Breed Listing.. No ISA Browns?

[mommacb]

I'm new to the site, and could not find any isa browns listed, i wanted to read reviews, is it possible they are missing or called by a different name?

 

[Ridgerunner]

ISA Browns are not a breed. They are a cross.

ISA Browns are one of many commercial crosses developed as commercial egg layers. They have been developed for decades by selective breeding by people that really know chicken genetics.

They are not a simple cross of two breeds. You have four grandparent flocks. Each of those four flocks produce one specific grandparent of the ISA Browns. For example, flock number 1 may produce the paternal grandmother of the ISA Brown. You then take the paternal grandparents and creat another flock that will produce the father of the ISA Brown, obviously doing the same thing on the maternal side. These are flocks 5 and 6. Then you create a seventh flock that actually lays the eggs the ISA Browns hatch from.

A quick review of ISA Browns from my perspective: They are specially bred to produce a lot of Grade A Large size eggs at an early age under certain conditions of light and feed. They will do the same thing for you. They are pretty small in body size so they are efficient in converting feed to eggs. They don't have to use much energy in body maintenance compared to larger birds. They are thus not good for meat.

They tend to burn out after a laying cycle. Part of that is that the commercial operations have found they are more efficient raising new chickens rather than feeding them through a second adult molt and living with the reduced egg production they can have after a second adult molt. They are simply not bred for longevity.

Another possible problem is that they are more succeptible to egg laying related injury. They lay a large egg for their body size which makes them more susceptible to that type of injury. Additionally many people tend to overfeed them, especially high protein. That causes them to lay an even larger egg.

Whether or not they will suit you depends on your circumstances and goals. Many people use them and are very happy with them. Some people don't like them at all.

Good luck however you decide.

 

[mommacb]

Thanks so much for this info, it was super helpful. We currently have seven of them and love them. They are smart, curious and great lovers of our children. They make wonderful pets, and currently are great egg layers, but we really just have them to teach our kiddos about raising animals.

 

[nicalandia]

Thanks so much for this info, it was super helpful. We currently have seven of them and love them. They are smart, curious and great lovers of our children. They make wonderful pets, and currently are great egg layers, but we really just have them to teach our kiddos about raising animals.

enjoy the best brown egg layer this earth has produced...!