I have decided....

[MikeS(erama)]

...That next year I'm getting at least 5 more Red Star (sex link) chicks. We have one now that is around 22-23 weeks old and has been laying every day for the past 3 weeks. Her friends, that are the same age have not laid one yet. Her friends include an Australorp, New Hampshire Red, and a Production Red. The New Hampshire hasn't even gotten red in the face yet, The Australorp is very red in the face but doesn't squat and hasn't even practiced the egg song, and the production red has been squatting and singing for about a week now but still nothing. I know it's all part of waiting for the first egg and I'm trying to be as patient as I can, but now I know that Red Stars are amazing layers! We've even gotten two double yolk eggs from her!

 

[gritsar]

Yes, but I prefer to go with dual purpose birds. I believe that my brahmas will continue laying long after your redstars have run out. Congrats on your first eggs.

 

[briteday]

I've had both dual purpose (some heritage) birds as well as the hybrids. They each have their advantages and disadvantages.

Dual purpose...feed to egg conversion ratio is higher (larger framed birds) so you spend more per egg on feed, they didn't lay all that well by the second winter (3-4 eggs in good weather, 0 in the second winter), onset of lay is a bit later as pullets but they lay bigger eggs soon after they start

Hybrids...had some that started laying as early as 20 weeks but 90% should be laying by 28 weeks, first eggs are medium sized and it takes a bit longer (3-4 weeks) for them to work up to large eggs, feed to egg conversion is better, just as friendly as my dual purpose

I'm guessing that the hybrids will wear themselves out faster, probably by 18-24 months of age if you are strictly into the egg production factor. But I have retained one of my RIR roos and some of my best laying RIW hens to create my own hybrids next Spring. So the downside I see to hybrids is that you may have to replace some of the flock every Spring to keep production going, whereas with the dual purpose you can get 2-3 years of good production, but you will be feeding them more over their lives.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
My brahmas (hatchery quality) are going into their third winter - hatched in April, 07 - and they are still laying very well. In fact, they laid better this past spring than they did in their first year, but of course brahmas aren't considered full grown until two years old.