Help me pick a white egg layer to free range.

[ThiefPouter06]

I am wanting a white egg layer to free range on my property. Looking a good forager that can handle freedom. Leghorn, hamburg, houdan, buttercup?

 

[satay]

My choice would be leghorn. They are great layers of large eggs.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Anconas. Mine are very self-sufficient. http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/anconas.html

 

[Amyable]

I have 6 Anconas that are good free-rangers. They're pretty black-and-white speckled, bodies very similar to Leghorns. They're supposed to lay lots of white eggs (mine are 10 weeks old.)

 

[HBuehler]

white leghorn hands down...now I know what they say about being hawk bait but they are the only breed/color that we have not lost 1 to any form of Predators...they are very keen and find safety when needed quickly.Mine free range over as many acres as they wish..could range a few hundred if they got the hair brained idea to do so.They lay xl to jumbo every day..there are lots of great white egg layers but if your wanting great and huge these are the ladies

 

[silkiechicken]

I free range without fences and the knowledge that losses are part of the freedom. That said, I say leghorn all the way. I've had dozens of them and never lost one free ranging. They are the first to alert to any danger and with their nervous nature, they will be long gone before the others pick up on looming danger. That said, they have funny personalities and are first in line for treats despite never being able to catch one.

 

[yes2matt]

I've got some white leghorns that haven't started to lay yet. I will say they are excellent foragers. Not super smart but alert and agile (in case of predator approach). Very hard to catch, even though I've been handling them almost daily since they were babies. Leghorns also come in different colors, but I don't know if the brown ones lay white eggs or not... (?)

 

[sunflowerenvy]

how old will leghorn be before u get a large eggs?
my 2 started laying their a small white egg smaller than a small food store egg.

at what age do they lay large white egg?

 

[caral07]

Anconas, Anconas, Anconas, Im telling you they love to free range trust me I have experience. They lay large white eggs and are excellent layers. They dont set and they go crazy cooped up. So theey are great for free range. MurrayMcMurrayHatchey.com is where I got mine and all of mine came alive active and well. Predators have a hard time seeing the black with with spots.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'll go against the crowd and suggest Icelandics. Check out the Icelandic thread, they have survived for over 30 years on an uninhabited island. From what I understand, they are great foragers. Thanks to Mary (The Warden), there is a movement here to save them from extinction.