Suggestions for a new flock, please. Must be reliable egg layers and fairly easy to breed...

[huntsman]

Hi Fellow Chicken Folk -

I live in South Africa which can get down to 0 degrees centigrade in winter and often reaches 30 degrees in Summer, and have a small flock of 16 Potch Koekoeks, of which two are roos. I only get four eggs a day and would like to add a second - separate - flock to boost the egg count considerably.

I'd considered Orpingtons, but living in this country means that my choices are a little limited and I'd appreciate and suggestions or advice you can share...

I'm aiming at two flocks of about 25 birds each, with two roos per flock.Is that sensible?

Many thanks!

 

[Allears]

Hi there, don't know enough yet to be able to give any advice, but just had to greet a fellow countryman

 

[Michael OShay]

I know that some of our members in South Africa have had Australorps which would be an ideal breed for you. They are extremely hardy in both heat and cold, calm and gentle (my children and granddaughter made lap pets of them), and the best layers of the standard brown egg laying breeds typically laying 5-6 eggs per hen per week. In addition, the hens typically go broody just often enough to propogate your flock by sitting on and hatching clutches of eggs.
Two flocks with 25 hens and 2 roosters in each flock is virtually perfect as the recommended ratio of roosters to hens is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. As they mature and their hormones kick in, too many roosters will become very hard physically on the hens; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and potentially, seriously injuring them. In addition over-bred hens are stressed hens and their egg production drops off. The only reason you really need any roosters is for fertilizing eggs, and 1 rooster can easily handle 10-15 hens in this regard.
Whatever breed you end up getting, good luck with your flock. )

 

[huntsman]

Hiya Allears! Hope you love the site and learn as much as you need!

Michael - that's great advice, thanks. Looking really forward to getting started!

 

[Michael OShay]

Hiya Allears! Hope you love the site and learn as much as you need!

Michael - that's great advice, thanks. Looking really forward to getting started!

You're welcome.