Was wondering if the SOP BAs lay as well as their hatchery counterparts? Even close? Onset of POL comparable?
I began my chicken adventure with production sex links. Later I got some SOP BA's (did very good at the show too). I can't provide a comparison with hatchery BA's, as I've never owned any, but can provide a comparison with production hens. While I doubt any chickens lay like production hens, my BA's give them a run for their money. The onset of POL is longer. My production hens began laying at about 4 months of age. My SOP BA's took 2 to 2 and a half months longer to begin laying. I suspect it has a lot to do with them still attaining size first, since they are significantly larger, before they are ready to go into production. I live in Florida, and it's much warmer here, so my chickens begin their molt in mid November, and are mostly feathered back in by mid December. The production hens tend to lay somewhat sporadically, missing a day here, and there for about 2 - 3 weeks. The BA's tend to stop producing, or only give an egg or two during that time. By January the BA's are back into daily production. My production hens typically slow down production when they've been laying a little over 2 years, and tend to be pretty much spent just before they are 3 years old. From what I've experienced, my BA's stay in production longer, without health issues, which more than makes up for the delayed onset of POL, and the down time during molt over the lifespan of the hen. I also eat my culls. Once again, since they are slower to attain size, I wait longer before processing. I wait about 14 - 16 weeks before I process them. The meat is plentiful, firm, but still very tender. The first ones I processed, I didn't change feed, or "finish" them in any way. The meat is a tiny bit darker than that of the typical meat bird, but tastes just fine.