Speckled Sussex - good layers??

[Lifewithchicks]

Maybe my BA's were out of the ordinary, most people seem to love them. They didn't work out for me at all though so thought I'd mention them.

You won't go wrong with SS, Wellies, and EE...I love all 3 of them! And you'd have a beautiful egg basket.

I’ve actually been seeing that about the australorps quite a bit here on the BYC boards. Before I was just going off what the hatcheries said about the breeds, and I trust people with personal experience much more, so thank you!

 

[keesmom]

Maybe my BA's were out of the ordinary, most people seem to love them. They didn't work out for me at all though so thought I'd mention them.

You won't go wrong with SS, Wellies, and EE...I love all 3 of them! And you'd have a beautiful egg basket.

Funny how much temperament and production can vary. The SS we have is only an okay layer. And while not afraid of people she isn't overly friendly either. Not sure I'd be in a hurry to get another.

The Welsummers we had years ago were good layers but very standoffish. I much prefer the current batch of brown Leghorns (yes, Leghorns) - same look, better layers, and more people friendly. Really. I'm sure the last is an anomoly but that is my experience with a small sample of the breed.

EEs are always fun. None look alike. The Australorps we've had have been good layers and fairly human friendly.

The OP mentioned a less than optimal experience with barred Rocks. I dislike barred birds. Luckily Rocks come in other varieties, and we have 2 whites. Well, they should be white but right now they are half mud colored. They are very good layers of XL eggs and they are annoyingly underfoot. Other people-friendly good layers we have had are Brahmas (we have buff), Buttercups, Minorcas, Orpingons and black sex links.

 

[Lifewithchicks]

Funny how much temperament and production can vary. The SS we have is only an okay layer. And while not afraid of people she isn't overly friendly either. Not sure I'd be in a hurry to get another.

The Welsummers we had years ago were good layers but very standoffish. I much prefer the current batch of brown Leghorns (yes, Leghorns) - same look, better layers, and more people friendly. Really. I'm sure the last is an anomoly but that is my experience with a small sample of the breed.

EEs are always fun. None look alike. The Australorps we've had have been good layers and fairly human friendly.

The OP mentioned a less than optimal experience with barred Rocks. I dislike barred birds. Luckily Rocks come in other varieties, and we have 2 whites. Well, they should be white but right now they are half mud colored. They are very good layers of XL eggs and they are annoyingly underfoot. Other people-friendly good layers we have had are Brahmas (we have buff), Buttercups, Minorcas, Orpingons and black sex links.

Thank you! I love hearing everyone’s different experiences with the breeds. It really makes it easier to narrow my list down. Several people mentioned Leghorns in my separate post asking about breeds!

 

[Onslow's Hens]

If you want a really great laying hen - I would consider the Australorp. In my experience, they are not aggressive at all. Like I said earlier, they are not lap chickens but definately my very best layers. LOTS of eggs from them. They also are really good to their flock mates - blend in and play nice. The is VERY important to me. I can't stand a bully being a meany all the time . I have a bunch of different breeds right now. I wanted to explore breeds and see what stood out to me. If I were going to form a laying flock from scratch (LOL!) I would have Speckled Sussex, Australorps, Welsummers and an EE or two for the cool eggs. Those breeds (just my personal experience) seem to blend together really well, free range together very well, and becasuse of the Australorps, I get tons of eggs .