobody's wife or mother. Leftist, feminist, atheist, polyamorous, activist, dancer, musician, outlaw. Going to have chickens again when I move out to Whidbey Island next year, but right now I'm just a dreamer. Mostly I'm here to obsess over what breeds I want!

Reply

I'm nobody's wife or mother. Leftist, feminist, atheist, polyamorous, activist, dancer, musician, outlaw. Going to have chickens again when I move out to Whidbey Island next year, but right now I'm just a dreamer. Mostly I'm here to obsess over what breeds I want!

Reply
post #9 of 21
7/26/12 at 11:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by UrbanEnthusiast View Post

Don't care about color of eggs, but I am looking for flightiness to escape predators and a good feed conversion.
Silver Spangled Hamburgs are VERY flighty. They are great fliers, and very lean.


I also find them very aesthetically pleasing smile.png

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Hamb/BRKHamburg.html

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply

LES Farms

Breeder of nothing right now.Read our RE-Build of LES Farms Thread.

 

Lost everything in a barn fire 2/11/13. Can't even pull it together.

Thank you for all the condolences and all the support and donations given to help us rebuild. You are all so special to us.

 

Please READ my thread about FIRE SAFETY. Trying to save as many others from the little mistakes that cost me everything.

Reply
post #10 of 21
7/26/12 at 11:03am

I vote for barred Plymouth Rocks. The ones I have lay all winter. smile.pngAnd they have a pretty good temperment too.OOPS I guess they are not lightweight. But they do range well and never had any eaten by a predator.


Edited by tiki244 - 7/26/12 at 11:06am
~Kris~
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~Kris~
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Chicken Breeds › Breeds, Genetics, & Showing › Best winter layers?