Officially-Who are the best layers?

[Davaroo]

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Some good notes here. The various hybrid "sex links" are very good layers, by all accounts. They are not good breed stock, on the other hand, as the results are unpredictable. Future pairings are geometrically inclined to deviate from the parent.

The Leghorn cross sounds like a pretty good notion, too. I suppose the need to keep two breeding flocks in order to get them can be troubling for some folks. That is, unless some hatchery can provide them. Same problem with them as with the sexlinks: when you breed them, what are you gonna get.... Leghorns? Orps?
And can you isolate and select them later for best egg production?

For some good reading on the topic of breeding for egg production with just such a Leghorn cross, go here:

M.G. Kains' classic, "Profitable Poultry Production"

 

[cici_p]

Did anybody mention ducks?
A good egg-laying duck can out-lay a chicken.

(I love ducks

)

 

[conny63malies]

My d' uccle i had last year laid five eggs a week. Pretty good for a tiny little thing . But Cici is right too. A good Ideal 234, Runner or khaki will outlay a chicken. THough the world record is held by a australorp hen who layed 364 eggs in 365 days.

 

[dadof4]

I have white leghorns, Buff orps, RIR's, barred rocks and Wyandottes that are currently laying. The leghorns produce the best, but my barred rock is right in there with them. Very solid.

 

[dadof4]

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I can't wait for my Campbells to start laying.

 

[Davaroo]

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That was a dedicated experiment, during the 1920's. It wasnt a random yard bird, but an "engineered" specimen. It was part of an international competition.

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A little googling finds these tidbits:

"This breed, originating in Austrailia, was developed from Chinese Langshans, along with judicious out-crossings of Minorca and White Leghorn blood to improve the utility features of English Orpingtons. There is even a report of some Plymouth Rock blood also being used. The emphasis of the early breeders was on utility features. At this time, the resulting birds were known as Black Utility Orpingtons.

It was the egg laying performance of Australorps which attracted world attention when in 1922-23 a team of six hens set a world record of 1857 eggs at an average of 309.5 eggs per hen for a 365 consecutive day trial. It must be remembered that these figures were achieved without the lighting regimes of the modern intensive shed. Such performances had importation orders flooding in from England, United States of America, South Africa, Canada and Mexico. Well looked after Australorps lay approximately 250 light-brown eggs per year. A new record was set when one hen laid 364 eggs in 365 days."

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"A flock of Black Australorps, their black plumage and greenish purple sheen (called "beetling") flashing the sun, make an unusually handsome sight.
They are big birds, with males weighing 6 to 8 pounds at maturity and females 5 to 7. They have a pinkish-white skin and plump bodies which dress out nicely once birds have their final plumage.
Females mature early and many will be in production between 5 and 6 months of age.
They are quiet, very gentle, and stand confinement well. Baby chicks are black with a good deal of white in the underparts and small patches around the head and wings. This breed has been handled for many years and it is thought to be one of the best of heavy breeds. "

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Can you get 300 eggs/year with your A-lorps? Not without careful selection and rigorous, long term effort towards that gaol.

Today, after 70 years, the strain has been watered down from the award winning birds. Hatchery birds are just that, birds bred to sell to the market without real effort to develop special traits.

But the fact remains that they are a very good breed to start with if you fancy a largish bird that lays plenty of nice, brown eggs.

Given some effort and careful selection and who knows? - you might make a champion out of yours!

 

[SandraChick]

UMMMMMM....

Runner Ducks Are!!!!!!! They lay more eggs than any chicken.

 

[Davaroo]

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I must admit, there is just something purely comical about a gaggle of runners.

But this isn't Backyard Ducks, so it seems appropriate to discuss cluckers more than quackers.

 

[chickens asome]

WHITE LEGHORNS OR RED STAR OR rhode island reds i would say

 

[brewmiss96]

Thanks Davaroo, those 5 are my favorites! So I am set for my mixed-breed barnyard dual-purpose flock... might add some of those EEers for color if I decide to go pro!!