How are EE and Barred Rocks?

[Morgan7782]

How are these two breeds as egg layers? I am sure there is better, but I am just curious of a ballpark in which to guess. Any EE or Barred Rock owners, how do your hens lay? What ages about did they start? Thanks

May The Chick Be With You!

 

[JennsPeeps]

I've never had EEs but my barred rocks have always been good layers. We've had 2.

Barred Rock #1 (Dumpling) laid pinkish eggs. She died pretty young due to a parasite infection so we never really got a good sense of her laying tendencies. She laid for about 2 months.

Barred Rock #2 (Dozer) lays pretty frequently. Eggs are prob medium-sized right now. Will get bigger as she ages. She hatched in April 2009.

Both of our barred rocks were/are friendly. They can be pushy, esp toward the less dominant breeds (BA, cochin, polish).

 

[GardeNerd]

I only have a small backyard flock, so my breed experience is extremely limited.

My Barred Rock was about 21 weeks old when she started laying. She lays pretty much every single day. She takes a day off every two to three weeks. I am surprised when I don't get an egg out of her. She consistent laid through the winter. Her eggs started out medium sized and stayed that way a long time. Now she lays 2.0 to 2.1 oz eggs usually.

My Easter Egger started laying around 26 weeks, and laid about 4 eggs a week. She started out briefly laying medium eggs (1.8 oz), but quickly moved up to large and sometimes extra large (2.0-2.3oz) Her eggs were yellowish brown. Unfortunately she was killed by a hawk in Dec. at about 10 months old.

Between my two other neighbors' urban flocks and my flock, there have been 8 different breeds. If I could only pick 3 chickens breeds again, it would be Easter Egger, Barred Rock, and Buff Orpington. If I could only have one breed, it would be Plymouth Barred Rock. She is not a lap chicken, but she is quiet, dependable, and always the first to come when I call. She is a good forager and loves bugs and treats. She is never picky, unlike my leghorn.

 

[cracked1]

I don't know about the Barred Rock but my EE lays about 4 - 5 large eggs per week. She's about 1 year old now. She was laying when I got her so I don't know how old she was when she started. She is the Alpha in my little flock and is not cuddly but is very good at keeping order and standing up to my black lab.

 

[Tamrajh]

I just posted about my EE in another post but will talk about them again because I love them. They are my favorite and seem to be smarter than the other girls (they climb fences for one thing).
One girl lays every day and the other lays 5 days a week. The first egg I got this year was from Angel, my favorite EE, and she's laid every day since then. It took the RIR a few weeks to catch up with her and they are all the same age (1 year now).
They do seem to be more apt to be the queen of the roost.

 

[nanawendy]

I have both, The BR's are steady @5=6 weekly The EE's stopped laying through the cold of winter, but are doing great now (about 4-5 weekly)

 

[RainbowBirds_of_a_Feather]

Quote:
I like both, and have kept both types in my flocks.

BR (Barred Rocks) Lay well, and lay brown eggs. I had one lay about 5-6 months in and others lay later but they were store bought so they varied in ages. Single combs and do come in different pattern types but standard versions

EE (Easter Eggers) Lay just as well. But this Breed can lay in varying colors. White-Cream-Brown -Blue-Bluegreen-Pastel Green- Olive green, let us just say a plethora of colors and feather patterns non-standard patterns. They have Pea combs. But mine have both Single and Pea combs. (may want to mix in rose to the mix later)

I personally recommend both because it means variety and uniqueness to a flock if you just want eggs for home. Unless you decide to go standard types, for showing, Then you have to keep the flock separated and get the Standard versions. Not EE's but Ameracunas in Standard forms. But is ultimately your decision and what ever you decide is awesome in my book because I love chooks for their patterns and egg colors. Happy chook hunting.

 

[Tamrajh]

What's a chook?

 

[Nostalchic]

My 10 EE's started laying at 26 weeks, and now in their first (peak) year lay 4-5 eggs a week each. They don't lay as well as barred rocks, in my opinion, which I have had before, but the eggs are SO beautiful and varied in color that I wouldn't trade them for hens that laid twice as many eggs. Their eggs are good sized, large but not jumbo. And the hens themselves are beautiful, lots of different colors, and pretty friendly though not THE friendliest. The EE's may not be as practical, as they don't lay as well as some other breeds, but the people I sell/give my eggs to are really thrilled to have such unique and gorgeous eggs.

 

[RainbowBirds_of_a_Feather]

Quote:
It is like another word I use for chicken(s). I used that terminology growing up. I think others use the term too.