Marans and Araucanas -- Living and Laying

[DHuberman]

Anyone know how long Marans and Araucanas typically live/lay?

I love colored eggs and am trying to figure out how many of each I need to have and at what intervals I need by acquire additional birds to maintain a supply of 24 eggs per week. I plan on keeping all my birds for as long as they live so I need to understand what my peak population is going to be.

Thanks!!!

P.S. Does anyone know of any charts/graphs that show the egg production over time of various breeds... It would be a very handy tool for planning coop capacity!

 

[Choco Maran]

Okay I'm not for sure but I have heard chickens live up to 15 yrs, and can produce most of that time. However peak egg lying is up to 2 or 3 yrs. After that they drop off alittle each yr. After two or three yrs, except about one egg every two or three days from the hens.

 

[pwand]

I have both types and mine hasn't layed well from the start. They are two years old now. I guess I would have expected the Maran to lay better, however I hardly see any eggs from her. I have had red rocks and my hens laid well until they turned 5.5yrs old and and then down to not much. I have one left, she hasn't laid in quite some time.

 

[MareeZoCool]

I have 1 Aracauna 3yr old hen, laying 1 olive green egg every day & 1 Black Astralorp11-month old hen, normally lays 1 brown egg daily; she's just hatched out 3 chicks in April, and has been on the egg-laying vacation.

Both roo & I are a bit frustrated!

 

[chicksnchooks]