Egg laying estimates by breed question

Date sort Score sort
EllieandOlive

EllieandOlive

Songster
Aug 29, 2020
558
961
226
West Central Kentucky
So I have a variety of chickens and ducks. By now I've figured that the estimated eggs on the charts are minimum estimates. For example, they say an australorp lays an average of 200-250 eggs a year the first year.

Well all of my birds (chicken and,
duck) except one dependably lays an egg every day without fail (even my muscovy ducks and blue swedish ducks). I'd say probably 350+ in a year for all of them projecting after their first 6 months of laying. Sometimes I get an extra egg even from the ducks. None of them have molted yet except 2 ducks, who still lay daily.

Is this random, or the way they are free ranged/day light/mild temps/feed quality etc?

I guess I'm wondering why the numbers are so much higher for us than for the breed averages listed. The only one who doesn't give an egg a day is a bantam, and she is about 5/week.
 
Ok. The record is 364 eggs in a year by one Australorp. The average is average. They have several hens laying and they take down the amout from each bird. Then, after going through finding the average in Math, they got their numbers. Climate and everything can be a huge factor. Say, your in a warmer climate, and have lights on your birds 24/7. You might get one that'll lay an egg in less than the usual time. Whereas, say you're in Alaska and never have lights on, you'll probably get way less than the average bird. Say Australorp, in Alaska, might lay 100-150 eggs a year, with your warm with 24/7 light Australorp, might lay 300-360 eggs a year. That's the difference. Also, between 6 months to 1.5 year is the bird's prime. Expect to get the most eggs during that time.
Another thing for their estimates, those estimates might also include molts. Whether hard or the other. The other molt can slow down the bird for up to six months, whereas the hard, only one month.
 
Lacy Duckwing said:
Ok. The record is 364 eggs in a year by one Australorp. The average is average. They have several hens laying and they take down the amout from each bird. Then, after going through finding the average in Math, they got their numbers. Climate and everything can be a huge factor. Say, your in a warmer climate, and have lights on your birds 24/7. You might get one that'll lay an egg in less than the usual time. Whereas, say you're in Alaska and never have lights on, you'll probably get way less than the average bird. Say Australorp, in Alaska, might lay 100-150 eggs a year, with your warm with 24/7 light Australorp, might lay 300-360 eggs a year. That's the difference. Also, between 6 months to 1.5 year is the bird's prime. Expect to get the most eggs during that time.
Another thing for their estimates, those estimates might also include molts. Whether hard or the other. The other molt can slow down the bird for up to six months, whereas the hard, only one month.
Click to expand...
Makes total sense! We are in south east TX so always warm and fairly light year round.
 
EllieandOlive said:
Is this random, or the way they are free ranged/day light/mild temps/feed quality etc?

I guess I'm wondering why the numbers are so much higher for us than for the breed averages listed.
Click to expand...
A lot of it boils down to age.. younger layers lay more often, smaller eggs.. older birds usually more according to their stated AVERAGES.. meaning could be higher or lower.. this is approximately what they CLAIM.. lay hormone IS light related and can be ALL over the place in essentially teen birds. Chickens, technically earning their hen/rooster badges at 1 year old despite some maturity and changes still taking place they are less extreme. I'm not super familiar with when these changes happen for ducks.

I found Metzer to report their actual numbers on one their pages in addition to the claimed averages.

Do NOT base your long term projection on your first 6 months of laying UNLESS you include from time of hatch.. as ALL birds will molt around their second fall and most will completely quit laying during that time an out the energy to growing new feathers..

Ah, I see another poster has already mentioned most of what I've said here.. that being said.. congrats and Happy egg gathering! :wee
 
EggSighted4Life said:
A lot of it boils down to age.. younger layers lay more often, smaller eggs.. older birds usually more according to their stated AVERAGES.. meaning could be higher or lower.. this is approximately what they CLAIM.. lay hormone IS light related and can be ALL over the place in essentially teen birds. Chickens, technically earning their hen/rooster badges at 1 year old despite some maturity and changes still taking place they are less extreme. I'm not super familiar with when these changes happen for ducks.

I found Metzer to report their actual numbers on one their pages in addition to the claimed averages.

Do NOT base your long term projection on your first 6 months of laying UNLESS you include from time of hatch.. as ALL birds will molt around their second fall and most will completely quit laying during that time an out the energy to growing new feathers..

Ah, I see another poster has already mentioned most of what I've said here.. that being said.. congrats and Happy egg gathering! :wee
Click to expand...
Yes I have read to expect a dip each year in production after 1ish. My birds are all 9-12 months, so in their prime really. Honestly I am fine with them being less productive, lol! I can only eat so many a day! 😂😍
 

Similar threads

I
    • Love
"Bessie girl" only lays 2-3 eggs a year
Replies
5
Views
1K
Iamahz57
I
Skyeknight
    • Like
    • Love
6 Year old hen started laying again after 3 years
2 3
Replies
24
Views
3K
msmidwick
M
BurbCoop
    • Like
Fun Egg Mystery 🥚
Replies
8
Views
1K
BurbCoop
BurbCoop
KikiDeAnime
    • Like
She can't be laying right? She's 9 years old and already stopped at 7 years old
Replies
5
Views
716
Bird2break
Bird2break
Ilovemychicks08
    • Like
Favorite breed for eggs?
2 3
Replies
26
Views
2K
pecky33
pecky33

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom