Reliable Egg Layers??

[SowdersHomestead]

Here is a list of possible hatcheries.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=189569

I have 2 New Hamshire Reds that were laying 9 eggs a week before molting and winter hit.

My Black Australorps are laying everyday. I have 5 hens and a roo. 2 hens lay every day and a third one every other day. The other 2 have not started laying. Here soon I plan on getting some Golden Comets. Everything I have heard about them are very positive.

Has any one raised the ISA Browns?

As far as shipping goes you need to be aware of weather from the hatchery to your location. I'm wanting to start another batch of CX's but the weather next week is going to be down right cold and shipping to me in the sticks take an extra day. Just keep an eye on the weather patterns and order when there is going to be above normal temps for a 5 or 6 day period to increase your success rate on them arriving alive.

Good luck!!

 

[Debbiedodo]

I am new to chickens and for my first chickens, I picked Isa Browns and Barred Rocks. The Isa Browns began laying at 16 weeks. They are friendly, smart and curious. They lay big fairly dark brown eggs and lay a lot. The only problem I've had with them is feather picking. I didn't remove an injured bird quick enough and they pecked a hole in her. Once they tasted blood and feathers, well, I haven't been able to stop the feather picking. Both the Isa Browns and Barred Rocks are feather picking and I've tried everything including the peepers, which worked for a couple of months. Otherwise, I much prefer the Isa Browns over the Barred Rocks, more eggs, prettier eggs and friendlier birds.

 

[JodyJo]

Red Sex Link (Gold Comet, Cinnamon Queen etc...) great layer

Barred Rock, they are friendly and fun to watch...reasonable layers

Black Australorps, great cold weather birds...BIG hen...pretty, stubborn, lays on the floor still!

My California White...smallish bird, has laid an egg EVERY SINGLE DAY since she has reached POL
(Great layer, wish I had more...lays a white egg)

and of course my Production Red...bred for her laying abilities.

**I didn't order from a hatchery, I drove 5 hours to Denver and got mine from a country store...great reviews for sexing etc...they were spot on 100%!

 

[blueseal]

best egg layers i have had are the white leghorns and the golden comets. rhode island reds and barred rocks are good too. i got my leghorns from meyer hatchery in ohio this past march on the 7th. ordered 25 and only 2 were dead on arrival. will order from them again.

 

[jpcode]

I like to buy at the feed store. It is cheaper because there is no shipping, and the chicks are a week to ten days old. My local store will tell you when it expects shipments.

 

[woody1]

unix_micki,
I wouldn't get too fixed on a specific chicken type myself. Some of the sex links are supposed to be somewhat flighty although my blacks are as tame and friendly as any, more so than some. Besides a half dozen easter eggers, we have 2 black sex-links, 2 Rhode Island Reds, and 2 Barred Rocks. All six are egg-laying machines although I think the black girls lay the best. We average better than 5 eggs per day from those six girls. To top it off, these six girls were free chick day chicks. The RIR's were from Big R. the others from the Co-op.

Just keep in contact with Big R in the spring and they'll tell you when they're getting chicks in and what type. Just be there the day after they arrive. Regards, Woody

 

[ScottyHOMEy]

This year's layers (listed below) all came from McMurray's. Hatched June 15 and all started laying within a week of 120 days. That was with a non-medicated 18% starter-grower up to POL, then switched off to a 16% layer feed.

The usual small eggs to be expected at first, only one shell-less. They've settled in pretty well to where the seven birds will give me seven eggs three or four days of the week, rarely fewer than 5, so I'm quite happy with them. Haven't quite sorted out who is laying what. Sizes regularly range from large to jumbo. A few double-yolkers each week. From whichever of them lays the darker brown eggs, we've had a couple of remarkably HUGE ones, but everyone has generally settled into daily production of regularly sized eggs.

 

[ShooterG22]

Dunlap Hatchery in Caldwell, ID (15 miles west of Boise) sells local but also ships chicks. They have a minimum of 25 chicks for shipping and charge a flat $10 plus .15 per chick. 90% guarantee on sex but some of their breeds you can order pullets. www.dunlaphatchery.com
Their first shipment is Feb 14th but they are taking orders now.