Vote for the best brown layer!!!

[Thomas Lamprogiorgos]

Yes they can. And you've got to factor in less losses due to infighting and predation. Doms are much, much better at avoiding being eaten. No winter break, and the ones here laid through molt.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Are we talking Rhode Island Reds from a hatchery or true Heritage Rhode Island Reds? If you're talking about hatchery birds my Production Reds, which are a Rhode Island Red x New Hampshire Red cross (they do breed true after the original cross) are by far my best layers. Beautiful large/x-large eggs, I have 4 hens that give me about 24 eggs a week. They were kind of pills before they started laying, but they calmed way down after they hit POL.
https://www.cacklehatchery.com/production-reds.html

I have also had really good luck with my Barred Rocks. A plus side for Barred Rocks, Bielefelders, and Dominiques is that if you start with a good line and maintain it, the chicks are auto-sexing. I'm not sure if you're planning on selling chicks, but with these breeds you could offer day old pullets and charge more.

 

[Thomas Lamprogiorgos]

RIR are very aggressive to each other. But, they do have a good camouflage and they are much better than dominiques, because they are chosen to be improved by geneticists. And hatcheries usually cross the "layer strains" to "dual strains" to improve RIR and make them overlay the dominique breed.
Also bear in mind that when it comes to egg size, RIR win dominiques.

 

[ChickenLeg]

Heritage breed or hatchery? Just about all hatchery birds lay the same rate and lay far better than most heritage birds. And a red sexlink is a breed. Being a hybrid doesnt mean its not a breed. My dog is a puggle, half pug and half beagle. Puggle is still its breed. But I vote dominique as well for all around, and red sex links as best layers.

 

[Thomas Lamprogiorgos]

Heritage breed or hatchery? Just about all hatchery birds lay the same rate and lay far better than most heritage birds. And a red sexlink is a breed. Being a hybrid doesnt mean its not a breed. My dog is a puggle, half pug and half beagle. Puggle is still its breed. But I vote dominique as well for all around, and red sex links as best layers.

A puggle dog is not a breed.
A red sex link is not a breed.
A production red is not a breed.
They do not breed true.

 

[ChickenLeg]

A puggle dog is not a breed.
A red sex link is not a breed.
A production red is not a breed.
They do not breed true.

The word breed does not mean it has to breed true lol.

A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species.

 

[ChickenLeg]

Maybe your confusing pure-bred with breed?

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I don't really understand the point of you asking opinions if you're going to argue with everyone who answers and tell them Rhode Island Reds are best. Just get your Rhode Island Reds. Also, you are incorrect, a Production Red (Rhode Island Red x New Hampshire) does in fact breed true after the original cross. Good luck!

 

[RodNTN]

I had a Rhode Island Red once, and I have to say she didn't even come close to beating my Sex Links.

 

[sourland]

Please, vote for the most balanced, profitable and sustainable layer of brown eggs for a homestead.

Even with their inherent tendency towards reproductive tract problems as they age, nothing can beat the red or black sex links. Your question says nothing about 'breed', hybrid, or other restrictions. Sex links need not be purchased debeaked.