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Best Chickens to get for year round egg production???

post #1 of 14
1/9/13 at 5:02pm
Thread Starter 

I will be putting an order in for chicks shortly and need more info. I am looking for best breed for year round egg production.

Here is what I have to choose from:

Rhode Island Reds

New Hampshire Reds

Black Sex Link

Gold Sex Link

What would you get? Any other breed recommendations?

I am limited for space as I just want a mixed flock but want 4 steady layers.

My others will be 2 Barred Rock, 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes and 2 Ameraucanas.

Been at it over a year and have the chicken bug BAD. Wish I could have more than ten, but I am 4 over the "approved" limit already. LOL  THANKS

2- Easter Eggers,2 Barred Rock,2 Rhode Island Reds,2 Millie Fluers (bantum), 2- Copper Marans
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2- Easter Eggers,2 Barred Rock,2 Rhode Island Reds,2 Millie Fluers (bantum), 2- Copper Marans
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post #2 of 14
1/9/13 at 5:11pm

I would recommend Gold Sex Links. We have three, and they have been laying every day since August (about 17 weeks old then). They are wonderful! -sweetest birds! We do not utilize any artificial lighting. They haven't missed a day yet, however.

Wife of 21 years to a dear husband, mama to 2 children, 3 Golden Comets, 2 Old English Game bantams, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Golden Laced Wyandotte, 1 bearded Belgian d'Anver, 1 Japanese bantam, 1 budgie, 1 sugar glider, 1 Roborovski hamster, and a feisty Yorkshire terrier
 

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Wife of 21 years to a dear husband, mama to 2 children, 3 Golden Comets, 2 Old English Game bantams, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 1 Black Australorp, 1 Golden Laced Wyandotte, 1 bearded Belgian d'Anver, 1 Japanese bantam, 1 budgie, 1 sugar glider, 1 Roborovski hamster, and a feisty Yorkshire terrier
 

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post #3 of 14
1/9/13 at 5:11pm

rhode island reds i know are 1 of the best layers.  do u have americaunas or easter eggers? where did u get them?

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post #4 of 14
1/9/13 at 5:17pm

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those breeds, so get a couple of each! Go Chicken Math!

Proud parent of a 5 year old~ Australian Shepard,a 6 year old Border Collie, a 9 year old fat tabby cat, and a one toothed guinea pig. Oh, and 8 Black Australorps, 9 Golden Laced Wyandottes, 5 Jersey Giants, 5 Barred Rocks,4 Red Sex Links, 3 New Hampshire Reds, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 1 Leghorns, 2 Tetra Tint, 2 Light Brahmas, 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes 2 Easter Eggers and 1...

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Proud parent of a 5 year old~ Australian Shepard,a 6 year old Border Collie, a 9 year old fat tabby cat, and a one toothed guinea pig. Oh, and 8 Black Australorps, 9 Golden Laced Wyandottes, 5 Jersey Giants, 5 Barred Rocks,4 Red Sex Links, 3 New Hampshire Reds, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 1 Leghorns, 2 Tetra Tint, 2 Light Brahmas, 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes 2 Easter Eggers and 1...

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post #5 of 14
1/9/13 at 5:33pm

Barred Rocks have always been the most reliable for me, but the RR's I've had have been pretty good, too.idunno.gif

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post #6 of 14
1/9/13 at 6:18pm
My barred rocks are the most reliable layers. Sex links are a great choice too.

Now with that being said, no matter what breed you choose, they will need to molt around 12-18 months (depending on when they hatched). They will not lay during this time.

Breeding Welsummers and Barnevelders.

 

Having an Icelandic in the coop is like having a 2 year old in the house - they are into everything and don't follow the rules.

I have zero chicken willpower.

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Breeding Welsummers and Barnevelders.

 

Having an Icelandic in the coop is like having a 2 year old in the house - they are into everything and don't follow the rules.

I have zero chicken willpower.

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post #7 of 14
1/10/13 at 6:22am

Based on your list, I recommend sex links over Rhode Island Red, just because your sex links will lay more eggs and have a better temperament to boot. They'll all take at least a few weeks off when they moult, though.

We have a flock of 75-ish hens: Blue Copper Marans, Barred Rock, Red Sex Links, Black Sex Links, Easter Eggers, Tetra Tints, white Leghorns, dark Cornish, various colors of Rocks, some barnyard mixes, a Wyandotte and a little Buttercup, who's just here for pretty. 

 

Also 35 broilers plus five Easter Egger cockerels in the meat pen. But they won't be here long. 

 

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We have a flock of 75-ish hens: Blue Copper Marans, Barred Rock, Red Sex Links, Black Sex Links, Easter Eggers, Tetra Tints, white Leghorns, dark Cornish, various colors of Rocks, some barnyard mixes, a Wyandotte and a little Buttercup, who's just here for pretty. 

 

Also 35 broilers plus five Easter Egger cockerels in the meat pen. But they won't be here long. 

 

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post #8 of 14
1/12/13 at 9:05pm

i had red sex links they are egg laying machines and big eggs. hope this helps

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post #9 of 14
1/12/13 at 10:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Chooks View Post

My barred rocks are the most reliable layers. Sex links are a great choice too.

Now with that being said, no matter what breed you choose, they will need to molt around 12-18 months (depending on when they hatched). They will not lay during this time.

This. To have eggs year round, you need to have a round robin of chicks each spring. Older birds take the winter off, usually, regardless of breed once they reach 2-3 years of age. It's just how God made them.

 

For backyard folks, I love the sex links. They're good minded, docile, and lay like crazy.

Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rachel BB
 

Well, the kittens aren't so cute anymore and the easter egger cockerels are in the freezer. Plus, I think offering them as "prizes" scared folks off! So, I'm still posting quotes, if you know it let me know. I'm very enamored of this new one, it may hang around for a while!

 

"If I'd known the world was ending I'd have brought better books"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #10 of 14
1/13/13 at 12:50pm

I have to agree with sex links. Mine are black and very sweet... excellent layers, too. Nice large eggs and one of my birds laid for over a month before taking a one day break and was back at it again the next day.
 

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › Best Chickens to get for year round egg production???