Howdy chicken peeple!
Just wanted to introduce myself and ask for some board advice. I've seen lots of conflicting stories about how well certain breeds lay, and how big they get, etc. I'm beginning to think that although some of this is due to different bloodlines, some is possibly also due to the weather.
Some hens "shut down" in the winter, and some in the "heat of summer". I'm looking for a breed that will be a good layer, hoping to get an egg a day for most of the year (250+ days). I also know that if you put a light in the coop for the winter, making the days seem longer, you can keep hens laying for part of the winter, too.
Obviously here in NW Florida, we don't have "cold winters" compared to much of you Northern folks.
Any recommendations on breeds for Southern flocks? I was looking particularly at Buff Orpingtons (because they are very friendly/docile and supposedly good layers) and Ameraucanas (because they are neat and lay big blue-green eggs). For both breeds, I have seen that they are "good layers", and then I've seen elsewhere that they "don't lay very well"...
What say you Southern Backyard Chicken peeple?
Julie
Some hens "shut down" in the winter, and some in the "heat of summer". I'm looking for a breed that will be a good layer, hoping to get an egg a day for most of the year (250+ days). I also know that if you put a light in the coop for the winter, making the days seem longer, you can keep hens laying for part of the winter, too.
Obviously here in NW Florida, we don't have "cold winters" compared to much of you Northern folks.
Any recommendations on breeds for Southern flocks? I was looking particularly at Buff Orpingtons (because they are very friendly/docile and supposedly good layers) and Ameraucanas (because they are neat and lay big blue-green eggs). For both breeds, I have seen that they are "good layers", and then I've seen elsewhere that they "don't lay very well"...
What say you Southern Backyard Chicken peeple?
Julie