Breed Recommendation

[Capt. Crusoe]

Looking for a breed recommendation for brown egg laying hens. Eggs will be mainly for personal use, unless there is an excess and then will share with friends and neighbors. Does one brown egg taste better than another? I intend to free range as much as possible or at least while I am working in the fields or near the barn. (Too many predators to have a total free range atmosphere) Thanks in advance to all who respond.

 

[sandspoultry]

An egg is an egg is an egg. The shell color doesn't make any difference. By free ranging you will have a richer, better looking egg. More color in the yoke.

Buff Orpingtons are our primary bird for eggs to sell. They lay a large to jumbo sized brown egg. They are considered a dual purpose bird- meat & eggs.

Any of the egg layers breeds will give you more eggs per year but they don't forage quite a well.

Steve in NC

 

[mikarod]

My favorites have always been Rhode Island Reds.

Light Brahmas are also good and are excellent foragers, but they're heavier, so predation could be an issue.

As sandspoultry said, an egg is an egg. HOWEVER, it's what you FEED that changes the taste of the egg. I personally can't STAND store-bought eggs anymore. Way too bland for me. The yolk will usually be a deeper orange color than the bright yellow of the store-bought eggs.

 

[NYREDS]

If brown eggs are your goal you'd be best served by one of the production hybrids. Hatcheries all offer them with different names but they're all egg laying machines.

 

[BeckyLa]

Sexlinks are good producers of large brown eggs as are my Barred Rocks.

 

[herechickchick]

I say RIR (from a breeder NOT a hatchery) or Barred Rocks. Both great layers.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

If you want lots of eggs in steady production from well mannered birds. I'd say Barred Rocks are a super choice. They are good foragers and attractive to look at on top of being highly productive and quick to mature.