Prolific Layers

[havi]

Im new to the whole chicken business..but isnt Brahma a breed of chicken?

I have 6 standard size chickens for egg laying and just bought 6 bantams for more of a 'pet.' Ones that are real docile and loves to be held. I didnt hold and pet my first chickens as much so theyre not fond of being held.

Ive heard one of the best chickens to have for egg laying is red stars.

 

[Gindee77]

I have 4 Golden Comets and they are great for laying! I have been getting 3-4 beautiful dark brown eggs each day since they started laying a month ago. The only reason one will skip a day is if they lay a double yolker the day before. And their eggs are perfect...very ideal and yummy!

I thought about getting bantams because of my situation but decided to just get standards instead. I'm glad I did. I have 9 out of 11 chickens laying right now so I will soon start selling eggs. We can't keep up with these layers!

 

[hippiehen]

I have heard that hamburgs are supposed to be excellent layers and small eaters - I have a silver spangled (named Hamsquad) but at 18 weeks she has yet to start though I believe she's getting close! I can vouch for them being small eaters - she eats "like a bird." She's pretty small so I'm guessing her eggs will be also... maybe a good compromise between standard and bannie.

Although I can't imagine having a whole flock of them... she's a complete spazatron!

 

[s6bee]

I guess the question I have is what do you mean by prolific? There are Layers, and dual purporse. Layers are prolific, but only lay for a short amount of years, till about 4-5'ish. Dual purpose birds will lay less per week, but many more years, like 5-7+. So that is something you need to way out as well.
I have Deleware, Black Austrolorp, and Barred Rock, and love them all. I had 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes and they were wonderful too.

 

[s6bee]

This is a site I liked, may not give you exactly what you were looking for but I always use it as my reference.
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

 

[RJ_Hythloday]

Quote:
That's a great link, lots of pics linked w/ the breeds.
Thanks!

 

[gumpsgirl]

I understand you thinking about bantams for feed reasons, but you also have to take into consideration that you have to use 2 bantam eggs to 1 standard egg when cooking. If you are just raising them for personal use and don't have plans to sell the eggs in the future, then bantams would probably be fine but I personally like the large eggs from the standards myself. My RIR's and Golden Comets are the only ones laying so far, but they are laying some nice eggs now! The Orpingtons also lay HUGE eggs! I'm so excited for them to start laying.

 

[mtnhomechick]

I just read somewhere last week that a standard egg layer consumes 85 lb. of food per year.

I get my layer crumbles for 9.70 for 50 lb. This would come out to about 16.50 per year per bird.

My layers almost always lay an egg a day. The exception is my EE who lays about 5 a week.

I sell my eggs for 2.00 per dozen and they are all extra large to Jumbo ( red sex links ). This means that they pay their own way and I make a few dollars.......but not much. Here in Arkansas people can buy fresh eggs from farmers for 1.50. I sell mine fast at 2.00. Mine are always clean. I've seen some pretty dirty eggs being sold here. Not all but some. A few people sell for 3.00 a dozen and get it, but I sell mostly to people I know and socialize with so I think 2.00 a dozen is good for me.

I keep my egg money separate so if I want to buy straw, hot pad for waterers, pine shavings, oyster shell etc. I know my cost and profit.

Hey, it's a hobby for me. BUT most of my friends definately want the jumbo browns from my red stars.

 

[RJ_Hythloday]

Yeah, I've definitely decided against bantams and want the large eggs also. I've decided my wish list in the sig.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

I think a lot of people go with the Leghorns that have been bred specifically for egg-laying (think hatchery Leghorns) if they are serious about a lot of birds and a lot of eggs. Dual-purpose birds won't lay as much or as well as birds bred specifically for egg-laying.