Best long term egg layers?

[countrylivn]

Exchanging our 3 Isa Browns for more long-term laying chickens, and would appreciate people's input on what to get. The Isa Browns haven't laid an egg in over 3mths. Two are over 2 yrs, and even the 3rd, which is around 18mths - 2yrs, is no longer laying! I've since been told that this is common with this breed though, which was deliberately bred that way for the commercial market?? So, we are now looking for good layers to supply eggs for a family of 5 over a longer duration. We live in a hot and humid climate of suburban Australia, and already have a White Leghorn, an Australorp, and two silkies. They all free-range around a very large backyard.

 

[BantamLover21]

Most chickens slow down in egg production around 2-3 years of age. And it is true that birds bred for commercial egg production stop laying sooner than others--they are bred to lay a lot of eggs in a short amount of time, not a lot of eggs over a longer amount of time. Because of the gradual decrease in eggs as a hen ages, the commercial poultry industry replaces layers when they are about 1 1/2 years of age to ensure continuous, high production. Therefore, commercial hens are not expected to live long and produce a steady supply of eggs.

I'm not sure what breeds of chicken you can get in Australia, but more reliable, long term layers the the United States include (at least in my experience) Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, and other dual-purpose chicken breeds. These breeds might not lay quite as many eggs in the same period of time as breeds bred for egg production, but they will continue at a steady pace.