Choice of breed for eggs?

[jeslewmazer]

I don't know about GLW and Partridge Rocks, but My Black Sexlinks and Gold Sexlinks lay 6-7 days a week. I have other breeds but not for their egg production but for their looks. It seems to me that the more elaborate the chicken the less eggs they lay per year (majority of the time). That is just what I've seen. My game chickens are the most beautiful to me but yearly lay the least. I would say if you are willing to give up 1-2 eggs a week go for the looks. But how many eggs a breed will lay is the average. Well taken care up hens can be high egg producers regardless of average.

Example: I have two Sussex hens 1st hen lays everyday except maybe once a month and 2nd hen lays about 5-6 egg per 7days. Defiantly more than the what is expected of them about 4 eggs per week. Hope this helps

 

[tulie13]

Thanks everyone - right now my friend and I both have mixed flocks of Buff Orpingtons, Easter Eggers, and a couple of Speckled Sussex sprinkled in. I have a BO roo and an EE roo, my friend only has an EE roo and doesn't want any more roos.

We were looking for another breed of similar temperament/size, "dual purpose", but something a little different just to try out for fun, addition to the gene pool (we may end up hatching a bunch of mutt chickens!!!) and thought the GLW and Partridge Rocks seemed pretty, and were supposedly good layers. We aren't AS concerned with laying speed, but temperament is important, GOOD laying characteristics (yeah, silkies are everyone's favorite cute fuzzy bird, but they hardly lay any eggs!) and enough meat on their bones that they have long-term survival use when the economy craps out.

With what I've already got, is the consensus heading toward just adding some "egg machines"? I actually have a local friend that breeds and sells sex-links.

 

[Happy Chooks]

If you get females that are welsummer or marans you can breed them with your EE roo and the pullets from this cross will lay olive colored eggs. If you get barred rocks and cross with your Orp roo you will get gold sex links.

I have a barred rock and soon will be having silver pencilled rocks, and my understanding is all the "rocks" are great layers.

 

[ErieSpurs]

I haven't had the breeds you are interested in, but I have heard good things about both.
I have heard that Wyandottes can sometimes be a bit aloof, I'm not sure if that bothers you - but its something to think about.

Another option to consider are Black Australorps. They are very calm and excellent layers.



I must state that it seems every time someone asks about eggs of a certain heritage breeds, a dozen folks chime in about sex-links.

I understand the benefits of sex-links but the OP seems as if they are interested in pure breeds. I feel the same way, I am tempted to get sex links but I prefer the idea of having the heritage pure breeds.

 

[ErieSpurs]

Quote:
Another good point. If you are selling for eggs, some dark brown and olive eggs are always a hit.

Faverolles lay an almost pink egg, so that is an option as well.

 

[littlelemon]

My white rocks and my barred rocks lay very well. They are coming up on 4 years this spring, and they will still lay almost an egg a day from March-November. They molt in the fall and do not lay during the winter, but make up for it later. I have been very pleased with them. Their laying capabilities and hardiness are probably reasons they are one of the most common backyard birds- and the roos make for pretty good eating as well

 

[HEChicken]

When I was choosing my chicks last summer, I was looking for egg-layers so ended up with a sex link. Since then, having read a little more about them, I regret that decision. Sex links have been bred for egg production and are often referred to as "egg laying machines" but for this reason, are more prone to becoming egg bound. And, though they lay strong for their first year and a half to two years, they burn out more quickly than breeds with slightly slower egg production (keep in mind that a hen is born with all the eggs she'll ever lay. Being an egg laying machine doesn't mean she'll lay more eggs in her lifetime than another breed - it just that she lays them more quickly). In truth, had I understood all of this better, I would not have ordered the sex link because I am against breeding for a specific trait if that breeding makes health problems, (as becoming egg-bound) more likely. I like my little sex link - she is friendly and curious. She is only three months old so not even laying yet, and I'll certainly keep her now that I have her. But I won't be getting any more and will stick to the heritage breeds going forward. Just my .02c.

 

[Nostalchic]

I have two GLW (and two SLW) and two Partridge Rocks in my flock. They are absolutely BEAUTIFUL birds, and the PR's particularly, with a lustrous beetle-green sheen to their feathers, and a delicate partridge pattern. Neither of these breeds are the friendliest, both a little skitterish and flighty, but good foragers. The Partridge Rocks are not the reliable layers that barred rocks are, a little later to start. My PR's are in a slow-moult right now (bummer of a time to do that, weather-wise) and not laying at all, while the rest of my flock is carrying on pretty well. But these two breeds are so darned pretty, and get a lot of ooh-ahhs from visitors to my coop - well worth having if you want a little of that. Have fun!

 

[briteday]

I also believe that the heritage breeds are worthwhile keeping. I currently have delawares, along with my RIR's, EE's, BR's, and silkies. However, many of the heritage breeds are larger birds and the OP has some space considerations. If I wanted something purebred and a good egglayer I would stick with the RIR, autralorp, BO, ...

 

[jeremy]

I'd go for Delawares or Australorps. Both lay incredibly well and are great birds.

In my experience Wyandottes have been less than favorable.