better layer?

[key west chick]

Im in charge of picking out a breed of chicken for my parents. I have it narrowed to Wyandottes and Orpingtons. In your opinion, which lays

#1- larger eggs?
#2- more eggs?
#3- better winter production?

 

[JodyJo]

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Wyandotte-B6.aspx
Wyandotte

http://k9keystrokes.hubpages.com/hub/CHICKENS-Best-Breeds-to-get-for-a-Backyard-Egg-Laying-Hens-Raising-Egg-Laying-City-Chickens

(good source of info)

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Six of one, half dozen of the other.

 

[Crehan]

Orpingtons! of course! they are the best breed ever!

Have better performance than wyandontes

 

[kevinhannan]

@ JodyJo
brilliant link - thanks for sharing.

 

[aoxa]

Get half of each!

I find Wyandottes more appealing to the eye, but my SL is hard to catch. She only comes when I have food. The rest jump right up in my lap. Don't know about Orpingtons though.. I can't seem to find any around my province.

I would suggest a barred rock though. They are WONDERFUL. Great layers/winter friendly/ beautiful/sweethearts!

 

[clucksbc]

I was just browsing through the first egg postings
and the orpingtons seemed quite large...
I just got a birchin..black star sexlink cross....
was thinking I had big eggs to look forward to but now am not so conviinced

 

[BlazeJester]

Plymouth Rocks (barred, partridge, columbian, white, etc etc) are VERY friendly, tolerate confinement but are smart about free-ranging (I didn't have a coop for 2 years), and lay straight through Southeast winters (Atlanta and Upstate SC) without batting an eye.

I don't know what region your parents live in, but I'd definitely recommend rocks for people who haven't had chickens, or want friendly ones.

I haven't seen my Australorps lay, but they're so hefty that I'd have a hard time believing they'd slow down much except for the coldest winters. Living in the South definitely has its advantages!!!

 

[hmmcc123]

I'm not sure about Wyandottes but my Buff Orpingtons lay about 4-5 eggs a week. We just got our chicks in March so we haven't the winter experience yet but I think I read that the Buff Orpingtons are good winter layers. Good luck!