Good laying breeds that are too fat or lazy to fly over electric netting?

[enthmpsn]

We have light brahmas, EE, barred rocks and OE. By far our brahmas are our largest and slowest birds. They have been great layers the last 2 years. They have never once tried flying over their fence like the others.

 

[cmom]

@enthmpsn My birds don't try to fly over the fence but I do have heavy duty netting covering all of my pens. Maybe you can make a playground like in their run. I built a chicken ladder and the birds loved to get on it.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I adore my Jersey Giants, I have 3 in a mixed flock (the rest are Brahma, Cochin, and Marans, with 1 each of Rhode Island Red, Easter Egger, and Americauna). My laying hen is an unusually excellent layer, 5-6 jumbo brown eggs per week that are extra-high protein, huge fat yolks and delicious! She does, however, skimp on the antibacterial bloom. Most JGs will give you 3-4 eggs per week, perfect for a dual-purpose rock star! My rooster is a heavyweight bodybuilder @ 14 pounds @ 1 year old, and will continue to grow for 2 more years at least. My hen is about 8.5 pounds, and also 1 year old. My pullet is from the same breeder as the hen, and will likely grow similarly to her. None show any interest at all in going over my 4-foot fence. Actually, Hero actively discourages any flight at all within his yard, and disciplines offenders long before they attempt escape! He has short powerful wings that were clearly not designed for much flying. Keep in mind, though, that mine are not hatchery hybrids, they are pure bred breeder stock. Jersey Giant is a vanishing breed, so hatcheries cross with Australorp and others and still call them Jersey Giant. Hatchery JGs might have different wing shape and flight habits. Good JGs are also not at all the "eating machines" they are reputed to be, because their metabolism matches their build. Shiny feathers= healthy bird, and they are surprisingly NOT huge eaters. They do like some extra protein in their diet (I breed earthworms), and both roosters and hens benefit from eggshells or oyster shells for calcium. The biggest key is grass. They MUST have fresh grass when available, they are NOT happy with only grain-based feed. Given the choice, mine pick grass every time, leading to slow, healthy, vitamin-fueled growth. Get them from a reputable breeder and raise them right, and they won't disappoint you! FYI, they seem to prefer having more than one rooster in the flock, probably because of their origin as a poulterer's specialty broiler breed. Good luck!

I loved Jersey Giants too. I've raised Blacks, Whites and Blues. I considered them prolific layers for several years.

I think all chickens like some extra protein. All of my chickens get meat and fish. After all, chickens are omnivores. A couple flocks just finished off a raccoon carcass I grilled for them. For any kind of meat, they chase each other for morsels.

Roosters do not benefit from extra calcium. In fact, over 2% of the diet for any chicken not laying eggs is detrimental.

How did you determine your hens' eggs contain 'extra-high protein' that is different from the protein in any chicken egg? That really isn't possible.
Obviously larger eggs contain more protein just due to more contents. Smaller eggs contain less protein.

Small egg (38 grams): 4.9 grams of protein
Medium egg (44 grams): 5.7 grams of protein
Large egg (50 grams): 6.5 grams of protein
Extra-large egg (56 grams): 7.3 grams of protein
Jumbo egg (63 grams): 8.2 grams of protein - That protein content is consistent from egg to egg regardless of breed, whether the hen is a JG, a Minorca or a Penedesenca.

Pastured chickens' egg will have more of some nutrients like vitamin D, A and omega 3 fatty acids, but protein won't change. If less protein is available, the egg will be smaller. If more protein is available, the egg will be larger.

 

[ValerieJ]

Unfortunately, neither clipping nor covering are good options for my setup. The fenced area is 368 feet around (2 sections of electrified netting each 184' long) with bushes, scrub trees and bigger trees throughout. Even I clip their wings, I believe they could hop into a bush or onto a stump or their run-in roof or into the grape vines and flump themselves over. The cedar trees, although excellent hawk protection, are also easy to "climb" for the agile ones. That is why I am asking about fat and lazy breeds of chickens that just aren't interested in working that hard to get out

Wow. That is a dilemma. I find that my chickens don't want to leave their enclosure. I can leave the gate open and they will stay in. I think the amount of space and natural pecking grounds makes a difference, but it sounds like you have plenty of area for exploration. My RIR's are flyers, with the Australorps a close second, but I've never seen my Buff Orpingtons get off the ground. Maybe that would be a good breed for you.

 

[ValerieJ]

The largest breed is Jersey Giant. I had a JG hen that would fly over a 6' fence to get into the garden on the other side
Fat hens are not good layers.
The breed I raise are prolific layers and don't fly over fences. They are so respectful of fences I confine them inside 3 and 4 foot fences. I've even kept a flock of roosters inside a 2' fence. They may sneak under a fence but won't fly unless cornered.
I can ship you some hatching eggs or chicks.

Hatching eggs? I didn't know they could be shipped!!! That's such good news. I have a chicken that gets broody, but I have no rooster. Next time she starts nesting I'd love to buy some hatching eggs for her. How do they stay viable when you ship them?

 

[Acre4Me]

Our BJG and SLW Stay in the run. They never tried. We have other breeds, and at least when a bit younger, they will try to fly out.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hatching eggs? I didn't know they could be shipped!!! That's such good news. I have a chicken that gets broody, but I have no rooster. Next time she starts nesting I'd love to buy some hatching eggs for her. How do they stay viable when you ship them?

50-65F is the ideal storage temperature but as long as the egg stays between 35F and 80F, not stored for too long (under a week), and not jostled too much in transit, they should be viable. Well packaged eggs are usually fine in transit. All those I've sent eggs to had good success.

 

[Henriettamom919]

Wow. That is a dilemma. I find that my chickens don't want to leave their enclosure. I can leave the gate open and they will stay in. I think the amount of space and natural pecking grounds makes a difference, but it sounds like you have plenty of area for exploration. My RIR's are flyers, with the Australorps a close second, but I've never seen my Buff Orpingtons get off the ground. Maybe that would be a good breed for you.

Have you ever seen them try? My buff Orp Henrietta occasionally attempts to go after her nimble barred rock flockmates and its both the saddest/funniest thing ever. Her back end and breast are so much larger/wider and her shape being more stout doesn't really give her the physics to be an acrobat

 

[ocap]

i like the Sagitta from Dunlap
http://www.dunlaphatchery.net/buhl80/Dunlap.aspx?codeid=SAG

 

[ValerieJ]

Have you ever seen them try? My buff Orp Henrietta occasionally attempts to go after her nimble barred rock flockmates and its both the saddest/funniest thing ever. Her back end and breast are so much larger/wider and her shape being more stout doesn't really give her the physics to be an acrobat

Have you ever seen them try? My buff Orp Henrietta occasionally attempts to go after her nimble barred rock flockmates and its both the saddest/funniest thing ever. Her back end and breast are so much larger/wider and her shape being more stout doesn't really give her the physics to be an acrobat

That is so funny!!! No I don't think I have seen them try at all. They flap their wings, but I think they are just stretching. LOL You're right, they are not built for flying, but then again, neither are bumble bees.