Officially-Who are the best layers?

[KattyKillFish]

i've had RIR's lay an egg a day, and also black sex links lay an egg a day, same with the red sex links. i believe any of the sex-links are excellent layers. RIR's lay bigger eggs from my experience.

 

[ams3651]

I can only comment on what I have. Between my EE's and my RIR Id say my EE's lay more consistently and usually larger. They laid better thru the winter too.

 

[K-Chick]

I have 15 ISA Browns and I get 12 to 13 eggs a day. I don't think thats to bad. They are the friendlies hens I've ever seen too.

 

[desertgirl]

I'm sorry-ISA?

 

[Superman11383]

Quote:
REALLY!?!?? I have 37 Buff Orpingtons in my 8'X12' coop and it seems to be almost too many and they have a run

 

[Cara]

Quote:
REALLY!?!?? I have 37 Buff Orpingtons in my 8'X12' coop and it seems to be almost too many and they have a run

It is too many, in both cases. You want to allow 4 square feet per bird.

 

[Backyard Farm]

Mahonri -

what hatchery carry Hi-line birds?

they sound interesting.

thank you

 

[Backyard Farm]

I have about 400 sq ft of run plus coops.

Seems barely enough for my almost 40 birds.

Feel bad if they don't each have some time to free range every day or so.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
REALLY!?!?? I have 37 Buff Orpingtons in my 8'X12' coop and it seems to be almost too many and they have a run

It is too many, in both cases. You want to allow 4 square feet per bird.

If they were producing at 90-100% it couldn't have been too bad an environment. Hens that are stressed by their living conditions don't lay well.

ETA-most egg laying contest winners are Leghorns.

 

[Davaroo]

WHOA! Hold on folks. 4 sq ft per bird is bare minimum for interior floor space in a coop intended for night roosting only. It is NOWHERE near enough for birds in general, especially outside, especially long term. 100 birds in an 8 x 12 space is criminal.
DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT, use that as a standard space allowance.

In the old days of Free-Range production, 500 birds per acre was considered maximum. Thats 89 sq.ft./bird, give or take. These birds slept in range shelters, not confined coops. That was considered intense management, as well, and this was rotated between fields to allow the land to rest and "sweeten" between flocks. You can add a few more birds if dealing with Mediterranean breeds or banties, up to about 15% over.

I have an area about 40 x 40 and will only have 10 birds in there. That's 160 sq ft/bird. Experience has taught me that the land can readily absorb their waste with this density and I don't have to lime, or mulch, or shovel s**t, or deal with flies, or diseased, muddy moonscapes when it rains and so on. I can stop being a waste manager this way and actually enjoy my cluckers.

So, keep whatever birds you want, they all lay eggs to one degree or another. But avoid overcrowding at all costs. Less is more.

Here's the rule of thumb for you: If you wonder that you have too many birds for your space... you've answered your own question by using the words "too many" in the first place.

Simply put, the answer is yes.

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I now return you to your previsously scheduled "best egg layer" thread.