Production Blacks?

[lilredhen]

Ideal Hatchery offers a white-egg-laying breed called Production Black. Has anyone tried these? I might have read somewhere that it's the same as California Grey, which I also know nothing about. I want an egg-laying breed but not white because I'm worried the hawks will get them.
I'm excited to have found this wonderful board! TIA.

 

[bmarshall61]

Two of the best brown eggs producers is the Red Sex Link or the Black, whichever you think the hawks would be less likely to dine on.

Birdhill
bmarshall

 

[mudhen]

Quote:
I'm rather new to chickens, so just out of curiosity, where have you read/heard that white chickens are more likely to be taken by hawks than black?

Welcome, by the way!

 

[lilredhen]

Thanks for answering.
I don't remember where, but I read that barred were least likely to get picked off by predators. The whites I have now do rather stand out, and we have lots of foxes, raccoons, skunks, hawks etc.

 

[TheBigWRanch]

I know that owls can see white animals better than dark ones. I have never been able to keep a light colored cat more than 6 months. I would assume that any color of chicken that blends in with the surroundings would last longer.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

Quote:
We have 2 black sex-link chickens they are our better egg producers for quantity and size of brown eggs. I have one white and one brown leghorn that lays white eggs which I prefer. If you’re worried about predators and like white eggs go with the brown leghorn they are a beautiful chicken.

 

[lilredhen]

I ended up getting a few production blacks and a few brown leghorns. I've had browns before and loved them. The reason I like the leghorns is they are supposed to lay better over their lifetime. We never kill or get rid of old hens so I might as well get the most out of them! I'll see how the blacks are when they're grown and let you all know.

 

[PDJTP2006]

Quote:
Zebras in the wild use there black and white coloring to blend into the grasses so they cant be seen by predators I agrre that the barred rock coloring would have the same affect

 

[chic a dee]

You will love the Production Blacks. They are my choice for a white egg layer.

 

[MTchick]

I used to catch migratory hawks for a living, so I have a pretty strong opinion on what DOES attract hawks.

We preferred to use live pigeons with large, prominent, white patches on their wings. This enhances the hawk's ability to see the prey, and thus makes the recognition of, "Hmmm... might be tasty..." quicker and stronger.

Thus, I would strongly recommend avoiding white, or blocky white winged breeds in areas where hawks are common. Something like a Barred Rock or SL Wyandotte is totally fine because that is more of a fine pattern than a blocky patch. Looking at the McMurray catalog, I would say breeds to avoid would be Delawares, Silver Leghorns, similar patchy breeds, or anything all white.

Something like a Partridge Rock or Speckled Sussex would be the safest bird, in my opinion. Nice mottled natural earth tones, big birds. The Production Blacks or Red Sex Links look pretty safe, too.

-MTchick