"Layer" hens. What are they?

[Sean The IT Guy]

I just started with chickens this spring. In mid-may, I purchased 8 "layer" hens, from my local farm store, 4 brown, 4 white layers. Beyond that they are "layer hens" the store has no info on the breed. Can anyone check the pictures and let me know if they are any specific breed of bird? They're about 5 weeks old at time of these photos

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

They look like White Leghorns (white egg layer) and Red Sex-link (brown egg layer) to me.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The white birds are likely a leghorn based mix. The brown birds are a cross. Typically a red(gold) rooster over a silver(white) hen. They sex linked so that the pullets can be ID'd at hatch by feather coloration.

Quite honestly, both the white and the browns are very, very likely commercial laying hens. Lots of feed stores sell them. They both will be prolific layers of eggs, and you'll get both white and brown eggs, it would seem. Enjoy them!!!!

 

[Sean The IT Guy]

Thanks for the replies. That's great info. The hens are great so far. They've only been in their new coop (a two-tier, over-under design with an open grass pen on the bottom), for a couple days now, but they seem to have it all figured out. They're funny creatures to watch, and they'll even eat out of my hand occasionally.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Just wanted to let you know that those red sex links are my very favorite hens. Every one that I've had has been so calm and laid-back.

The white ones, not so much. But still great birds that eat very little and lay lots of eggs, so that's a win, too!

 

[Sean The IT Guy]

I've found that the white ones figure out new things a lot quicker than the brown ones. There's one brown one that's slightly smaller than her sisters, and has been since she was a puffball. She's also the loudest and hardest to catch when trying to corral them.