Starting a Flock (Egg laying breeds to consider)

[Kholts]

I think most of my birds quit laying the first week of December, I now have one duck and one chicken laying, sometimes, but everyone else is still on strike. In summer I have more eggs than I know what to do with however and my stockpile lasted quite awhile headed into the slow time of year.

Oh ok see not getting eggs from December to say Feb/March isn’t too bad. I was thinking once the days got short which in my case starts in October.

My birds usually quit around October and resume in February? So 4 months. Some stop earlier, some resume later, so there's no set number.

What you can do is get chicks very early in spring, so they'll start laying before winter and be more likely to continue laying through their first winter, and/or stockpile a little bit during fall, that can keep you in eggs a couple of months, depending on how many eggs you eat of course.

Haha see your chicken strike was what I was expecting in length haha. Your chickens must be in their 2nd or 3rd year then?

I did hear about replenishing new birds every spring to keep you in eggs.


Man I must say that now I am so torn. Do I go just chickens? Chicken & a couple ducks or do I just got all ducks?!

Gah good thing I have another couple months to decide!

 

[aart]

I was thinking once the days got short which in my case starts in October.

Actually, the days start getting shorter in June after Solstice .
When they get short enough as the angle of the sun gets lower,
that's when laying can stop and molting begins during their second year.
My adult birds molt anywhere from Early August to Late December.

 

[PirateGirl]

Oh yes, I agree with this, mine didn't stop all at once... the last bird out of 10 stopped laying in early December, the first one started back up again for "spring" at the end of December, so there is a range for sure. There was only about a month (maybe less) when I got zero eggs, but I'm still only back up to maybe 6 eggs a week total out of 9 layers (I lost one recently). I've seen 3 different color eggs, so I've got at least 3 that lay sometimes with my youngest duck being the most consistent, but in summer I will get at least half a dozen eggs or more a day instead of half a dozen a week.

 

[PirateGirl]

I think the point of all this being is that to get the number of eggs per week I was hoping for to feed my family, it takes more birds than I had initially thought it would. Some are better layers than others and they take breaks at different times for different reasons (molt, broody, ill, bad weather or other stress).

 

[Mrs. K]

What kind of coop are you thinking? As those darn prefab coops, look darling, but greatly over-estimate the number of birds that will fit.

There are some tricks to getting eggs all year. One is not to have your whole flock the same age. Pullets will lay the first winter, the whole next spring/summer into fall, then molt and take a break. So if you get chicks the second year, they should start laying about the time the older birds take their first break.

Then another trick, I do, is in the big production time of summer, I will freeze a dozen eggs. Some I do in muffin tins for baking, and some in a freezer bag for scrambled eggs. Works pretty good to get you through the thin time.

But is one of the reasons you don't want your coop filled the first year.

Mrs K

 

[rosemarythyme]

Haha see your chicken strike was what I was expecting in length haha. Your chickens must be in their 2nd or 3rd year then?

I did hear about replenishing new birds every spring to keep you in eggs.


Man I must say that now I am so torn. Do I go just chickens? Chicken & a couple ducks or do I just got all ducks?!

My hens are 2. My pullets this year (born in late May IIRC) weren't quite old enough to start laying before winter, so they started up during winter (late December). I didn't stockpile this year because I started supplying extended family with eggs, and I was hoping the pullet would start laying earlier, so we ran out of eggs pretty quickly in fall. This year I'll be better prepared, I think.

I honestly don't know anything about duck egg production but do make sure you like duck eggs before investing in ducks for eggs. Some people don't care for the taste.

 

[9SpiceyChickens]

Hello everyone,

I am brand new to chickens (waiting to start my flock in the Spring). I’ve been researching breeds and trying to decide which would best be suited to my needs and climate. Here is where I would like your input! Below is a bit of infomation about my set up/needs.

Set Up:
• 6-8 Hens
• coop will be 6ftx4ft with nest box on exterior with an attached run 10x6.
•will allow free range daily except during blizzard or severe cold.

Needs:
•Would like dual purpose breeds but will lean toward egg laying if I have to choose
•EGGCELLANT layers a plus as I’m keeping only 6-8 hens.
•Cold Tolerant (it’s winter here pretty much 9 months of the year with temps reaching a low of -40 degrees Celsius this past week. Summer temps usually only reach 25 degrees Celsius).
• I do have small children who will most likely be helping me most of the time so a calmer breed perhaps?


These are the breeds I am thinking about(that I know will be at the local Critter Market that happens every spring):

•Orpingtons (Buff, Brown & Blue)
•Wyandotte’s
•Australorpe
•Maran (black copper)
•Chantecluers
•Leghorns
• Easter Egger
• Rhode Island Reds

I plan to keep 6-8 but will most likely be purchasing 10-12 just so I have a buffer in case some of my pullets end up cockerels. I do have farms/friends around me that I can give or sell the remaining chicks I do not plan to keep.

Any input is welcome!

Wyandottes. They're beautiful, lay a good number of eggs, cold hardy, and kind. There are many varieties, and I find Golden laced ones the prettiest.

 

[Bound to Sea]

Hello everyone,

I am brand new to chickens (waiting to start my flock in the Spring). I’ve been researching breeds and trying to decide which would best be suited to my needs and climate. Here is where I would like your input! Below is a bit of infomation about my set up/needs.

Set Up:
• 6-8 Hens
• coop will be 6ftx4ft with nest box on exterior with an attached run 10x6.
•will allow free range daily except during blizzard or severe cold.

Needs:
•Would like dual purpose breeds but will lean toward egg laying if I have to choose
•EGGCELLANT layers a plus as I’m keeping only 6-8 hens.
•Cold Tolerant (it’s winter here pretty much 9 months of the year with temps reaching a low of -40 degrees Celsius this past week. Summer temps usually only reach 25 degrees Celsius).
• I do have small children who will most likely be helping me most of the time so a calmer breed perhaps?


These are the breeds I am thinking about(that I know will be at the local Critter Market that happens every spring):

•Orpingtons (Buff, Brown & Blue)
•Wyandotte’s
•Australorpe
•Maran (black copper)
•Chantecluers
•Leghorns
• Easter Egger
• Rhode Island Reds

I plan to keep 6-8 but will most likely be purchasing 10-12 just so I have a buffer in case some of my pullets end up cockerels. I do have farms/friends around me that I can give or sell the remaining chicks I do not plan to keep.

Any input is welcome!

Sounds like alot of fun headed your way!! Coop maybe too small for more the 6 or7 birds. You have picked beautiful breeds but fairly large breeds. Which means less room for more. . I personally love Blue Amerucaunas. Smaller bird. Brown Leghorns are a favorite egg layer. Love the Marans! I have a small coop too and only have one large breed, a Cochin. My RIR is the bossiest, so will want to rule the roost. Look at all temperaments so minimize pecking. RIR as good layers but can be pecky in a small flock. Have fun!!

 

[Kholts]

I think the point of all this being is that to get the number of eggs per week I was hoping for to feed my family, it takes more birds than I had initially thought it would. Some are better layers than others and they take breaks at different times for different reasons (molt, broody, ill, bad weather or other stress).

Well that’s good to know. That’s where I’m thinking I’ll keep the # of birds I start with smaller and then the following spring I’ll add accordingly.

What kind of coop are you thinking? As those darn prefab coops, look darling, but greatly over-estimate the number of birds that will fit.

There are some tricks to getting eggs all year. One is not to have your whole flock the same age. Pullets will lay the first winter, the whole next spring/summer into fall, then molt and take a break. So if you get chicks the second year, they should start laying about the time the older birds take their first break.

Then another trick, I do, is in the big production time of summer, I will freeze a dozen eggs. Some I do in muffin tins for baking, and some in a freezer bag for scrambled eggs. Works pretty good to get you through the thin time.

But is one of the reasons you don't want your coop filled the first year.

Mrs K

No prefab coop here. My husband is luckily a carpenter so building a coop and run should be a piece of cake. I think the only thing that will be hard is convincing him we can do it for cheap by finding scrap materials like pallets(my husband is super precise and meticulous so he prefers to use all new wood and cut the pieces he needs to size with as little scrap as possible) So convincing him to use pallet wood is going to be a struggle as stuff just won’t fit the way he will prefer.

Anyways once the snow starts to melt and I can measure my yard better I can get an idea of how big I’ll be able to actually go.

Freezing eggs?! I’ve heard of it but never actually dove it myself. Sounds like a great way to store an abundance of eggs. Something I’ll have to look into for sure.

My hens are 2. My pullets this year (born in late May IIRC) weren't quite old enough to start laying before winter, so they started up during winter (late December). I didn't stockpile this year because I started supplying extended family with eggs, and I was hoping the pullet would start laying earlier, so we ran out of eggs pretty quickly in fall. This year I'll be better prepared, I think.

I honestly don't know anything about duck egg production but do make sure you like duck eggs before investing in ducks for eggs. Some people don't care for the taste.

I have had a duck egg though it was a while ago. I don’t remember thinking it tasted any different. Chances are if I ended up thinking anything about taste I’d use them in my baking more than anything.

Wyandottes. They're beautiful, lay a good number of eggs, cold hardy, and kind. There are many varieties, and I find Golden laced ones the prettiest.

I was looking through pictures of Wyandotte’s and thought they were beautiful. Heard they Are decent layers. There will be quite a few vendors selling chicks of this breed. One in particular will be selling Columbia’s Wyandottes. I’ll have to see what other colors will be there as well.

 

[Robin K.]

Hello everyone,

I am brand new to chickens (waiting to start my flock in the Spring). I’ve been researching breeds and trying to decide which would best be suited to my needs and climate. Here is where I would like your input! Below is a bit of infomation about my set up/needs.

Set Up:
• 6-8 Hens
• coop will be 6ftx4ft with nest box on exterior with an attached run 10x6.
•will allow free range daily except during blizzard or severe cold.

Needs:
•Would like dual purpose breeds but will lean toward egg laying if I have to choose
•EGGCELLANT layers a plus as I’m keeping only 6-8 hens.
•Cold Tolerant (it’s winter here pretty much 9 months of the year with temps reaching a low of -40 degrees Celsius this past week. Summer temps usually only reach 25 degrees Celsius).
• I do have small children who will most likely be helping me most of the time so a calmer breed perhaps?


These are the breeds I am thinking about(that I know will be at the local Critter Market that happens every spring):

•Orpingtons (Buff, Brown & Blue)
•Wyandotte’s
•Australorpe
•Maran (black copper)
•Chantecluers
•Leghorns
• Easter Egger
• Rhode Island Reds

I plan to keep 6-8 but will most likely be purchasing 10-12 just so I have a buffer in case some of my pullets end up cockerels. I do have farms/friends around me that I can give or sell the remaining chicks I do not plan to keep.

Any input is welcome!

I love my Rhode Island Reds. I have 6 hens and I get 4to 6 eggs a day even in the cold weather of Ohio. I also have 2 chocolate Orpington and 2 speckled Wyandotte’s. They are all good layers.