keeping flock young and laying

[abhaya]

I am thinking ahead. I dont really want my large fowl to be pets they are for eggs and meat. I cant decide what would be the better option.
My girls are 1 RIR 1 Barred rock 1 brown leghorn 3 sex link
chicks I have now 2 austroplop 2 EE
Option 1 hatch eggs that would be crossed with my EE roo? I have silkies that will thake care of the hatching.
Option 2 buy new chicks each spring.

Or do some of both to keep new blood in the flock?

I would be taking the older birds to freezer camp once the young birds start laying in both options.
What would egg production be from off spring of the EE roo?

 

[Mrs. K]

I think it will be a trial thing. If you are raising eggs to sell, you might want to take it more seriously. If you want enough for your family, I think it would be fun to see what you get. You will have to keep records, to know who is doing what. I have heard of having different years, with different color of eggs. For example, get white egg layers one year, brown egg layers the next. Have fun!

I too like to go through and freshen up the flock. Perhaps I have one favorite, that I will keep, she is a good mother and broody, but at the end of next summer my older hens are going to go, and I will have hens just over a year, and hopefully new babies on the grow.

To me, ideal would be a couple of hens at 2 years +, couple of hens at 1 year+, and pullets.

mk