Recommend a laying breed for these "needs"

[s6bee]

I did research to look for same requirements. I ordered, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Austrolorp, Deleware, and Barred Rock. Our Austrolorp and SLW are very quiet, the Deleware is our bully, and the Barred Rock is pretty personable.
Our fav. though is the BR and Austrolorp. Not anything special to look at but nice birds.

 

[Arklady]

Rirs lay over 250 days a year, Australorps lay in winter. Right off hand I can't remember what their laying is. I am also being conservative with what the rirs lay. Because I believe I read somewhere that the rirs lay over 300 a year. The Lorps lay less... more like 250... But between those two breeds you can have some nice eggs coming in all year.

As far as hardy goes Rirs were developed in Rhode Island area which is kind of up there and cold. Not sure about the Lorps but their name Austra sounds like Austria so I am thinking they are from the north too.

As far as noise goes they are not back my Lorps you would never know they are there unless one of them lays an egg and they have to shout to the world. Good luck on your choices...

Arklady

 

[jab91864]

Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, Brahmas, Wyandottes.

Cochins are winter hardy, but I don't think they lay as well as some of the above breeds...

Julie

 

[chicka_dee]

Quote:
Austria? AUSTRIA!?!?!?!?!

!!!!!! AUSTRALIA!!!!!!

lol australorp's are from Australia

*waves little Australian flag patriotically*. why does everyone always forget about us????

i don't know about the stock in American but the australorps in Australia hold the world record for laying (for a purebreed) 364 in 365 days. pretty good hey? i'm sure thats not the norm but they are excellent layers. i've heard from a number of sources that a conservative average is about 280 a year for an australorp, depending on the strain you get (some are more broodie that others etc). most people i've talked to (they are popular down here) say they are their best layers (we have RIR down here too which are good but not quite as good apparently... i don't have a RIR myself). if your planning to have chicks down the track they get back to lay very quickly afterwards. they are very tough in the cold but if it snows i'm not sure if they will lay as well in winter

this site gives conservative laying estimates for lots of breeds in the 'breeds info' section
http://www.kippengrabbelton.be/engels/index.htm

Hayley

*waves little Australian flag* wooo go Australia!!! YAY AUSTRAL(ia)ORP(ington)S (get it?

)!!!!!!!

 

[Markp1964]

Advance Australia Fair!!


Hayley-you must run into this quite often.
I experienced a bit of it, from a different side not long ago when I met a fellow who was visitng from Austria. He made a point every time someone asked where he was from to say "Austria..you know de country nexd to Germany" He must have learned quickly that Americans are often not well informed about world geography!!

 

[Davaroo]

The Aussies trumped the US in the egg laying competitions of the first decades of the 20th century. So much so, in fact, that we got offended. Test after test showed the superiority of the Aussie efforts at selective breeding for egg production. Around 1910, Aussies were averaging 170 eggs per year/bird in controlled testing with peak-season laying numbers significantly higher. The Yank birds could hardly compete, having been neglected and relegated to farm scrub status for so many years. This was back when there was no such thing as factory farming - all birds were managed "naturally."

Did you know that the Australorp, AFAIK, still holds the record for a single breed/single bird laying challenge? They were so renowned in their day that they had their own postage stamp at one time - well, so I've read. I havent been able to find an example of it.

They are a cross of black Orpington and Langshan stock and were first brought to fulfillment in the 30's down under. Much is being made of hardiness here, and they are that. I doubt there is anywhere in CONUS that you could rear them and they wouldn't do well, providing you do your part.

 

[chicka_dee]

Quote:
you bet i do!!!!!your poor Austrian friend! poor guy must have kept getting questions about kangaroos!!!!

you wouldn't get by long in Sydney if you didn't have some inkling of geography >< we are so darn multicultural it gets confusing sometimes... but the food is awesome

anyway, Australorps are good chooks, my favourites for laying (can you tell?), but there are lots of other out there that are good too. especially some of the crosses. happy choosing. its a tough decision!!!

good luck

hayley

 

[Markp1964]

I've been pretty much sold from the time I put up my original post on the Autralorps!

 

[chicka_dee]

YAY!!! aussie aussie aussie OI OI OI!!!!

i hope you guys know what i'm on about otherwise i just seem crazy...



i'm glad to hear you've made your choice

good luck with your chookies. i hope they impress you as much as they impress me

hayley

 

[Davaroo]

YAY!!! aussie aussie aussie OI OI OI!!!! i hope you guys know what i'm on about otherwise i just seem crazy...

We do ... and you do.