eggs

I have just 8 hens. Two are Rode Island Reds and produce brown eggs so large you can't get them in a carton.I prefer to use these for cooking.3 of mine are Wyandotties and lay medium to large brown eggs.I prefer these when frying because of the large yolks and less white.The Reds have large yolks also just more white when frying. Our oldest hen is a batan Wyandottie and doesn't lay very many and the are small.Just got a new chick called a Black Australop and the are supposed to be known for laying lots of eggs.All of my chickens get along with the dogs. None ever bother the kids and the two that have been handled a lot by the kids when they were young are the two that will still let them pick them up.The ones that were never handled when young won't let anybody get near them.I live up north where the chicken house can be below zero so picking a breed for us also meant picking some that can handle the cold.Think about where you live and will the chickens endure that weather.

 

Welcome to BYC. If your looking for high egg onput for egglaying purposes; Leghorns and sex-link hens are what you want. Leghorns are skittish. I prefer Black sex links over Red sex links, much friendlier IMO. Opinions vary though. I dont recommend any dogs around chickens at all.

 

& from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

Hi and from Ohio. So glad you joined.

 

Leghorns are good egg layers, but a bit flighty. I would go with Delawares. You can look them up on google.

 

For laying, my Black Stars lay almost every day. The orpingtons lay very often and very consistently through the winter. They are both very sweet, although the orps are a little more relaxed while the stars are very energetic.

 

So far we are pleased with our buff orphingtons. 5 weeks old and very friendly with our pug and two children. Not to mention me who they think is momma hen. They follow me everywhere and treat me like a chicken jungle gym when I allow it! Lots of fun! We also are hoping for the breeds good egg production to be true. If it is, I'd say this breed is a match made in heaven for a backyard family coop.