Reliable Egg Layers??

[unix_micki]

HI all, we are slowly retiring our flock as 75% are over 3yrs old and only a handful are laying.

I am looking into ordering chicks from McMurray Hatchury and am wondering what are the best breeds for egg laying, I am thinking about 3 of each Rhode Island Reds, Black Australorps, Golden Buffs. Are these good choices??

Also, the hatchery is in ohio and I am in the pacific NW, should I find a closer hatchery or will the chics be ok??

Thank you!!

 

[Fred's Hens]

No one is quite sure how the Post Office slow down is going to effect chick shipments quite yet, time will tell.
McMurray is merely a shipper. They get those chicks from elsewhere anyhow. Meyers ships small orders from their Ohio hatchery.

The Golden Buff of Meyers is a red sex link and terrific layer. I haven't seen that "name" used by others, but I'm not sure.

The Red Sex Link, 'Lorp or RIR will all be great layers of brown eggs.

 

[CayuseRanch]

I have to say my absolute favorite layer is the Gold Star, also known as Cinnamon Queen and other names possibly the Gold buff. It is a cross between the Leghorn and buff orpington I believe. But my Gold Stars lay every day and while some swear that it is impossible to lay more than one a day, occasionally I have one more egg than I have hens from that pen. Their eggs are huge, (the size of most double yolkers), and I usually get a double yolker from them once a week which is GIGANTIC! You can't close your egg cartons with these girls and they are great layers.

 

[unix_micki]

Quote:
I am not seeing this breed on mcmurray hatchery?? where can i get them??

 

[Fred's Hens]

Meyers Hatchery, Ideal, Welp, etc.

The Red or golden sex link is sold by just about every hatchery as it is the brown egg layer of choice by those who have a more commercial operation. The names vary. Cinnamon Queen, Golden Buff, Golden Comet Gold Star, Red Star, blah blah blah.

Some hatcheries, such as Ideal have two or three versions. All similar, yet each hatchery has their own special recipe.

 

[vjbakke]

We have 4 golden buffs from Meyer, about 10 months old, they each lay a large egg just about every day and have very sweet personalities.

 

[unix_micki]

Thank you all, all these names can be confusing

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
They aren't breeds, that is why it is confusing. They are mutts or special mixes. We always have some in the flock, for their purpose is eggs. Since they aren't breeds, but hatchery "blends", the recipe is super secret!!!

Not really, but hatcheries are pretty closed mouthed about a lot of things.

In essence? They take a Red (Gold) rooster and cross him with a white (silver) hen. The chicks can be sexed when they are hatched. Pullets are golden/buff/reddish in color while the cockerels are white. Makes life easy. This is important to the folks who can't have roosters or don't want roosters. Obviously, the commercial hen houses don't want roosters.

Since it isn't a breed, the hatcheries can call them any name they wish. Actually, hatcheries call all kinds of things by "made up" names, such as New Hampshire Red when there is no breed by that name. Hey, it is what it is.

 

[CayuseRanch]

I agree with Fred, but would add, that my red-sex link is not as productive as my gold star/golden comet, whatever name they want to call em. I think the ones that are crossed with the buff orpingtons are the ones that have the biggest and most frequent egg, but that is just my opinion for what it is worth. McMurray does offer the red star.
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/red_star_hatching_eggs.html

 

[kinsey228]

My Leghorns and Golden Comets lay everyday, and my Australorp about every other day. My EE's are very dependable layers too w/ a blue egg everyday.