My Barred Rocks lay 6-7 eggs per week until they get to over 4 years old. I have two 5 year old BR hens who are still laying 4-5 eggs per week, in addition to one who is over 3 years old who lays 7 eggs almost every week without fail.
I still don't believe you can make a blanket statement about one of those two particular breeds being a better layer than the other, though sources such as you quoted keep spouting the "party line" from way back when. On one level, it's an individual thing. On another, it just doesn't hold true across the board when you consider different lines/strains can vary tremendously.
All that aside, of course, the Rock still must be on the top five list of backyard/barnyard breeds. It's not that I'm defending the Rock; it's that I've had both breeds in hatchery and good breeder stock and the RIRs have never outdone my Rocks as layers. To me, they're equals.
You said all the Barred Plymouth Rocks you have had were better layers than all the Rhode Island Reds you have had. Why would you then say that they are equal at laying eggs?
So you don't think a hatchery would claim that Barred Plymouth Rocks will lay over 300 eggs a year if it were true? They are trying to sell chicks, so they would be the first to use that information if it were true.
Most people overestimate how many eggs their chickens lay. I think you may be overestimating the number of eggs your chickens lay.
Can you point me to information that states that Barred Plymouth Rocks will lay more than 300 eggs a year?
Leghorns are the best at laying eggs, and that is why they are very popular for commercial operations. They will lay a little more than 300 eggs a year on average. It is difficult to believe that your Barred Rocks lay as well as that, which is what you claimed by saying they lay 6-7 eggs a week. You also said they lay eggs that well for their first 4 years. That is unheard of.
I agree there can be individual variations, where one particular Barred Plymouth Rock may lay eggs better than one particular Rhode Island Red. But all the information I can find states that in general the Rhode Island Red is a better layer.
By the way, are you sure you have had Rhode Island Reds and not some mutts? Many people call similar chickens Rhode Island Reds.
The Barred Plymouth Rock is the most popular because it is hardy, generally friendly, and they are good layers. By the way, you did not have a problem with me claiming that Barred Rocks were generally friendly, and you made the same claim. How can you make such a claim about them? We can make such claims because we are describing the general traits of a breed.
