My stubborn Dad is at it again.

[3KillerBs]

I suggested dominique, but I'm not sure if they are right.

My Dominiques only lay medium eggs.

I really like my Australorps. Nice birds, quiet, med-lg eggs.

I love my Australorps too.

I also like my California White, though she's got a seriously over-sized personality in her compact body. Bold, curious, active, and independent rather than sweet and docile.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I would stay away from Isa browns lay amazing but many reproductive issues! I can say my RIR is laying almost as much . She is a much hardier bird

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

I second the plymouth rocks. I have some barred rocks, so long as you get a line bred for laying they are great. Mine started laying at 5.5 months and lay 5-6 medium eggs per week. Super awesome personality too, just as good as the production reds and much more robust. However they do like to eat.

 

[Happy hen lover]

I always wanted plymouth rocks too

 

[Cecisflock]

Hybrids are really good egg layers and also really Hardy.

We have some, too many health issues.

If you don’t mind flighy breeds, leghorns are egg laying machines.

Dominiques and Rhode Island Reds are excellent.

I can't stand flighty breeds And I don't really want an egg laying machine, just an ok layer

My Dominiques only lay medium eggs.

Oh perfect! That's what i'm looking for! the large eggs are too big for my customers!

 

[3KillerBs]

Oh perfect! That's what i'm looking for! the large eggs are too big for my customers!

Interesting. I am learning about egg sales around here and I'm told that customers won't buy medium or small but insist on large or extra-large just like the grocery store eggs.

 

[Cecisflock]

Interesting. I am learning about egg sales around here and I'm told that customers won't buy medium or small but insist on large or extra-large just like the grocery store eggs.

That’s terrible! I’m so sorry. My customers prefer smaller eggs (I think that they think it means they are better for you? People are crazy) and they often buy eggs in packs of 6!

 

[3KillerBs]

That’s terrible! I’m so sorry. My customers prefer smaller eggs (I think that they think it means they are better for you? People are crazy) and they often buy eggs in packs of 6!

I don't find it especially terrible. People want to be able to use farmstand eggs in their recipes without having to convert size equivalents.

 

[LaFleche]

Unless the bigger eggs are being laid by hens at least 2-4 years old, usually the only difference between the normal and the XL egg size is the amount of albumen.
So many people prefer the normal sized eggs as they find the XLs to be "watery".

 

[Tervuren]

I'll third the Australorp suggestion! Mine has a great temperament and lays well.

I haven't had these breeds, but you could try a non White Leghorn? The White Leghorns can have similar issues to production sex links, but you can get Red, Silver, or Light Brown Leghorns from hatcheries that aren't bred solely for production. I've read that these Leghorn varieties still lay very well, but not to the point of killing themselves like the White.

I've been very surprised by my Bielefelder. She just started laying last month at 7 months old. She has laid 38 eggs since she started on November 6th!!! I was not expecting her to be so prolific lol.