Good hens with jumbo eggs?

[Chookwagn]

Isa Browns or White Leghorns. Leghorns have the personality of A paranoid schizophrenic with an amphetamine habit, so you can't say I didn't warn you.

Not always true

 

[Mattl12]

Don't forget that hens who lay super sized eggs often suffer from laying related issues.

A hen that fits the descriptor she gave is A "Stewpot Chicken" inside of two years anyway.

 

[Mattl12]

Not always true

But you know it applies 98% of the time, unless someone specifically breeds for "Personality".

 

[Chookwagn]

But you know it applies 98% of the time, unless someone specifically breeds for "Personality".

Nope still don't agree..... leghorns aren't ever going to be lap chickens but they aren't the mental units if treated right..... they have a great personality. But I agree they aren't a docile Wyandotte or orp

 

[Mattl12]

Nope still don't agree..... leghorns aren't ever going to be lap chickens but they aren't the mental units if treated right..... they have a great personality. But I agree they aren't a docile Wyandotte or orp

I'm pretty uniform and consistent about how I deal with my birds, neither leghorn has warmed or mellowed even slightly. Exactly what I was told to expect by multiple people and sources. When you push towards "Exceptional" you can expect some nasty tradeoffs, and white leghorns are exceptional at one thing at the costs of the rest. The white subset of leghorns produces large eggs at A fast pace and consumes less food doing it, "Corporate" breeding to maximize output and cut costs absolutely worked with the Isa Brown too but some of the personality didn't wind up on the cutting room floor.

 

[Chookwagn]

I'm pretty uniform and consistent about how I deal with my birds, neither leghorn has warmed or mellowed even slightly. Exactly what I was told to expect by multiple people and sources. When you push towards "Exceptional" you can expect some nasty tradeoffs, and white leghorns are exceptional at one thing at the costs of the rest. The white subset of leghorns produces large eggs at A fast pace and consumes less food doing it, "Corporate" breeding to maximize output and cut costs absolutely worked with the Isa Brown too but some of the personality didn't wind up on the cutting room floor.

90% of mine will eat from my hand but really hate to be handled in any way shape or form. They are generally quiet.
That being said I don't have production white leghorns. I have other colors

My experience with Isa browns is they are bullies and love nothing more than continuous father pulling of each other. They also have horrible feather quality and always look tatty at the expense of being great layers.


But hey each to their own

 

[Mattl12]

90% of mine will eat from my hand but really hate to be handled in any way shape or form. They are generally quiet.
That being said I don't have production white leghorns. I have other colors

My experience with Isa browns is they are bullies and love nothing more than continuous father pulling of each other. They also have horrible feather quality and always look tatty at the expense of being great layers.


But hey each to their own

My Australorps follow me around like puppies, my Bresse and "Mystery Hen" are completely indifferent to me unless I have food and my gold sex links are passively curious but still friendly.


Yours is only the second time I have heard Isa's called bullies. The other was A youtuber. The feedback has gone the other way when I went looking. Perhaps your's had A bit more Rhode Island Red mixed in than typical.

 

[3KillerBs]

About half of my Australorps lay big eggs. Both of my French Cuckoo Marans do too.

But my consistent size champion is my California White -- near-daily giving me a 65g egg even in her second year.

The CW is not cuddly and hates to be held, but she's not crazy either. I'd call her active and inquisitive.

 

[Mattl12]

About half of my Australorps lay big eggs. Both of my French Cuckoo Marans do too.

But my consistent size champion is my California White -- near-daily giving me a 65g egg even in her second year.

The CW is not cuddly and hates to be held, but she's not crazy either. I'd call her active and inquisitive.

I wanted to get some CWs but at the time I did not want to add 10-15 chicks, nobody who would ship 3-5 birds had any available.

 

[3KillerBs]

I wanted to get some CWs but at the time I did not want to add 10-15 chicks, nobody who would ship 3-5 birds had any available.

Yeah, getting certain breeds has been an issue the last few years.