adding to my flock

[ange]

I am looking to buy some hen chickens, I HAVE L WESLUMMER And 3 RHODE ISLAND REDS, ANY SUGGESTIONS? i WANT THEM FOR EGGS not meat. Also how does a hen lay eggs, before they are too old to lay and how do you know the age

 

[FortWorthChicks]

You want them just for eggs? Sexlinks are supposed to lay like crazy.

They can start laying anywhere from 6-10 months. My personal experiance was 9 months.

As for judging the age your better off purchasing them from someone you trust.

Most hens will lay at their best the first couple years and slack off after this a little at a time.

Females are called pullets until they are 1 year.

Oh yeah... EE's are pretty birds and lay alot and the eggs are neat too.

 

[Illia]

9 months, really? Wow, I raise "dual purpose" and "ornamental" birds and they all started laying at 6-7 months.

There are quite a few good egg layers, but honestly I find that even the dual purpose, rare, and ornamental breeds lay just as well. (or, enough to satisfy you) We have Brahmas, whom are bred for both meat and eggs, but they give us just as many eggs as our Crested Polish (who are supposedly only ornamental) who also lay just as well as our New Hampshire Reds (who are bred for egg laying, and infact were created as an improved strain of Rhode Island Reds)

But to me, I think everyone should experience some Easter Eggers at some point in their lives. Hatcheries sell them as "Araucanas" or "Ameraucanas," but they are actually Easter Eggers, and will come in just about any color and lay just about any color of egg for you! (except chocolate-brown. That's a whole nother breed that makes those beauts) They're quite a lovely surprise package, even though they're a mutt!